DEGREE', in universities, a mark of distinction conferred on the students or members thereof as a testimony of their proficiency in arts or sciences, and en titling them to certain privileges. This is usually evinced by a diploma. The first degree is that of Bachelor of Arts ; the second, that of Master of Arts. I low ora•y degrees are those of Doctor of Di. Tinily, Doctor of haws, &e. Physicians also receive the degree of Doctor of Med icine. The origin of degrees at the uni of Paris and Bologna, the two most aneient. in Europe, appears to have been only the necessary distinction be tween these who taught and those who learnt. The former were styled (such was at least the case at Paris) doctors or teachers, and masters, as a token of re spect, indiscriminately. At what time the distinction between these two degrees arose we cannot ascertain ; but about the middle of the 13th century we find, at Paris, doctors and masters simply as grad uates, and not necessarily connected with the business of teaching ; those who were so being called regent musters, or simply regents. The degree of Bachelor, the
lowest in the several faculties, is certain ly of French origin ; from whence it has been argued that the whole system of academical titles is so likewise. Degrees still continue to bear the same names, and, with some variation, the same rela tive academical rank, in most European countries ; but the mode of granting them, and their value at different universities as tokens of proficiency, vary greatly. At Oxford and Cambridge degrees are given in arts, divinity, law, medicine, and mu sic; but among all these the lowest de gree in arts, viz. that of bachelor, is the only one conferred on a substantial exam ination, and the only one which is attain ed by proceeding through a regular aca demical course of study. The higher de grees in arts, and those in the other facul ties, are attained simply by residence and the performance of a few unimportant exercises. Honorary degrees, in the Eng lish universities, are generally conferred in civil law.