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

56
taking all the courses prescribed, but who in most cases have .not had
the preparation which we regard as equivalent to that which they
could gain from our Freshman and Sophomore years, and who cannot,
therefore, be regarded as candidates for a degree.
It is true that great care has been exercised in the admission of
this class of students, and, as a rule, they are able to pursue the course
with profit, but in most cases they would be much better placed in a
lower class, and the quality of the courses given to the upper-class men
would be improved. I-t has never been the policy of the Faculty to
admit, as special students, young men direct from the fitting schools
who are only prepared for the Freshman class in Arts or Science.
They are advised to enter this class, but as they are unable to obtain
the instruction peculiar to the school, they often prefer to begin at
once upon the study of law or enter business life. This is peculiarly
the case with the students who feel they can give but two years in?
preparation for their life work. For these, a course through Freshman
and Sophomore years would be of far more advantage than the almost
purely technical course as at present given. If a four year course
were established, it should be strong in English, Modern Languages,
American and European History, Business Law and Practice, with at
least one laboratory Scientific Course. Mathematics and related
subjects need not be carried so far as in the other courses.
Since my last report, the School of American History has been
established, and this year is the first in which the course is in active
operation. The wide-spread interest in all that concerns our national
life, and the increasing desire manifested by many students for special
work in these fields will, no doubt, justify the formation of this department.
The School has a double function in offering both
graduate and undergraduate courses. The latter are elective in the
Arts Course, and have also been grouped with other closely allied
subjects into a two year course, open to students at the close of the
Sophomore year. There are already twenty graduate and undergraduate
students in the school, not counting students who are- classified
in other courses.
The recent action oi the Board of Trustees with reference to the
special instruction of College students preparing to study Medicine,
has an important bearing upon the future of the Courses in Biology.
With the approval of the Medical Faculty it has been voted that
students who shall take in their College Course biological and related
studies about equivalent in amount to those required in the special