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for 1842 we find that Latin (Tacitus and Juvenal) was studied in the first and second terms of the sophomore class and German during the second term of the junior class. French was first offered as an extra study in 1843, and was made a required study during the second term of the junior class in 1850.

From 1838 to 1853 the requirements for admission and the studies of the freshman year of the classical course were identical with those of the scientific course, and election between the two courses was made at the beginning of the sophomore year. In 1854 the scientific course was remodeled, with the result that ancient languages disappeared entirely from it. The requirements for admission, which were necessarily modified, demanded that the candidate "be thoroughly prepared in English grammar and the other usual elementary studies, and be quite familiar with practical arithmetic.

From what has here been said, it will be seen that a student can at the present time pursue almost any studies above what is generally required for admission to college during a period of four years, and at the completion thereof receive his degree. Through the adoption of the elective system it naturally follows that a degree given by one college does not necessarily mean the same thing as the same degree given by another college. In fact, some institutions frequently confer the same degree upon students who pursued widely different courses of study. Harvard, for instance, offers for 1890-91 219 full courses of instruction, of which 18.2 courses must and 25.2 courses may be taken to obtain the A. B. degree. From this total number of courses it will be seen that a large number of combinations, each leading to the A. B. degree, could be made. Degrees.-The fact that no fixed value is attached to the degrees in this country causes considerable confusion, especially among foreigners. Respecting the significance of the degrees given in this country, Professor Bryce, in the American Commonwealth, says: "As regards the worth of the degrees given, there is, of course, the greatest possible difference between those of the better and those of the lower institutions; nor is this difference merely one between the few great universities and the mass of small colleges or Western State universities, for among the smaller colleges there are some which maintain as high a standard of thoroughness as the greatest. The degrees of the two hundred colleges to which I have referred as belonging to the lower group of the third class have no assignable value, except that of indicating that a youth has been made to work during four years at subjects above the elementary. Those of institutions belonging to the higher group and the two other classes represent, on an average, as much knowledge.and mental discipline as the poll or pass degrees of Cambridge or Oxford-possibly rather less than the pass degrees of the Scottish universities. Between the highest American degrees and the honor degies of Oxford and Cambridge it is hard to make any comparison."

1

The number of different kinds of degrees conferred by American colleges and universities is constantly increasing and is very often the cause of considerable confusion. Thus, for instance, we find that the degree of Ph. B. (bachelor of philosophy) is given by one institution at the completion of a course of study for which in another institution the degree of B. S. (bachelor of science) is conferred.

Value of the Ph. D. degree.-For some time past many of the leading colleges and universities and a few scientific associations of the United States have attempted, by resolutions and by example, to restore its original value to the degree of Ph. D. In Germany this degree is the reward purely of scholarship, which must be shown by examinations and other tests; but in this country the value of the degree has been greatly impaired by the fact that many of the colleges confer it as an honorary doctorate. To such an extent has this custom spread that the American Philological Association, at a meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, July, 1881, adopted the following resolution:

Whereas many colleges in the United States have in recent years conferred the degree of doctor of philosophy, not by examination, but honoris causa: Be it

Resolved, That this association deprecates the removal of this degree from the class to which it belongs (namely. B. D., LL. B.. M. D., and Ph. D., degrees conferred after examination), and its transfer to the class of honorary degrees.

This resolution was concurred in by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at its meeting, held in Cincinnati, August, 1881.

The following table, compiled from the annual reports of the Bureau from 1873 to 1890, shows the number of honorary Ph. D. degrees conferred and the number of institutions so conferring the degree:

1 See p. 756.

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From this table it would appear that the protest from the above-named societies had a temporary effect, as both the number of honorary Ph. D. degrees conferred and the number of colleges conferring the degree was considerably less in 1882 than in 1881; but, though the number of such degrees conferred in succeeding years fluctuates considerably, there does not seem to be any tendency to abolish the custom, as will be seen by looking at the last year of the above table. During this year both the number of degrees conferred and the number of schools conferring them exceeded the numbers of any previous years. The custom is opposed by many colleges. President Pepper, in his annual report to the board of trustees of Colby University in 1887, says:

The faculty desire respectfully through this report to express to the board their conviction that the degree of Ph. D. should never be conferred as an honorary degree, but only, as is now the custom in the best colleges and universities, on those who by completing courses of study prescribed by the faculty under conditions also prescribed, shall merit the degree. It seems to the faculty that Colby, in consistency with its past history, should do nothing to lower, but everything to maintain or raise, the value of the symbols of scholarship." That this recommendation was adopted is shown in the report of President Small for 1890, which contains the following statement:

"The faculty wish to express their gratification that the trustees voted at their last annual meeting to adopt the recommendation made in 1887 by Dr. Pepper, with reference to the degree of doctor of philosophy. * **The ground upon which the faculty based their support of Dr. Pepper's recommendation was that the degree referred to had a distinct meaning abroad, and that the leading universities of this country had attempted to reserve it for the same use in the United States. The degree is intended not as a distinction for men who have shown marked ability, or performed conspicuous service, but it is now used as a certification that, in addition to college instruction, the person upon whom it is conferred has had at least three years of university training in the processes of original investigation, and has proved his right to recognition as a 'master workman' by university examination and the publication of some results of original research." He also says: "It is also manifestly improper for an institution to grant that degree when it makes no pretension of furnishing the training which qualifies for it."

The sentiment here expressed by Dr. Small seems to be shared by the authorities of Rock Hill College, in the catalogue of which the following appears:

Application is sometimes made to the college for the degree of doctor of philosophy. This of all degrees ought to be the reward of high merit, whether for work actually done in the field of philosophy or for an examination rigidly gone through before a faculty of philosophy. It is not within the scope of a faculty of science or a faculty of arts to pass upon this degree. It can be legitimately conferred only by a university having a school and faculty of philosophy. Proceeding from any other source it is valueless and misleading."

If this sentiment was shared by a large number of the institutions which confer the Ph. D. as an honorary degree the evil would be rapidly diminished, but so long as a few of our leading universities persist in this custom it is not to be supposed that the smaller colleges will drop it.

Many of those who receive this degree for work done at some of the leading institutions make it a practice to write after the degree either the name or an abbreviation of the name of the institution by which the degree was conferred. If this practice were more generally followed by people who earn the degree it might have some effect upon those colleges who do not provide courses of study leading thereto.

II. SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.

The following table gives a summary by States of some of the more important statistics of universities and colleges for the year 1889-90:

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TABLE 1.-Summary of statistics of universities and colleges for 1889-90.

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1,831 9545 3,254

(295) 236 96)

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States and Territories.

TABLE 1.-Summary of statistics of universities and colleges for 1889-90-Continued.

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