A baccalaureate service is a traditional event associated with graduation services. Baccalaureate Service is usually associated with higher education, such as college and university, however high school graduations may also include a baccalaureate service.

There are different interpretations of the etymology of the name for a Baccalaureate Service. According to some, bacca is said to come from bachelor, and lauri is said to denote oration. Another interpretation as to the etymology of the term baccalaureate points to the tradition of bestowing laurel plants upon those scholars who have earned a bachelor’s degree. In this case, the name is said to come from bacca or berry, and laureatus, or crowned with branches of bay laurel leaves. In either of these cases, there is a connection between speech giving, bestowing laurels, and bachelor’s degrees, and the interpretations are not mutually exclusive.

The event is considered a typically American event, and is a traditional part of American graduation proceedings. However, baccalaureate services did not originate in the United States. The baccalaureate service is thought to have first become a tradition at Oxford University in England, when the graduating bachelors of 1432 were asked to give speeches in Latin. The tradition of oration continued to be the crux of baccalaureate services as they became common in American universities. Over time, however, the original focus on religion that marked baccalaureate speeches has become less common.

Baccalaureate services usually consist of a series of speeches made to the graduating class. Speeches are usually made by key students and faculty members. These speakers might include such as the class valedictorian, a popular student advisor, the superintendent of the school district in the case of a public school, or a university regent or fellow. Other important and influential figures in the community are often asked to make speeches as well. These can be local community or religious leaders, or alumni who have gone on to great success.

In the case that the graduating class is receiving specialized degrees, public figures who are well respected within the same profession may be asked to make speeches. For example, it is common for a well-respected court justice to speak at the baccalaureate service for a class of graduating law students. Speeches may also be punctuated with other activities such as musical performances

A baccalaureate service is usually held the evening before the graduation ceremony. In some cases the baccalaureate service may be held on the same day as the graduation ceremony, often right before the ceremony. In the case that the baccalaureate service is directly precedes the graduation ceremony, the service will usually be limited to a certain amount of time, avoiding an excessively long event.