At the end of the summer term in 1827, Professor James McBath, who had served as president pro tem until President Coffin was appointed and came to the campus, was awarded the master of arts degree (AM), which was probably in the nature of additional compensation rather than as signifying additional academic achievement. This degree was a “master’s in course” type of degree and with no specific requirements other than possession of the baccalaureate degree and payment of a fee.
Between 1827 and 1879, when the degree was replaced by a master of arts degree requiring work in residence under the supervision of the faculty, some 67 such master’s degrees were conferred. Between 1879 and 1885, seven additional “master’s in course” degrees were conferred, presumably because the individuals had qualified before the degree was dropped in 1879. The first earned master of arts degree was conferred in 1884 on James Cummings.