Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/511

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY 497" which by its elasticity and thoroughness will best accommodate itself to the widely va- ried tastes and abilities of different students. The preparatory course of study, pursued in schools having no connection with the univer- sity, has also undergone a marked revision, in consequence of the changes in the require- its for admission to he college, the aim of " faculty being that best preparatory raining shall be afford- to young men, up to average age of 18, rho intend to pursue m-professional studies >r four years or more. Since 1874 candidates ive been required to an examination in le of two courses of tudy, the selection be- ig optional with the >plicant. Each course ibraces 14 subjects icluding subdivisions) are substantially le same in both, viz. : Latin, Greek, mathe- latics, ancient history and geography, modern id physical geography, and English composi- In one course, however, classical studies >redominate, and in the other mathematical id physical. Besides these, there are optional laminations in the classics, mathematics, and physics, for the accommodation of those who iesire to be admitted to advanced standing these, or to pursue elective studies in other Bpartments. In addition to the above, appli- ints for admission in 1875 and thereafter will required to translate "easy French prose at ?ht," with the option of substituting Ger- m; and in 1876 requirements in elementary ience will be added, the applicant having a loice among the subjects of botany, physics chemistry, and descriptive astronomy. o examinations for admission are held, one the beginning and the other at the close of e academic year. In view of the recently Ided requirements for admission, and to en- ible students to enter college at the average of 18, candidates may divide the admission lamination into two, separated by an inter- of not less than an academic year. The lemic year, which is the same for all de- bments of the university, extends from the Thursday of September to the last Wed- lesday of June, with a vacation of two weeks it the winter holidays. The studies pursued the academic department are classified in- prescribed and elective ; the former occupy le whole of the freshman year and about me third of the sophomore and junior years. The studies of the freshman year are Greek, Latin, mathematics, German, ethics, and chem- istry, 16 hours a week being devoted to reci- tations. In the sophomore and junior years the required studies are elementary, embra- cing in the former physics, rhetoric, themes, history, and elementary French for those who Memorial Hall. have not passed a satisfactory examination in that language at the beginning of the year; and in the latter logic, psychology, and a por- tion of the course in rhetoric, as well as of that in themes and forensics. In the senior year only certain written exercises belong to the required course. Numerous courses of elective studies are provided for students in the sopho- more, junior, and senior years, who may also choose any of the prescribed studies in the course upon condition of being qualified to pursue them. The elective studies embrace the following courses: 1, the classics, inclu- ding, besides Latin and classical Greek, ec- clesiastical Greek, Hebrew, and Sanskrit; 2, modern languages, including the Anglo-Saxon, and early English, modern Greek, German, French, Romance philology, Italian, and Span- ish; 3, philosophy; 4, history; 5, Apolitical science ; 6, mathematics ; 7, physics, including chemistry ; 8, natural history ; 9, music. In addition to the prescribed studies, every sophomore is required to pursue four courses chosen by himself from the elective studies, with at least two exercises a week each, every junior three courses with three exercises a week each, and every senior four courses with three exercises a week each. Sophomores and juniors may be relieved from pursuing any of the required studies of those years by passing- an examination in such studies at the begin- ning of the year. It will thus be seen that the opportunity is afforded to students of pursuing the ordinary collegiate course, or of concentra- ting their study upon a limited number of sub- jects. Examinations in writing are required in every study at the end of the year, besides