424 APPENDIX III 



The "licence es sciences" and the "licence es lettres" confer 

 upon those who hold them the right to become candidates for the 

 teaching positions of "Charge de cours" in a "Lycee" or professor 

 in a "College." The "Lycee" is a higher and more completely 

 equipped preparatory school than the "College." These two 

 degrees correspond in a general way to our degrees of Bachelor 

 of Science and Bachelor of Arts respectively. However, the 

 French degrees stand for a very much higher degree of speciali- 

 zation than do ours; this is evidenced by the fact that the "licence" 

 can only be obtained along some one definite line of work, as 

 Modern Languages, Philosophy, etc. The system of graduating 

 with honors, as it is carried out at Harvard College, approaches 

 most closely the French scheme of specialization.. 



The "Diplomes d' etudes siiperieures" ("de sciences," "de 

 lettres") are even more difficult to interpret in terms of our de- 

 grees. In some respects they correspond to the Master of Arts 

 degree, especially as it used to be interpreted when it involved 

 the preparation of a thesis on a subject approved by the Faculty. 

 The preparation of the thesis is the main requirement for these 

 French degrees; but the thesis does not necessarily imply the origi- 

 nal research required for the Doctor's thesis but rather implies well- 

 grounded information and erudition. The candidate usually 

 spends about a year in preparation for the degree; but no formal 

 requirements are laid down. Since 1904 all candidates for the 

 "Agregation" are absolutely required to present this degree along 

 with the "licence." 



"Agrege." As a special means of determining the fitness and of 

 choosing the candidates for regular professorships in the "Lycees" 

 and for teaching positions other than professorships in the Univer- 

 sities, the French educational authorities established as early as 

 1825, competitive examinations, the so-called " agregations de 

 1'enseignement secondaire" in lettres and the sciences. A certain 

 number of candidates along each line of specialization who stand 

 highest in these examinations are accorded the title of "agrege" 

 and receive appointments to the teaching positions which are open. 

 About the preparation for this degree a very considerable portion 

 of the work in every Faculty of Science and Faculty of Letters is 

 organized. Practically the entire work of the two higher normal 

 schools for men and women ("Ecole normale superieure" and 

 "Ecole normale superieure d'enseignement secondaire des jeunes 

 Filles") is organized in preparation for these "agregations." 



