1890-92 - University Archives and Records Center - University of ...

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The change is not so radical as would at first appear, since the
five year courses are still given and must always be the best courses,
when the student is young or is undecided as to his choice of a profession.
The first two years still form a fitting preparation for the
Junior and Senior years in the Wharton School or the School of
Biology. The requirements for admission to these four year technical
courses are practically the same as for the Science Course, the difference
being that, in the Engineering Courses, one language is omitted
and Trigonometry and Elementary Physics substituted in its place.
For the Courses in Chemistry and Architecture but one language is
required, and the Arts requirement in Mathematics is accepted. In
the courses an attempt has been made to give a fair amount of
instruction in the general culture .studies, in English and the
languages, but the distinctive feature is the introduction of the
technical work proper with the Freshman year.
To distinguish between the students who .have taken the four
years of the General Science Course, and those who have graduated
from the four year Technical Course, the latter are awarded the degree
of Bachelor of Science in the technical study, viz. : In Cheijiistry,
in Chemical Engineering, in Mechanical Engineering, in Civil
Engineering or in Architecture. The student in the old five year
course who completes the Post-Senior year will be awarded -the
general degree of Master of Science, and may receive the appropriate
technical degree after two years spent in active professional work.
The graduates of the four year technical courses (which, so far as the
scientific studies are concerned, cover the same amount of ground as
the five year course) are also awarded the technical degree after three
years of successful professional life and the presentation of a satisfactory
thesis.
The first of these courses, that in Architecture, was opened in
1890; the second, in Mechanical Engineering, in 1891 ; the third
and fourth, in Chemistry and Civil Engineering, at the beginning of
the present year, and the fifth, in Chemical Engineering, is announced
for next year. The result of the change is already manifest. The
number of special students has been reduced, and the entrance to the
lower classes largely increased.
In my last report I spoke of the pressing need for a complete reorganization
of the instruction in "Drawing and Architecture. With
the aid of an advisory committee, composed of some of the leading
Philadelphia architects, this has been successfully accomplished. In