Just want to remind/alert readers that the artifacts that I post here on Economics in the Rear-view Mirror are samples from my project on the development of graduate and undergraduate economics education in the United States from the last quarter of the 19th century up through the middle of the 20th century. Besides the syllabi and exams for particular courses, course offerings and staffing that I offer visitors to these pages, I collect and share information about rules and regulations governing the granting of degrees too.
Today’s posting comes from a Columbia University Bulletin of Information. Faculties of Political Science, Philosophy and Pure Science: Instruction for Candidates for the Degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, 1908-10. Economics found itself within the Faculty of Political Science that was embedded within the regulations of the larger university. As dull as this sort of reading is, say compared to reading 1910 economics (irony!), it was a part of the world within which young economists were methodologically reared and where they were to refine their tastes to distinguish “good” from “bad” economics as well as “interesting” from “uninteresting” economics.
Let me ask visitors who look at these century-old rules to reflect and share what seems to be the same or different from their own educational experiences. Thanks!
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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, 1908-10
ORGANIZATION OF GRADUATE INSTRUCTION
[Definitions]
Departments
Faculties
University Council
Higher Degrees
Freedom of Election
[Divisional grouping of the Departments]
Faculty of Political Science
Faculty of Philosophy
Faculty of Pure Science
Faculty of Fine Arts
Registration and Matriculation
Registration
Matriculation
Summer Session
Non-matriculated Students
Undergraduate Courses
Admission of Women
Character of Graduate Work and Choice of Subjects
Minimum Residence
Essential Qualifications
Major and Minor Subjects
Courses [vs. Subjects]
Course Records
Subjects of the Faculty of Political Science
Subjects of the Faculty of Philosophy
Subjects of the Faculty of Pure Science
Subjects of the Faculty of Fine Arts
Change of Subjects
Faculty Jurisdiction
Students in Professional Schools
The Degree of Master of Arts
The Essay
Period of Residence
The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
General Examination
Language Requirement
Dissertation
Special Faculty Regulations
Divisional Requirements
Application for Examination
Oral Examination
Recommendation and Award
[Suggestions to Students]
Language Requirements
Preparation for Examinations
Choice of Dissertation Topic
Consultation with Instructors
Professor in Charge of Investigations
Printing of Dissertation
Size of Dissertation
Style of Dissertation
Period of Candidacy
Credit from elsewhere for Residence
Lapse of Candidacy and Restoration
Ph.D. Association
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PART I—ORGANIZATION OF GRADUATE INSTRUCTION
Departments. The instruction given in Columbia University is conducted by Departments created by the Statutes of the University. Of these Departments there are at present fifty-nine. Every person who gives instruction is a member of some one Department; and the senior officer of the highest rank in each Department, who is in active service, is generally its administrative head. For certain administrative purposes the Departments are grouped into Divisions.
Faculties. For legislative purposes, and for the government of the several Schools into which the University is divided, the several Faculties are established by Statute. Each Faculty is composed of the professors and adjunct professors who are assigned to it by the Trustees, and is under the immediate direction of a Dean. The President is the Chairman of each Faculty. A Department or Division may form part of one, two, or more Faculties.
University Council. The University Council is composed of the President, the Deans, and delegates elected by the Faculties. Among other duties, it determines the conditions under which are awarded the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Philosophy.
The Higher Degrees. For the conduct of the work leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, which are for convenience termed “the higher degrees,” the Trustees have established four Faculties, in charge respectively of the Schools of Political Science (founded 1880), Philosophy (1890), Pure Science (1892), and Fine Arts (1906 — not yet completely organized). These four Faculties correspond to what in many American Universities is called a “graduate department” or “graduate school,” and are responsible for the conduct of advanced instruction not only during the academic year, but in the Summer Session of the University. Their representatives on the University Council form ex-officio a Committee on Higher Degrees, whose functions are indicated by its name. To this Committee the Council has delegated, subject to its own final control, the current administration of its regulations.
All requests for action upon matters which under the Statutes and the Regulations of the Council are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Council itself should be addressed to the Secretary of the University Council. Requests for action upon matters falling within the jurisdiction of the several Faculties should be addressed to their respective Deans.
