As we begin our graduate degrees, 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