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ASU Academic Catalog Style Guide
for catalog year 2021–
This is the primary resource for how to present ASU catalog content.
ASU catalog style is comprised of ASU and AP styles — and has exceptions to both. Included are reminders of issues that tend to cause confusion.
These are your references, in this order:
- ASU Academic Catalog Style Guide
- ASU writing style guide
- AP Stylebook
- Webster’s New World College Dictionary
Did you know…?
ASU catalog style calls for strong, active and direct language.
- Be clear and specific.
- Be succinct.
- Use laymen’s language as much as possible; it influences SEO.
Details and examples are in the Marketing and Language chapters — Pages 5 and 13.
Check it out…
- introducing your program —Page 3
- a common problem with to — Page 13
- present tense — Page 17
- updated guidelines for lists — Page 18
- color-keyed information — fabulous, good, what not to say, and standard statements
Reminder:
Use % with numerals in most cases. Example: 8%. Details and exceptions — Page 23.
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Contents
Chapter titles are hyperlinked.
Marketing Text It’s About Connection How to Start Help from the ASU Brand Hyperlinks Examples:
- Ineffective Copy
- Primary Tactic
- Secondary Tactic Need More Help?
Abbreviations ............................................... Academic Programs Campuses Centers, Colleges, Departments, Institutes, Schools, University iPOS, POS Tests
Capitalization ........................................... 10
Academic Programs Campuses Centers, Colleges, Departments, Institutes, Schools, University Compound Words Documents, Forms
Formatting ............................................... 12
Bold General Studies Italics Lists Phone Numbers URLs
Language ................................................. 13
The Basics Special Attention #1 — avoid misunderstanding Special Attention #2 — be careful with to Gender Neutrality Redundancy Standard Statements Symbols Voice
Lists ......................................................... 18
Styles Placement, with Examples Remedies, with Examples
Numerals ................................................. 22
The Basics Adjectives Decimals Grade Levels Ordinals Percent, Percentage Phone Numbers Ratios
Punctuation and Symbols ......................... 24
Ampersand Asterisk At Symbol Comma Dashes Exclamation Mark Superscript Symbols Titles ............................................................. Academic Courtesy Formal Occupational Word List ......................................................
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Set the tone with a strong, catchy statement or fact.
- Social media and nightly news are filled with events touching on the Middle East.
- More people are taking vacations than ever before.
Use emotion to convey importance and value.
- The education of our children is one of the noblest callings.
- Developing clean sources of energy is one of the world’s more critical endeavors.
Explicitly state what they will gain so they can see the correlation between the program and their future.
- You’ll learn [xxx] which will prepare you to [xxx].
- You’ll develop [xxx] which can help children to [xxx].
Help from the ASU Brand
Become well versed in the ASU brand. Read about it at https://brandguide.asu.edu/Elements-of-the- brand/writing-style-guide/introduction.
“On my way to a better life.” Plant the idea that what they gain through the program will help set them on the path to a great life (don’t actually say better life ; that would imply their life isn’t good now). Some examples:
- life you’ve always dreamed of
- wherever you want to go in life
- bright future
Language, tone, attitude Always make it about them. Be personable, implying you so they can see themselves in the program. Avoid taking center stage, like with our program.
Sell their experience in the program. Tell them what it would be like for them and what it will prepare them to do and achieve.
Keep it conversational and easy to read. This benefits them and helps us with SEO.
Be careful. Many of our figures of speech can confuse international students. Make sure the phrasing is clear for all audiences.
- This degree can help you begin a career in [xxx].
- Not: This degree can help you get your foot in the door of a career in [xxx].
Hyperlinks
You may point to an ASU webpage with a hyperlink, but you must use the full URL to point to a non-ASU site.
- Financial options are available here as well as at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships.
Examples
Ineffective Copy Phrasing and delivery matter. The following paragraph illustrates ineffective marketing copy. Anything that reads like this must be recrafted in the ASU branded style: What does not work is a passive voice, dry academic language with few adjectives, and third-person nouns like student and applicant. A reader is not excited by copy that brags without explaining the value to the reader,
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nor by writing that is long-winded and not conversational. Also, we don’t want hyperbole, like "This degree is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Before and After You can feel the difference in this copy that was reworked to engage the reader’s emotions and imagination: The certificate program in arts and humanities in games will train students to design, develop, create and analyze games from a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective and to understand the utilization, consumption and real-world impact of games on our diverse culture and society. Remember the toys and games you played with as a kid? They were fun, but did you ever consider their impact on your growth and development? You can learn how that impact shapes the human mind, and become an influential researcher and analyst in the gaming industry.
