620 



SCIENCE. 



[N.S. Vol. XVI. No. 407. 



"In Germany it is usually"iilcluded''i'h the 

 degree of doctor of philosophy. In the 

 United States the degree i^ inore often than 

 not a purely honorary designation; al- 

 though in recent years the stronger univer- 

 sities have guarded it strictly and now 

 grant it for a minimum period of graduate 

 study for one year in residence. At the 

 meeting of the Association of American 

 Universities in February last there was a 

 very interesting discussion on the subject 

 of this degree, and the divergence of policy 

 in regard to it was made plainly evident. 

 As an intermediate degree between those 

 of bachelor of arts and doctor of philoso- 

 phy, that of master of arts has been and is 

 very useful at Columbia. It marks the 

 close of a period of serious resident grad- 

 uate study, and is an appropriate reward 

 for. the work of those university students 

 who have neither the inclination nor the 

 peculiar abilities and temperament to fit 

 themselves for successful examination for 

 the degree of doctor of philosophy. At 

 the same time it must be admitted that the 

 rapid development of the elective system 

 and the widely different standards of the 

 scores of colleges from which our graduate 

 students come, have almost wiped out the 

 distinction between the senior year in Co- 

 lumbia College and the first year of grad- 

 uate study. To the best of my knowledge 

 and belief, the fixing of the degree of mas- 

 ter of arts at the close of a four years' 

 undergraduate course would involve no 

 real alteration in the standard required on 

 the part of those coming to Columbia from 

 other institutions. For students of Co- 

 lumbia College it would bring the degree 

 within reach after four years of residence 

 instead of five. 



In the case of candidates for the degree 

 of doctor of philosophy, the completion of 

 the longer college course, or its equivalent 

 elsewhere, would of course be required, 

 and also the same minimum period of post- 



gradtt&te resident '-study -as -howimi There 

 would be no alteration in the time neces- 

 sary or the standard now set for that de- 

 gree, which as conferred at Columbia is 

 recognized as conforming to the highest 

 and best standards. 



With the courses in applied science and 

 in medicine fixed at four years, to base , 

 them upon a two years ' college course would 

 be to elevate them to a proper university 

 standard and to ensure the best possible 

 class of students. The Law School and the 

 professional course in Teachers College 

 could easily be put upon the same basis. 



Reflection and a careful study of the 

 facts will make it apparent that these sug- 

 gestions are less radical than seems to be 

 the case on first sight. They at least offer 

 a solution to a generally recognized prob- 

 lem, one which has often been pointed to 

 but toward the solution of which little 

 progress has been made. I shall seek an 

 early opportunity of bringing them before 

 the university council and the several fac- 

 ulties for full consideration and discus- 

 sion. 



THE FUTURE OP THE AMERICAN COLLEGE. 



Should Cokimbia University adopt such 

 a policy as has been outlined, and should 

 the same or a similar policy commend it- 

 self to the governing bodies of any other 

 American universities whose problems are 

 similar to ours, a development already in 

 progress throughout the country would be 

 hastened. As the public high schools mul- 

 tiply and strengthen they will tend more 

 and more to give the instruction now of- 

 fered in the first year, or first two years, 

 of the college course. In so far, they will 

 become local colleges, but without the 

 characteristic or the attractiveness of stu- 

 dent residence. Furthermore, the time 

 would sooner come when colleges, excellent 

 in ideals and rich in teaching power but 

 without the resources necessary to carry 



