Origins
Shown above is the location of the University of Paris on a modern day map.
In the early thirteenth century, three of the most prominent schools in Paris came together: Notre-Dame, St-Genevieve, and St-Victor. Together, they formed what would eventually be known as the University of Paris (Féret, n.d.). Seven years later (1215), two statues were put into place with the backing of the Pope himself. A student who registers at the school must be registered under a master within 15 days and attend at least one of his lectures once a day, and three other lectures in addition to this (Cobban, 1999, p.8). Lectures were given in the mornings typically followed by a recitation in the evenings, to test what the students had learned that day (Cobban, 199, p.171). Classes were given in this way because of the scarcity of books in the Middle Ages. Libraries (pictured on the left) often had fewer than a few hundred books so students were required to memorize the lectures (Guisepi, n.d.). Typically class sizes did not ever exceed more than 30 students, as more than that would bring shame to the masters (known today as professors) (Sorbonne, n.d.).
In 1254 the University established itself as having the four
faculties (more commonly known now as schools) of Theology (first and
foremost), Law, Medicine, and rational, natural, and moral Philosophy.
Eventually the faculties of Theology, Law, and Medicine became superior faculties; first Theology and Medicine, followed by Law. Eventually the super faculties
became known as doctorates, or PhDs. The four nations of the arts, that had
evolved from the school of philosophy, became known as baccalaureate degrees (Féret, n.d.).
Early on students liked to double major, obtaining both degrees in theology
and medical fields. However, this was put to a halt later on because of the performance
rate of these students. A student who enrolled in the medical field could only
master in medicine, and their full attention had to be there (Cobban,199, p.170).
You could only teach if you were among the elite students from the school, and had attended classes for a minimum of 6 years. To teach the arts one had to reach the age of 21, for Theology one had to have at least eight years of schooling and obtained the age of 30. In addition to this all masters had to be morally in the right, the heads of the schools would accept no less (Feret, n.d.). The title of dean, as a head of the faculty, did not come until the end of the middle ages around 1450 (Feret, n.d.).
The University of Paris was shaped by many French Kings and Popes throughout many years. The first several decades were a process of trial and error for all departments, that were constantly changing and evolving. For a more in depth read you can check out our Resource list.
You could only teach if you were among the elite students from the school, and had attended classes for a minimum of 6 years. To teach the arts one had to reach the age of 21, for Theology one had to have at least eight years of schooling and obtained the age of 30. In addition to this all masters had to be morally in the right, the heads of the schools would accept no less (Feret, n.d.). The title of dean, as a head of the faculty, did not come until the end of the middle ages around 1450 (Feret, n.d.).
The University of Paris was shaped by many French Kings and Popes throughout many years. The first several decades were a process of trial and error for all departments, that were constantly changing and evolving. For a more in depth read you can check out our Resource list.