Primary Tactic Great Examples Do you have a passion for wildlife, for exploring nature and seeing that our world's natural resources and lands are managed in sustainable ways? You'll gain an excellent foundation in science while you enjoy lots of field opportunities to build expertise for careers that connect with conservation and restoration of biodiversity and habitats.
With your global mindset, your passion for travel and language, and your aspirations for an international career, you deserve a master's degree that will open up a world of possibilities. Focused 100% on global management, the MGM prepares you to do business across borders and cultures with the dexterity you can't learn in a traditional business program.
Good Examples Social media and nightly news are filled with events touching on the Middle East and Islamic nations. But how many people understand the deep issues at hand? You can. With a minor in Arabic studies, you'll develop a cross-cultural understanding of Islamic civilization which will provide opportunities in the global workforce.
Moment by moment, day by day and person by person, educators improve lives and strengthen communities. Wherever life takes you, an education degree prepares you to master new knowledge, communicate effectively and thrive in a world — and an economy — in which lifelong learning is key to success and happiness.
Secondary Tactic Great Example Join one of the nation's top journalism schools, home to Arizona PBS, the largest media outlet in the world operated by a journalism school. You will work with world-class faculty in a variety of hands-on experiences, including digital media, broadcast news, innovation and entrepreneurship, audience engagement, public relations, and Spanish-language news.
Good Example This certificate is designed for students in the Next Generation Service Corps or students in Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC.
Need More Help?
- Call on your marketers for expert assistance.
- Familiarize yourself with the ASU brand and platform and the ASU language guidelines.
- See the chart that details differences between marketing text and the program description. It’s in Writing for the Catalog, on the catalog resources page.
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MEng Master of Engineering MFA Master of Fine Arts MGLS Master of Global Leadership and Strategy MGM Master of Global Management MHI Master of Healthcare Innovation MIA Master of Interior Architecture MID Master of Industrial Design MIHC Master of Integrated Health Care MIHM Master of International Health Management MLA Master of Landscape Architecture MLS Master of Legal Studies MLSt Master of Liberal Studies MM Master of Music MMC Master of Mass Communication MNLM Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management MNS Master of Natural Science MPA Master of Public Administration MPE Master of Physical Education MPP Master of Public Policy MPS Master of Professional Studies MPSLA Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration MRED Master of Real Estate Development MS Master of Science MSD Master of Science in design MSE Master of Science in engineering MSL Master of Sustainability Leadership MSLB Master of Sports Law and Business MST Master of Sustainable Tourism MSTech Master of Science in technology MSTP Master of Science and Technology Policy MSUS Master of Sustainability Solutions MSW Master of Social Work MTax Master of Taxation MTESOL Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages MUD Master of Urban Design MUEP Master of Urban and Environmental Planning MVCD Master of Visual Communication Design PhD Doctor of Philosophy PSM Professional Science Master's
Degree programs, majors, concentrations, minors, certificates Don’t use punctuation marks or symbols in degree abbreviations. The only exception is for / in approved abbreviations for concurrent and accelerated programs. Use to in progressive degree programs.
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- MUEP/MA in sustainability
- RN to BSN
Associate degree has no apostrophe, but it is used in bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.
Abbreviate the degree name on first mention; spell it out in subsequent instances using either the informal or formal forms. This is an exception to the ASU writing style guide.
- first: A student in this program will earn a BA in broadcast journalism.
- subsequent: Note the admission requirements for the bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.
- subsequent: Note the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism.
Always include the names of majors, concentration areas, minors or certificates, but don’t abbreviate or capitalize them.
- bachelor’s degree in English
- Master of Science in chemistry
- Not: Bachelor’s in English
- Not: Master's in chemistry
Campuses
The campus may be mentioned in the marketing text but not in the program description.
- Downtown Phoenix campus
- Polytechnic campus
- Tempe campus
- West campus
These are the proper ways to show the other learning locations:
- ASU Online may be referred to as an online campus.
- Degree programs are offered at ASU@Cochise , ASU@Lake Havasu , ASU@Mexico City , ASU@Pima , ASU@Pinal , ASU@The Gila Valley, ASU@Tucson , ASU@Yavapai , ASU@Yuma , ASU@Washington, D.C. , California Center , Mayo Clinic and Washington Center , though these locations may not be referred to as campuses.
Centers, Colleges, Departments, Institutes, Schools, University
Avoid using acronyms to refer to any university unit. Use the full name on first reference. After that, you may use the formal abbreviation or use center , institute , office , school , or college. You can find the list of colleges’ formal abbreviations in the ASU writing guide.
- The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Not: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)
- Not: CLAS
iPOS, POS
Distinguish between a plan ( POS ; whether unofficial or official) and the method of submitting the official version ( iPOS ).
