Meaning of "Bachelor"

• The history of the word "bachelor" as applied to education is fascinating. Etymologically speaking, the word "bachelor" is possibly derived from, and at the least is related to, the word "baccalarius." This word is Latin and means "the division of land." In the early history of Europe, this word referred to the people who worked specific parts of fields. As society became more sophisticated, the word denoted a division of skill and a level of skill as well. Around the 13th century, the word meant "squire," but the spelling had been changed to the French "bachelor."
  
  

"Bachelor" as Academic Title

• After bachelor became attached to the meaning "squire," it expanded to capture the various levels of proficiency within a squire's career. "Bachelor" eventually came to mean a junior member of the guild of knight. During this time, a new spelling and meaning emerged: "bachiler." This word was used to indicate a student who had finished the first part of training or the foundational level of a skilled trade. By the 17th century another new spelling emerged: "baccalaureus." This word was used specifically to mean "a student with a first degree." Today, both the original French spelling "bachelor" and the Latin word "baccalaureus" are both used to mean the same thing in our educational system.
  
  

Higher Degrees in Medieval Europe

• The first universities are said to have been in India; however, the intricate university system upon which we model our own system emerged in medieval Europe. The medieval university involved three to four years of study of the liberal arts, which were divided into two categories: "trivium" (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) or "quadrivium" (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). Students selected a focus and upon completion of three to four years of study earned their bachelor's degrees. By the late 13th century many university systems across Europe came into agreement about the hierarchy of degrees and the way in which universities should be run.
  
  

Higher Education in America

• Although sophisticated university systems were in operation in Europe uniformly from the 13th century on, such uniformity did not translate into the New World. Many early universities were religiously inspired according to the interests of the colonizers of the New World. In 1636 Harvard was established as a school of divinity. After the United States became a country, education took on a more important role; however, with little centralized power, universities were highly individualized and lacked the uniform structure of European universities. In the mid-1800s federal government became involved in education, leading to more uniformity across universities as well as increased opportunities for women and minorities. Education in the United States continued to grow, and more people were able to obtain bachelor's degrees, but the degree remained prestigious.
  
  

Modern Bachelor of Arts

• During the Cold War era U.S. educational systems were bolstered by government funds. During this time, great value was placed on higher education, and there was an increase in enrollment. The bachelor degree became more accessible because of increased enrollment and the cultural pressure to obtain one. As universities expanded, they became more like businesses and were run accordingly. This businesslike environment still pervades higher education. Today, the bachelor's degree is less valued by society because of increased opportunities to obtain such a degree. Although this can be characterized as a negative development, it also means that higher education is available to more people than it has been at any other time in history. The "land of opportunity" holds true to its name with regard to higher education.