Origin of the name
The foundation of universities resulted in the need to organize knowledge. The first differentiation was that of intellectual knowledge and manual practice, which later became Theory and Practice, the latter being relegated to the learning of trades.
The word University derives from the Latin Universitas. “An abstract noun based on the adjective Universus – a- um (all, whole, universal), which is derived in turn from Unus – a- um (one)”. This term is attributed to Cicero, who used it for the first time to mean a whole consisting of many parts and having a single aim: universitas rerum and universitas generis humani.
Alfonso X the Wise defined it as “a community of teachers and scholars which is established in some place with the intention and understanding to study the different branches of knowledge” (Partid. II, Title XXXI, Law 1), alluding to the name universitas magistrorum et scholarium.
Until the 14th century, the term Universitas coexisted with another older term, first Studium and then Studium generale and also Studia Generalia (plural). This was the name given to the first universities: the Bologna School of Law (14th century), the schools of Philosophy in Paris (12th century) and the monastic schools of Oxford (12th century).
In this antecedent we base ourselves to add the term “General Study” in singular or plural, “General Studies”, in the vernacular languages or in Latin Studium Generale or Studia Generalia . It refers to a center of instruction for all types of people, where lessons are given on various academic disciplines.
