History And Context Of Graduate Education M

History and Context of Graduate Education
LSTD 5003 – 200
Myrissa Weeks
University of Oklahoma

As we begin our graduate degrees, I believe it is very important for us to understand how and where the tradition originated. The foundation of the American higher education system is derived from the original ideology of European education. Two Greek pioneers of tutelage, Plato and Aristotle, established the Academy in 387 BC and the Lyceum in 335 BC, respectively (University of Oklahoma, 2015). Over the next few centuries there were significant developments in Palestine, Babylonia, India, China, and Egypt. Jewish, Buddhist, and Islamic religions each had their own educational institutions founded during this time, and were equally important in the expansion of graduate studies.
The development of universities in Western Europe began when groups of students flocked from their home countries to various locations to witness instructors lecture about specific topics. Numerous universities were established in Europe during the 12th century. England, Germany, Bohemia, and Poland each had the inauguration of their first university. The primary model for European institutions originated from the basis of the University of Paris, which became the central establishment for the studies of philosophy and theology (University of Oklahoma, 2015). In Italy the University of Bologna became known for the study of law and the University of Salerno became renowned for the study of medicine. Future universities in Italy and Spain modeled their institutions after the University of Bologna (University of Oklahoma, 2015). In general, medieval universities were comprised of males only; no females were granted admission. Medieval institutions offered trivium and quadrivium curricula, setting a precedence for modern liberal arts education.
The Renaissance introduced the idea of humanism in education. Scholars were more interested in what literature said about life on Earth rather than what was mentioned about religion. This, however, changed after the Protestant Reformation. During the 16th century religious doctrines were the focal points of academics. The Catholic and Protestant churches began to take over educational institutions, having courses emphasize the study of theology as well as training priests, ministers, lawyers, and physicians (University of Oklahoma, 2015).
With the settlement of North America came new colleges and universities, accompanied by concepts from European scholarship. Each group of colonists established its own institutions that reflected those of its home country as well its idea of basic educational goals. The British used Oxford and Cambridge as models, French Catholics founded College de Jesuites as the first college in Canada, and Puritans established Harvard, which focused on ministry studies (University of Oklahoma, 2015). Scottish influences included the idea of math and science as focal studies rather than liberal arts. An American student named Benjamin Rush helped start the College of Philadelphia after studying medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland. Other colleges and universities established during this time included the College of William and Mary, Yale, Princeton, and King’s College (now Columbia University).
After the Treaty of Paris in 1783 made the independence of the United States official, state colleges began to emerge. Schools including the University of Georgia, the University of North Carolina, the University of Tennessee, and the University of South Carolina were established. Founding Father Thomas Jefferson disagreed with the way higher education was being run and believed that institutions should not be controlled by churches. Rather, they should be publically controlled and secular. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819 (University of Oklahoma, 2015). Modern and scientific studies were incorporated into the curriculum, but traditional and classical programs were offered as well. Students also had the choice to take alternative courses instead of having to follow one set program. Because of the audacity shown by Jefferson, these policies became the foundation upon which future state colleges and universities would be built, including Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin. Coinciding with the transfer of control, various religious denominations began establishing their own institutions.
Dissatisfied with the prominence of liberal arts education in American universities, United States Representative Justin S. Morrill drafted the Morrill Act in 1857 (University of Oklahoma, 2015). This act, passed by Congress in 1862, granted public land to each state to be used for agricultural and mechanical colleges and universities. These schools became known as land-grant colleges. The Morrill Act of 1890 provided A&M colleges and universities with federal funds. Specifically, these funds were to establish all-black institutions in states that did not allow African American students to attend land-grant colleges built with funds from the first Morrill Act (University of Oklahoma, 2015). Although originally meant to focus particularly on agriculture and mechanics, present-day A&M colleges and universities offer a full range of programs including liberal arts, professional studies, and engineering. Starting in the late 19th century research universities, including our beloved University of Oklahoma in 1890, emerged in the United States and Canada. Several graduate students from the United States attended research universities in Germany and upon their return introduced the concept to American institutions (University of Oklahoma, 2015). German seminars were given by highly-trained professors in specific academic specialties who conducted original research with graduate students. Among notable United States research universities are Johns Hopkins University and the University of Chicago.
Graduate education in the United States today mirrors many of the concepts of the original European ideology of education, but has been adjusted considerably for the evolution of society. Significant change include the inclusion of women and minorities in education, the addition of technical programs in the curricula, as well as federal funding for military personnel which led to the expansion of universities across the country.
Interesting Facts about OU
The most interesting fact I found about OU is that in 2014 the university was awarded the Davis Cup, a prestigious award given to the university with the most United World College freshman in the nation (University of Oklahoma, 2015). The Davis United World College program brings students from around the world to partner universities in the United States. Students that participate spend their last two years of high school at one of the United World Colleges (UWC). Here they complete an International Baccalaureate program, taught completely in English, then apply for admission to the university. I found it very interesting that not only was OU the first public university to receive this award, but in the year the university received this award it beat out an Ivy League school, Brown University. Not only did OU have the most UWC freshman, it set the record for the largest UWC freshman class with 45; Brown only had 33 freshman that year (NewsOK, 2014). I never would have thought that more students would want to attend OU than a highly respected and sought-after university such as Brown.
Another interesting OU fact is that five Native American languages are taught at the university, which is more than any university in the country (University of Oklahoma, 2015). Even more interesting, it seems as though only four are taught presently: Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Kiowa. As far as I can tell Cheyenne was last taught in the fall of 2012, but is no longer offered. Perhaps OU should change that information on its facts page. Regardless, it is a great honor for the university to have taught the most Native American languages of any school nation-wide.
The last fact that I found particularly interesting is that World Literature Today is published through the University of Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma, 2015). The publication has received accolades from across the globe including London, India, and Sweden. It is known for presenting book reviews, fiction, essays, and poetry from all parts of the world.
References
NewsOK. (2014, March 1). The University of Oklahoma sets a record for the largest Davis United World College freshman class. Retrieved from NewsOK: http://newsok.com/the-university-of-oklahoma-sets-a-record-for-the-largest-davis-united-world-college-freshman-class/article/3938607
University of Oklahoma. (2015). OU Facts. Retrieved from University of Oklahoma Public Affairs: http://www.ou.edu/publicaffairs/oufacts.html
University of Oklahoma. (2015). The History of Universities. Retrieved from http://cols.ou.edu/active/LSTD5003/unit1_univ.shtml
World Literature Today. (2015). Accolades. Retrieved from Word Literature Today: http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/accolades

References: NewsOK. (2014, March 1). The University of Oklahoma sets a record for the largest Davis United World College freshman class. Retrieved from NewsOK: http://newsok.com/the-university-of-oklahoma-sets-a-record-for-the-largest-davis-united-world-college-freshman-class/article/3938607 University of Oklahoma. (2015). OU Facts. Retrieved from University of Oklahoma Public Affairs: http://www.ou.edu/publicaffairs/oufacts.html University of Oklahoma. (2015). The History of Universities. Retrieved from http://cols.ou.edu/active/LSTD5003/unit1_univ.shtml World Literature Today. (2015). Accolades. Retrieved from Word Literature Today: http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/accolades