A Master of Arts (M.A., MA, A.M., or AM) from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. (both Master of Science) degrees. Those admitted to the degree typically study English, history, geography, other of the humanities, philosophy, social sciences, fine arts or (at some universities) nursing or theology. The degree can be conferred in respect of passing examinations, in respect of research, or a combination of the two.

The Master of Arts degree traces its origin to the teaching license, or Licentia docendi, for the University of Paris.

In Germany, the traditional equivalent of the postgraduate Master of Arts was the Magister Artium, which was a first degree. This degree, which required 5 years of studies, did exist in former West Germany and in reunited Germany until 2010, but not in former East Germany where all degree courses led to Diplom degrees. Traditional Magister degrees where granted in social sciences and most of the humanities, with the exception of visual and performing arts such as music and theatre. The Magister Artium was either a double major degree, or a combination of one major and two minors. German postgraduate Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees were introduced in 2001. Therefore, the new Master of Arts and the old Magister Artium degrees existed side by side until the phase out of the old degrees in 2010. The new Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees together also require 5 years of studies, which is the reason why the new Master of Arts and the old Magister Artium degrees are considered equivalent, although the Magister Artium was a first degree.

Laura Stevenson (born April 25, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter based in Long Island, New York and keyboardist for musical collective, Bomb the Music Industry!.

Laura Stevenson was raised in Nassau County, New York, where she was introduced to music at an early age. Her grandfather, Harry Simeone, was a successful pianist and composer whose works included "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?". Simeone's wife (and Laura's grandmother), Margaret McCravy was a singer for the jazz bandleader Benny Goodman. Not until leaving her home for college, did Laura begin both playing guitar and writing songs.

Growing up in Rockville Centre, Laura befriended members of The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. After they disbanded in 2005, Laura was appointed as a keyboardist for lead singer Jeff Rosenstock's new project, Bomb The Music Industry!. At this point, Laura had written a number of her own songs and was performing solo. While recording and touring with Bomb The Music Industry!, Laura began to piece together her own band, which was dubbed Laura Stevenson & the Cans.