Why Bachelor's degree is called Bachelor's degree?

This post shall answer all the three following questions. 

Why Bachelor's degree is called Bachelor's degree? 

What is the significance of the word Bachelor in Bachelor's degrees?

Why B.Sc./ B.A./ B.Com./ B.Tech/ B.E./ B.B.A./ L.L.B./ M.B.B.S. etc are called Bachelor's degrees? 

1. Introduction

• B.Sc./ B.A./ B.Com./ B.Tech/ B.E: Bachelor of Science, Arts, Commerce, Technology, Engineering etc.
  

• BBA: Bachelor of Business Administration

• LLB: Bachelor of Legislative Law

• MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery

2. Commonly known meaning

• Most of us have qualified one of the above degrees. But many of us do not know why these degrees are called 'Bachelor' of.... or Bachelor's degree. 

• Commonly known meaning of Bachelor is the person who has never been married. But what is its connection in the context of Education?

3. Etymology (the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning)

• The exact etymology of the word is not fully known. 

• In 12th century a knight baccalarius/ bachelor was a young or poor contract soldier. So the word is meant for a person of not so superior rank.  

• Both the ancient Greeks and Romans used to honor their people with wreaths made of bay laurel leaves as a symbol of victory, high status and protector from the Deities or Gods ire [1-2]. It is not yet clear what is the meaning of 'bachelor' in this case and its application in the field of education.

 

 

Fig.1.: Napoleon with wreath of bay laurel on his head (Made of Gold)

• In 13th century onward an academic degree (baccalaureate/ Bachelor) conferred by various college or universities for completing the undergraduate curriculum. It is the 1st or the lowest degree in a university. The word bachelor originated from the latin word baccalaureate.

• From ancient times Graduates used to wear laurel crowns filled with berries. This laurel represents the fruit of their study. A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel. 

 

 

Fig.2.: Wreath of bay laurel

• Bay laurel is an aromatic evergreen tree whose shiny leaves give off a pleasant scent and its fruits (Berry) are black in colour.
  

• Scientific name of bay laurel or laurel berry is 'Laurus nobilis', तेज पत्ता (Tejpatta) in Hindi or তেজপাতা (Tej pata) in bengali) [3-5]. Berry fruit is different from Indian black jamun. Scientific name of Indian black jamun is 'Syzygium cumini'.

 

Fig.3.: Bay laurel / Scientific name: Laurus nobilis 

• The Greeks considered it as a medicine and used to worship the God of medicine, The Asclepios with this leaves.   

 

Fig.4: Etymology [Oxford languages] [6]

• So in summary [7-8]

• baccalaureus--> baccalaureatus (bacca-laureate) --> bachelor. 

• baccalarius --> bacca (berry) + lauri (laurel) --> laurel berry

Fig.5: Students of The Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy wearing laurel wreaths marking the completion of their degrees [9].

4. Conclusion:  

• On reviewing the available literature, it is evident that bacca-laureate or bachelor degree, is the very first degree of a university which is awarded to students for completing the undergraduate curriculum. 

• The term 'Bachelor' originated from latin 'baccalarius', which was most probably originated from 'laurel berry'.   

• From ancient times Graduates used to wear laurel crowns filled with berries or wreath of bay laurel. 

• Wreath of 'Laurel berry' or 'wreath of bay laurel', a wreath made from the leaves of bay laurel, considered as a symbol of honor, recognition and achievement.

• Similar historical origin is linked to the present day 'Nobel Laureate', recipient of  prestigious award for their outstanding contribution in the field of Arts, Science, Economy and Peace.
  

5. Reference

1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/laurel

2. http://imakelma.com/books/53/www.liza-kliko.com/laurel-wreath/greece.htm  

3. http://demzsky.blogspot.com/2012/08/bay-leaf-aka-laurel-leaf.html

4. http://www.essentialoil.in/laurel-berry-oil.html

5. https://www.bangla-english.com/en-bn/laurel

6. https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

7. https://useenglishwords.com/baccalarius/ 

8. “Laureate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laureate. 

9. https://pages.jh.edu/gazette/2009/08june09/08saisgraduation.html