History

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 364.

European universities. Modern universities had their origin in Europe during the 1100's. But European universities were not the first in the world. The Arabs had universities at earlier dates. Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo in about 970, is one of the oldest universities in the world still operating.

European universities developed from the cathedral and monastery schools. Their development took place so slowly that it is difficult to know the point at which they became universities. Many scholars believe the oldest European university is the University of Bologna, Italy. It came into existence about 1100. The University of Paris developed in the late 1100's. Many other universities appeared in Europe in the 1200's and the 1300's.

These first schools were founded largely to serve the professions. They provided the first unified teaching of law, medicine, and theology. The courses of study gradually broadened. During the Renaissance in the 1400's, the universities helped direct the revival of interest in Greek and Roman learning. From this revival developed the modern concept of the liberal-arts curriculum.

First universities in the Americas. The first university in the Western Hemisphere, the University of Santo Domingo, was founded in the Dominican Republic in 1538. The University of San Marcos at Lima, Peru, was founded in 1551, as was the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Other universities appeared shortly afterward in the other Spanish colonies.

The first university planned in what is now the United States was at Henricopolis, Virginia. It was authorized in 1619, but plans were dropped after the Indian massacres of 1622. Harvard University is the oldest active school of higher education in the United States. It was founded in 1636. Canada's oldest university, Laval University, was founded as the Seminary of Quebec in 1663. It became a university in 1852. Canada's first English-speaking university was established in 1789. It was the University of King's College at Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Higher education in the United States began when knowledge was limited. The modern scientific spirit had not yet developed. The early settlers looked upon colleges chiefly as a means of training ministers.

Many small church colleges were founded during the 1700's and 1800's, particularly in the Middle West. These colleges were general rather than specialized. They taught liberal arts rather than technical subjects. Early in U.S. history, some leaders saw the need for education that went beyond religious concerns. The state university was one response to this need.

Another development was the granting of land in new territories for the establishment of schools. Wealthy citizens also gave gifts for the founding of nonchurch schools. A number of schools that had been established by churches also came under private control.

Growth of specialization. During the 1800's and through the mid-1900's, specialization in knowledge increased. Many colleges were created to train students in such fields as agriculture, medicine, engineering, and commerce. Specialization also resulted in an increased emphasis on advanced study. As a result, graduate schools were established at many larger schools. In turn, professional and research interests came to dominate all other educational interests. Education for professions overshadowed the liberal arts.

Another cause of specialization has been the increase in the number of students attending college. In the early days, universities served only a relatively limited group. But the people of the United States insisted that higher education should be available to anyone who wanted it.

Recent developments. Educators agree students need a broad education as a basis for whatever field attracts them. Some colleges stress the study of classic works of literature. Others combine campus study with practical training in factories and offices.

During the 1960's and early 1970's, programs were developed to help members of minority groups obtain a higher education. The federal government established Upward Bound, a project designed to encourage and prepare students from low-income homes to attend college. Some schools modified their admissions standards for members of minority groups to encourage theirenrollment. Curriculum designers also fashioned new programs, such as Afro-American, American Indian, and Chicano studies. These programs were intended to broaden the student's understanding of the contributions of various ethnic groups to American society.

Another major development in American universities and colleges has been their increasing contribution to the world outside the campus. University laboratories have become important centers of experiment and discovery. College extension services, home study, correspondence courses, and radio and TV programs have spread knowledge far beyond the limits of the campus.

During the 1980's and early 1990's, the student bodies of many universities and colleges became increasingly diverse. Many campuses began offering programs that deal with such issues as gender, disability, age, and sexual preference.

Contributor: I. King Jordan, Ph.D., President, Gallaudet Univ.