The right, concise way to indicate current enrollment in multiple specific master's degree programs

EDIT: I originally titled this "Master of Architecture student" or "Master of Architecture candidate"? My apologies if the question was unclear, I couldn't think of a better title at the time, I hope this title is clearer. I'm not asking the definition of "candidate" vs. "student". Despite being a less common usage, "candidate" is sometimes used to describe students who are working towards a degree.

My question is about achieving the correct formal tone and concision for the context: a business card. A full sentence seems inappropriate in such a context, and I'm hoping to avoid acronyms because they are typically meaningless to those outside the discipline.

I'm looking for the right, concise way to indicate current enrollment in multiple specific master's degree program on a business card. I sometimes see "candidate" used for master's students, but it seems much more common for PhD students. Does "candidate" denote something more specific than "student" in this context?

Furthermore, if one were enrolled simultaneously in two master's programs, would it be appropriate to combine the two into "Master of Architecture and City Planning student" or "Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning student"?

Solution 1:

A candidate formally denotes "someone who is taking an examination," so saying someone is a master's candidate or a PhD candidate refers to a specific time in that student's academic career.

I had a co-worker who was pursuing master's degrees in mechanical engineering and in architecture, and phrased it just that way on his CV. So in your case:

Currently pursuing master's degrees in architecture and in city planning.

Or, more consisely:

Pursuing MArch and MCP degrees.

If you want something that fits on a business card, I would go with "MArch/MCP 2015" with whatever date is appropriate for you.

Solution 2:

In my Ph.D. program, you didn't use candidate until you had passed your coursework and prelim (leaving you with just your research and dissertation). A candidate was therefore an indication that you were quite far along in your studies. We used student for the ones still taking classes.

So on a business card, put "Master's student" if you have not yet completed your required coursework and "Master's candidate" if you are writing your thesis and preparing to defend.

Unless a single degree will be conferred, you should use Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning to make sure that it is clear that these are two separate credentials.

Benjamin Golder
Master's candidate
Architecture
City Planning