Like to Study in Those Times? The appearance of universities was part of the same high-medieval education boom. Originally universities were institutions where students could attain specialized instruction in advanced studies. These types of studies were not available in the average cathedral schools. Advanced schools existed in the ancient world, but did not promote a fixed curricula or award degrees.The term university originally meant a corporation of guild. All universities were corporations of students or teachers. Guilds were originally established to protect the interests and rights of the members. The majority of the universities practiced diverse curriculum ( a few universities did specialize in medicine or law). A new social order gradually began to develop during the 11th and 12th centuries. As this new university culture became accepted, secular studies were incorporated. The new curriculum was divided into two divisions: the elementary trivium and the more advanced quadrivium. The trivium consisted of grammar, logic and rhetoric while the quadrivium consisted of geometry, music, astronomy, and arithmetic. This curriculum was referred to as the Seven Liberal Arts. When a student completed the trivium and oral exams, he was entitled to a bachelor's degree. Continuation of the quadrivium granted the student a master's degree.Today's student has many advantages over a medieval student. It is easy to think of the many advantages: paper, multiple classrooms and professors, computers. To think of the disadvantages today's student has compared to his medieval counterpart, is somewhat a more difficult task. For the purposes of this paper, the discussion will focus on three disadvantages.Today's university student has little say about the performance of his professors. The only feedback a student can give is at the end of the term. This is usually done by filling out a questionnaire. At this point in time, the ...