Spell out the phrase on first reference and use POS or the plan thereafter; do not use parentheses.
- first: A plan of study maps the requirements for completion of a degree program.
- then: The plan submitted through iPOS becomes the student’s official POS.
- Not: A plan of study (POS) maps the…
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Capitalization
This ABET phrase is required on a number of programs, and ABET requested that it appear exactly as shown here, as a phrase and with this capitalization and punctuation.
- Accredited by the [ capitalized name of the accreditation commission ] of ABET; http://www.abet.org.
Academic Programs
Degree programs Only capitalize official diploma titles. Don’t capitalize names of majors, minors, concentrations, or certificates even if they are included in the official diploma title abbreviation. Do capitalize proper nouns: English , Spanish , Native American.
- Bachelor of Science in nursing
- Master of Communication with a concentration in broadcast journalism
- Not: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Not: Bachelor of Science in Design
- Not: Bachelor of Arts in Education
- Not: Master of Science in Technology
Centers, Colleges, Departments, Institutes, Schools, University
Use initial uppercase letters only for the full official name. Otherwise, don’t use capitalization.
- admission services
- ASU Admission Services
- ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
- graduate admission
- the Department of English
- the history department
- the institute
- the School of Human Evolution and Social Change
- The Design School
- The Polytechnic School
- the university
- Not: the University
Don’t use & or + in place of and in text, even for official ASU unit names.
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
- Not: Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation
Compound Words
The second part of a hyphenated compound is not capitalized even in instances when other words are capitalized.
- Domestic Violence and Evidence-based Practice
Documents, Forms
Capitalize the full, formal names of documents and forms, such as applications. Don’t capitalize them when used in
a descriptive manner. A complete list of university forms is at https://students.asu.edu/forms.
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- Enrollment Verification Request
- enrollment verification form
- ASU Scholarship Estimator
- the scholarship estimator
- Student Academic Integrity Policy
- the student academic integrity policy
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Language
The Basics
Keep text as brief and scannable as possible. Be clear and purposeful. Avoid trite phrasing and jargon.
Say exactly what you mean:
Real-world is not as specific as practical or applicable. World-renowned says less than pointed phrases like top of the field and respected by peers.
Directness has more impact: The certificate program is designed to help prepare students… [passive, indirect] The certificate program prepares students… [oblique] Students learn to… Students prepare for… [clear, direct, purposeful]
Special Attention
Avoid misunderstanding, and say only what’s necessary.
Check out these examples of issues and the solutions:
- No GRE test is required. *
- Applicants are not required to submit a GRE test score.**
*Readers could skip past No and see is required. Worse, this syntax increases the possibility of misunderstanding for readers won’t have English as their first language. Solution: A GRE test is not required.
**Although this is a clearly stated sentence, the score is not a requirement for admission so it should not even be mentioned in a list of requirements. Solution: Omit it.
Special Attention
Be careful with to.
Shortcuts common in casual, in-person conversation aren’t suitable for formal copy. One culprit that frequently appears in ASU Catalog pre-final copy is the inappropriate use of the word to. Here’s an example: “This transdisciplinary degree program provides a unique platform to train systems engineers targeting technological development for exploration science."
As written, the astute reader sees two possible interpretations and wonders which is intended:
- that only certain engineers are being trained (“ program pr ovides a unique platform that trains systems
engineers who target…” )
- that the program is a platform for training ( “program provides a unique platform for training systems
engineers in targeting…” )
Rewrite for preciseness, clarity.
Gender Neutrality
Use terms that can apply to any gender.
- chair , chairperson ; not chairman, chairwoman
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- emeritus , emeriti ; not emerita
- first-year student (admission status), freshman (class standing)
- humankind ; not mankind
Redundancy
Use simple, clear phrasing to avoid the superfluous.
- Not: potential applicant
- Instead: applicant
- Not: including but not limited to
- Instead: including
Standard Statements
Certain standardized statements are required, and they are shown below. As long as these baseline requirements are met, most standard statements are customizable.
Undergraduate programs Certificates Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
Change of major A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Gainful employment For disclosure information about this U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment program, students should see [insert website address].
Global degree With a global degree program, students have the opportunity to receive their ASU degree in partnership with an international institution. Students and faculty can create and share knowledge to solve pressing global and societal challenges by combining strengths in research and teaching from two different institutions. Global degree programs also give students exposure to international academic experiences and content. Students should contact the academic unit directly for more information about this global degree program.
Global experience https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu/ [Always include the web address, and customize the text for each program.] Some programs include use some variation of the following statement as their customized text. The statement was corrected this year to this version: With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (programs vary in length, from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students who wish to acquire global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and they may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu/
Minors Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
Other enrollment requirements (certificates)
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Second part: The explanatory portion appears as the first entry in Additional Application Information, and it is a complete sentence: An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency.
