MASTER OF ARTS

From Agepedia

MASTER OF ARTS. In the German universities, the title of magister artium is an academical honor, conferred by the philosophical faculty, after a previous examination in the general sciences, particularly philosophy, philology, mathematics, physics and history. The word magister> connected with a qualifying phrase, was used among the Romans as a title of honor; as, for instance, magister equitum (see the next article), but its present meaning must be traced to the time of the establishment of the oldest universities. Regularly organized faculties were not then known, as they now exist in the universities of the continent. The whole circle of academic activity was limited to the seven liberal arts (see Art): the teachers wore called artists ; the body of teachers, the faculty of artists; and they who received public honors on the completion of their course of studies, for their diligence and knowledge, and had already received the degree of haccalaureusy were called magistri arti urn (masters of the liberal arts)a title with which that of doctor of philosophy was afterwards joined. As the origin of this dignity is more ancient than that of doctor, it is still placed before it in most of the German universities. The precise period of its introduction is not known ; but even in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the honor was so highly esteemed in France, that the most distinguished men were eager to obtain it. Since that time, its dignity has been greatly diminished. This title is to be distinguished from the magister legem, that is, one who has obtained the right, by public disputations, to deliver lectures. In the English and American universities, the title of master of arts is intermediate between those of bachelor of arts and doctor.