SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 121 



which he must attain are fixed and absolute; they involve the 

 exercise of opinion and criticism but slightly; they require 

 rather a definite knowledge of facts and their application which 

 permits of no error or half -knowledge. High standards must be 

 maintained, for the graduate must, ultimately, sustain the most 

 exacting tests in practical experience. Nothing would more 

 speedily destroy the efficiency of engineering training than low 

 standards of scholarship. 



The scope of engineering instruction is as broad as the coun- 

 try itself. In all of the schools the general principles and fun- 

 damentals are taught, but beyond this is a wide variety of devel- 

 opment into special lines related to sectional or local interests. 

 Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering are the subjects 

 most commonly presented, but several institutions offer courses 

 in mining engineering, while sanitary, municipal, and chemical 

 engineering and architecture all have honorable place in the 

 list. Certain institutions offer instruction also in engineering 

 principles as specially applied to sugar-making, irrigation, 

 forestry; marine engineering is also taught in one or two schools, 

 and there is an interesting and increasing development of 

 engineering instruction as applied to farm machinery and opera- 

 tions which is perhaps best designated as farm mechanics. 



The extent of the courses of instruction in engineering is, in 

 point of time, usually four years, of which the first two are spent 

 upon the fundamental and general subjects, and the last two 

 upon those which are special and technical. Among other 

 usual requirements for graduation is the completion of an origi- 

 nal study or investigation, the results of which are presented in 

 a "thesis." The graduate receives in most cases the degree of 

 "Bachelor of Science," which is frequently further qualified with 

 reference to the particular line of study pursued. A few institu- 

 tions give professional degrees, such as "Electrical Engineer," 

 "Civil Engineer," etc., for the completion of undergraduate 

 courses; the larger and better equipped colleges also administer 