The two-part statement illustrated: All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency. Applicants should visit https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english- proficiency for more information.
Gainful employment For disclosure information about this U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment program, students should see [insert website address].
Global degree With a global degree program, students have the opportunity to receive their ASU degree in partnership with an international institution. Students and faculty can create and share knowledge to solve pressing global and societal challenges by combining strengths in research and teaching from two different institutions. Global degree programs also give students exposure to international academic experiences and content. Students should contact the academic unit directly for more information about this global degree program.
Global experience Study abroad is possible for graduate students with more than 50 program opportunities spanning six continents. Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses over the summer or during academic breaks with ASU professors offers close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while earning ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu/students/graduate-students
GPA requirements Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
PLuS Alliance This is a two-part statement.
The PLuS Alliance partnership combines the strengths of three leading research universities from three continents — Arizona State University, King's College London and UNSW Sydney — to create and share knowledge that will solve pressing educational and societal challenges.
Students have the opportunity to collaborate with peers and specialists across the globe through PLuS-partner courses offered online. Through this PLuS Alliance collaboration degree program, students develop transferable global competencies and gain exposure to international teaching and academic content. https://www.plusalliance.org/global-learning-network-programmes
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Symbols
Do not mix symbols with words, as in and/or , Chicana/o , Latina/o , school/college , test(s). Rewrite for clarity.
Voice
Use the formal third-person voice typical of academic writing ( he , she , they , a student , students ) everywhere except in the marketing field where the required voice is the conversational second-person ( you , your ).
Use present tense in Degree Search program listings and in the college and university policies. Here are two examples of corrections made during catalog review:
- A student will be is placed on academic probation if one or more of the student's GPAs listed above is less
than 3.00. Students will be are notified by mail when placed on academic probation.
- Students who do not achieve a 2.00 GPA will be are placed on university academic probation, and they must meet with an advisor to discuss academic success strategies.
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Example 1 — Career Opportunities After leaving ASU, many graduates participate in activities like these:
- conduct academic research
- curate or produce dance festivals and events
- direct or manage performing art companies, studios or dance-related organizations
- facilitate community partnerships and projects
Example 2 — Career Opportunities People knowledgeable about Asia are required in virtually every arena in which the U.S. interacts with the rest of the world, including:
- communication
- diplomacy
- food security
- higher education
- humanitarian service
- intelligence
Example 1 — Admission Requirements All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- official copy of GRE scores
- portfolio; or, a writing sample from applicants who have a science background
- statement of intent
- contact information for three references
- proof of English proficiency
Example 2 — Admission Requirements Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in one of the professions or fields of study outlined below:
- a five- or six-year National Architectural Accrediting Board-accredited professional degree in architecture (BArch or MArch)*
- a four-year Bachelor of Science in landscape architecture or a master's degree in landscape architecture which must be granted by an institution that offers the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board-accredited degree program in landscape architecture
- an engineering degree (BS or MS) with a background in building sustainability issues**
- a science degree (BS or MS) with a background in building sustainability issues
*Applicants should refer to the NAAB website for more information about the BArch or MArch. **Mechanical and civil engineering and construction majors are particularly suited for application to the BS or MS program in engineering.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- official copy of GRE scores
- portfolio; or, a writing sample from applicants who have a science background
- statement of intent
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- contact information for three references
- proof of English proficiency
Remedies, with Examples
Short Lists Extremely short or simple lists don’t warrant treatment as a vertical list: The program is ideal for students with interests as varied as:
- artificial intelligence
- solar energy
- video gaming
The content should be fashioned as an in-line list in a sentence: The program is ideal for students with interests as varied as artificial intelligence, solar energy and video gaming.
Long Lists Excessively long lists such as this example are not suitable for vertical lists and must be recrafted: The program reflects the dual nature of computer science as a scientific and engineering discipline by allowing emphasis on theory as well as practical applications. Students can study topics such as:
- artificial intelligence
- bioinformatics
- cloud and distributed computing
- computer-aided geometric design
- computer design and architecture
- computer graphics
- computer networks
- cyber-physical and embedded systems
- cyber security
- database management and information retrieval
- database systems
- data mining and machine learning
- distributed computing and operating systems
- embedded systems
- health operations and informatics
- imaging, graphics and visualization
- information assurance and security
- intelligent information integration
- multimedia
- network algorithms
- personalized learning and educational games
- simulation modeling and systems
- social computing
- software engineering
- statistical modeling
- theory and algorithms
To correct that list, one option is to create broad categories with specifics listed after an em dash:
