In general, the teaching programme for philosophy was constructed as follows. During the first stage, primarily the logical works of the corpus aristotelicum were studied, then the physical works, followed by the Metaphysics and finally the Ethics. Additional works in the field of grammar, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, or astronomy were included, but played a less central role.
The programme was divided into three consecutive stages. The first stage lasted from the beginning of study until achievement of the first academic grade, that of bachelor. During this time, study consisted primarily of the logical and some parts of the physical works of Aristotle. The student at this stage was called scolaris. Once he passed his first exam, which happened generally after two to three years of study, he was called baccalareus and prepared himself for the next exam, that of the licentiate. During this period he principally followed courses on the remainder of the physical works, the Metaphysics and the Ethics. This phase lasted longer, sometimes up to 5 years. After he had been awarded his licentiate, the student then applied for the title of master, which was normally awarded within the year. The master’s title granted him the ius ubique docendi, that is, right to teach at all universities, although in practice this was not always accepted. At the end of the Middle Ages, for instance, when the Arts faculties were divided into a via moderna and via antiqua, some universities that followed only the via moderna refused to accept masters who had been educated in the via antiqua.
World History
