Why degree names?

Question

Why are Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate and Professorate (if there is such a thing) degrees called by their respective names.

Answer 1

Mr S suggested someone may advise on the etymology of Doctorate. Well the etymology of all the degree names shed light on why they are used as follows,

bachelor (Bachelor's)
1297, "youthful knight, novice in arms," from Old French bacheler "knight bachelor," a young squire in training for knighthood.

master (Master's)
Old English mægester "one having control or authority," from Latin magister "chief, head, director, teacher" (cf. Old French maistre, French maître, Italian maestro, German Meister), infl. in M.E. by O.Fr. maistre, from L. magister, contrastive adj. from magis (adv.) "more," itself a comp. of magnus "great."

doctor (Doctorate)
c.1303, "Church father," from Old French doctour, from M.L. doctor "religious teacher, adviser, scholar," from Latin doctor "teacher," from doct- stem of docere "to show, teach,"

Answer 2

I'll give this a rough shot to start the conversation. Long ago, and for the most part, women simply did not historically go to college until quite recently. Young men of the upper class generally went to college instead of working in mines and aboard ships. Most men did not go on to study further unless it was law or medicine. These degrees were a mark of the educated class, and these men were now seen as elible bachelors available for employment and marriage. Upon graduation, they were hastily wed.

However, today bachelor's degrees are obtained by people across every demographic. Many now see them as merely the High School Diploma of the future since real job security is increasingly linked to a solid education in a career field. Many holders of these degrees go back to school to improve their career prospects. Some are even disenchanted that a Bachelor's degree is not a ticket to entry in the upper-middle class any longer.

There are all sorts of Bachelor's degrees from B.A. degrees in the liberal arts and social sciences and B.F.A. degrees in Fine Arts such as music add painting to B.S. degrees in Biology, Nursing, Chemistry, etc. Many B.S. degrees are percieved as carrying more weight with employers, indeed, the entry-level hiring prospects for holders of degrees in the life sciences, accounting, Chemistry, etc. top the list.

Master's degrees of course denote mastery of a focused topic. They have traditionally been done through research, and more recently through classroom instruction, or a combination of both.

Perhaps someone else can shed more light on the etymology of "doctor". We are all familiar with the doctor of medicine (MD) as one of many experts holding the title of Doctor, with experts in the liberal arts and scientific theory hold the title Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Medical Doctors usually use the title Dr. in public, while most professors only use the title in their professional setting (the university, school, think tank, etc.). There is an unwritten rule that it is pretentious to have everyone address one as Dr. So and So simply because you are an expert on butterflies or Don Quixote. After all, its not as if you will be called upon to deliver a baby in the galley of a crash-landing Boeing 757. Medical Doctors supposedly identify themselves as doctors everywhere in case they are called upon to render aid. Not that it isn't a badge of pride for many people.

Answer 3

significant the significant subject in a Bachelor or carry close programme. Minor Minor and complementary subject, respectively, in a Bachelor or carry close programme. degree call: call of the degree linked with the artwork as apparently interior the artwork. degree minor: That area of a level application in an approved secondary self-discipline orfield outside the significant. A minor calls for fewer hours than a significant. A carried out minor is shown on a student’s transcript yet no longer on the degree. degree significant: That area of a level application mutually with a diverse style of hours from a defined crew of classes in a first self-discipline or field. A carried out significant is shown on both a student’s degree and transcript; designating or of a field of learn in which a student specializes and receives a level.

Answer 4

There are no professorate as such. For the rest what it means is already in the word.

Answer 5

bachelor
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000424

master - having authority
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master

doctor - licensed to practice
doctor also means "equal to the teacher"

professorate is just working as a professor