LD 63 OS I J^3 UC-NRLF $B ifl on IP I m THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHEME. THE ACADEMIC COLLEGE THE SCIENTIFIC COLLEGE AT NEW HAVi2N, IN THEIR RELATIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 1>Y Jamks D. Dana. NEW HAVEN: PRINTED BY TUTTLE, MOKEHOUSE & TAYLOR. 1870. A WORD OF EXPLANATION. The following statement was called ont by the unex- pected publication of a familiar letter addressed to the Secretary of the Yale Graduates in Cincinnati. 8ome of the remarks in that letter, when made public, appeared to require an explanation not necessary when addressed to a company of Yalensians alone. At the same time there are doubtless some among the graduates of Yale College who will be surprised to learn how" thoroughly their Alma Mater is adapting her histructions to the pro- gress of science, and the demand for various sorts of preparation for life. The scheme is in its various points so nearly realized that it may rightly be styled The Yale University Scheme. It differs in many important parti- culars from that of any other institution in the country ; and I would ask special attention to the elevated views and system of study of the Scientific section of the University, and its coordination with the Classical or Academic section. j. d. d. !]^e Wait itnibersitg §c\tmt, 1. The Classical or Academic and the Scientific depart- ments (ordinarily called Yale College, and the Sheffield School of Science) are distinct colleges for the under- graduate students of the University — distinct in teach- ers, scholars, buildings, apparatus, and special working libraries. They have in common a general library, and the officers meet for the discussion of University ques- tions in a common University Faculty. 2. In each college the first two years of the four* are years of preparatory study without optional or elective courses, except perhaps in place of the higher mathemat- ics of the second year. After the close of the second year a number of elective courses are before the student. 3. In the Academic College — whose special subjects of study are the classics, modern languages, mathematics, astronomy, history, intellectual and moral philosophy, political economy, general literature, etc. — the principles of natural science, physics and chemistry are taught so far as is necessary to give depth and breadth to an aca- demic education ; a general knowledge of the laws or * The three-years course cf the Scientific School will probably be made afour-yiars course within a year or two. 361914 4 THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHEME. systems of nature, both organic and inorganic, being es- sential in these days to a true scholar, whatever his pur- pose in life. 4. In the Scientific College — whose special subjects of study are the various natural sciences, physics, chemis- try, mathematics, and the practical applications of these sciences — literary subjects are added, including the mod- ern languages (some knowledge of the ancient languages being required for entering), political, moral and intel- lectual science, history, physical and political geography, etc. — in order to give in this branch of the University a thorough and well rounded education, and make the graduate a man of high culture. 5. In the Academical College, optional or elective courses are confined to its special subjects of study: (1) the classics, (2) modern languages, (3) English language and literature, (4) mathematics. None are allowed in the departments of natural, chemical, or physical sci- ence, as these subjects are admitted into this college only so far as is necessary to give that breadth and depth to education which every graduate should have. 6. In the Scientific College also, elective courses are confined to its special objects of study — that is, to the natural sciences, physics, geology, metallurgy, mechan- ics, engineering, etc. ^. The Post-graduate courses of the University com- prise many distinct departments in the lines of the Aca- demic and Scientific Colleges. Connected with .the for- 7ner, there are (or may be) courses in Latin, Greek, dif- THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHEME. 6 ferent Oriental languages, linguistics, English language and literature, history, intellectual philosophy, mathe- matics, astronomy, etc., etc. Connected with the latter there are (or may be) : First, in pure science, courses severally in the diiferent physical sciences, general chem- istry, organic chemistry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, paleontology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, etc. ; Secondly, in applied science, courses in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, mining and mining engineering, practical mechanics, metallurgy, agnculture and agricul- tural chemistry, etc. 8. The students of the Academic College take, on graduating, the degree of Bachelor of Arts ; and those of the Scientific College, that of Bachelor of Philosophy. The students of the post-graduate courses, after two years of study, in which high scholarship is attained as tested by a rigid examination, take the degree of Doc- tor of Philosopliy; except in the case of students in Civil Engineering, who may receive that of Civil Engi- neer after one year of study. The University includes also the Schools of Law, Med- icine, Theology and the Fine Arts. But of these it is not necessary here to speak. Neither of them has, in any part of its curriculum, an undergraduate depart- ment analogous to that of the Academic or Scientific College. In connection with the above brief statement I offer the following remarks: 6 THE YALE UNIVERSITY SCHEME. 