An MRS Degree or M.R.S. Degree is a slang term in North American English [1] for when a young woman attends college or university with the intention of finding a potential spouse, [2] as opposed to pursuing academic achievement for a future career. [3] [4] The term derives from "Mrs.", a common honorific for married women, [5] and its similarity to abbreviations for academic degrees, such as "M.S." for a Master of Science. It is a faux acronym, as it does not stand for anything individually even though its letters are pronounced individually when spoken aloud. [5] The earliest use of the term was in 1860, [1] but the term "MRS degree" was most commonly used during the mid 20th century in North America, a period of time when higher education became more accessible, yet the possibilities for women were still very limited. [6] [1] A similar concept exists in Spanish: taking an EMMC course (an acronym meaning "estudio mientras me caso", "I study while I get married").