1. The ranges of studies in the two Colleges, the Aca- demic and Scientific, are so diverse in character, that the interests of the students and of education are better sub- served by two distinct faculties working separately, than by one single combined faculty. There is not in the Yale Scheme that multiplicity of optionals before the students, after they have entered the University, which inconveniently subdivides classes, offers inducements to indolence, and tends to break down thorough discipline and study ; for, in the act of entering, the. student de- cides as to the range of his optionals ; and if afterward not satisfied (which would seldom be the case) he can join the other College. 2. It might be supposed that the scheme would re- quire an unnecessary duplication of professors. But this is not so at Yale. In the Academic College there are already four instructors in Greek, four in Latin, five in mathematics, physics and astronomy ; and the profes- sors of rhetoric,- history, moral and intellectual philos- ophy, etc., are more than well occupied with their aca- demic labors. The Scientific students, if embraced in the Academic College, would actually require as many additional instructors as are needed under the existing system of the university. 3. In some scientific departments in the Academic College (zoology and botany, for example), in which the instruction occupies but a small part of the college course, there is no objection to employing the services of some of the Scientific faculty, if this is feasible ; and, THE YALE UNIVERBJTY 'SCJIEMS:? ; • *? f • *{•■ where possible, the Academic faculty may serve the Scientific College. Moreover, while all lecture rooms had better be separate, the more costly kinds of appa- ratus may well be used in common, in order to avoid needless expenditure. 4. It may be added that many Scientific students commence their training as scholars by first graduating in the Academic College. For the higher training in Science, such a preparatory course in the classics is be- lieved to be eminently desirable. They then enter an advanced class in some one of the departments in the Scientific College, and take the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, or of Civil Engineer; or by special profi- ciency, after two years of study, that of Doctor of Phi- losophy. The Scientific College also admits of partial courses of study which do not lead to any degree. 3. The modification in American colleges which is de- manded by the vast development of the sciences of na- ture within the past century — the era of origination for many of them — and also by the cotemporary progress of linguistic and other sciences, is accomplished by the Yale scheme through a method which does not sacrifice, in any degree, classical education, and which at the same time, combines thorough literary culture with the widest range and highest development of scientific education. The Classical College stands beside the Scientific, open to all who desire to commence with a classical basis ; and the Scientific College ofiers a thorough and liberal education for all who would pursue a more distinctively scientific course. frii: ;YA^^ IX^^VERSITY SCHEME. 6. The Yale scheme contemplates no important change in the Classical or Academic College, except in the ele^ vation of the department of modem languages and lite- rature, and its ideal with regard to modern languages cannot be wholly realized until a knowledge of Frencl and German is given (like that of Latin and Greek) ii preparatory schools, and required for admission to th( college. 7. The great change that has taken place at Yale is ii the introduction of ita School of Science. This school i{ not the result of any preconcerted plan on the part oi the university. It is a gradual growth of the past twenty years, urged on by the demand in the land for scien-l tific knowledge among lovers of science, those seeking t( become its teachers, and others interested in its practij cal departments ; and it has been carried forward to its present organization mainly through the labors and judgj ment of the scientific men who have been slowly gather- ed into its faculty. More than two-thirds of its endow-] ments are due to private munificence, and the remaindei to the National ao-ricultural and mechanical fund. r. 04783 '<(.! IjNiVEBSlTV OF c^urom^^^^^