Freedom of Election. It should be noted that the division of the field of graduate work among the four Faculties in no wise limits the freedom of the student to make his own combination of studies. Once matriculated as a graduate student he may be registered as a student in two or more Faculties; and in many cases such an arrangement is highly desirable.
The distribution of the work leading to the higher degrees among the Faculties, and the divisional grouping oi the Departments, are here shown:
Faculty of Political Science
Division of History, Economics, and Public Law—Departments: Economics; History; Public Law and Jurisprudence; Social Science.
Faculty of Philosophy
Division of Classical Philology—Departments: Greek; Latin (each including archaeology).
Division of Education—The Faculty of Teachers College (so far as the higher degrees are concerned).
Division of Modern Languages and Literatures—Departments: Comparative Literature; English; Germanic Languages; Romance Languages.
Division of Oriental Languages—Departments: Chinese; Indo-Iranian Languages; Semitic Languages.
Division of Philosophy, Psychology, and Anthropology—Departments: Anthropology; Philosophy; Psychology.
Faculty of Pure Science
Division of Biology—Departments: Anatomy; Bacteriology; Biological Chemistry; Botany; Embryology; Physiology; Zoology.
Division of Chemistry—Departments: Chemistry; P ysiological I Chemistry.
Division of Engineering—Departments: Civil Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Engineering Draughting; Mechanical Engineering.
Division of Geology, Geography, and Mineralogy—Departments: Geology; Geography; Mineralogy.
Division of Mathematical and Physical Science—Departments: Astronomy; Mathematics; Physics.
Division of Mining and Metallurgy—Departments: Metallurgy; Mining.
Faculty of Fine Arts
Division of Fine Arts—Departments: Architecture; Music; Design.
Announcements. Full statements concerning the courses of instruction, laboratories, seminars, etc., are contained in the “Divisional Announcements.” In these are indicated the scope and character of the several courses, the hours of attendance, etc. They may be had on application to the Secretary of the University, to whom, also, all correspondence of a general character should be addressed.
Courses in Professional Schools. Some of the subjects named above are also under the jurisdiction of the Faculties of the professional schools of the University; but of the work that may be offered towards the higher degrees only the four Faculties named here have control, and all students who intend to carry on such work, whether as candidates for higher degrees or not, are required to register under the Faculty or Faculties that have it in charge.
Consultation. Every student is responsible to the Dean of each Faculty under which he is working, for compliance with the Statutes of the University and with the Regulations of the University Council and of the Faculty. To the head of each Department under which he is studying he is responsible for fulfilment of all the requirements of that Department with regard to attendance upon courses, private study, and examinations. Entering students must therefore first of all consult the Dean of each Faculty and the head of each Department under which they expect to work. It should be fully understood that it is not only the right but also the duty of every student to call upon the Dean and other officers under whom his work is to be carried on for information and guidance whenever he needs them, and that he must keep himself duly and fully informed of all that is expected of him by the Dean and the Departments concerned. The offices of the four Deans, of the Registrar, and of the Bursar are all in East Hall. Information of a general character regarding the University may be had in Room 213, Library Building.
REGISTRATION AND MATRICULATION
Registration. Registration is required when the student first connects himself with the University, and thereafter at the beginning of each academic year. Students are admitted at any time during the academic year. To obtain full credit for residence during any half-year, they must register at the beginning of it, except that registration for the first half-year (September to January) implies registration for the second (February to June) as well, unless the student withdraws.
Matriculation. Matriculation, i. e., admission to candidacy for degrees, is open only to graduates of colleges and scientific schools in good standing, or to those who have an equivalent training. . Professional (other than engineering) degrees do not in themselves entitle the holders to matriculation. The question whether the training of a non-graduate shall be deemed equivalent to that indicated by a first degree is determined in every case by the Committee on Higher Degrees.
Summer Session. Certain courses given in the Summer Session of the University (see Academic Calendar) may be offered toward the higher degrees, and qualified students may matriculate as candidates therefor at the opening of the Summer Session.
Non-matriculated Students. Students of mature age who give evidence of earnest purpose and special fitness may register, with permission of the Dean concerned, for any of the courses under the control of these Faculties without matriculating as candidates for a degree. By special fitness, in the case of students not holding a first degree, is meant an equipment for the course intended to be taken such as would justify candidacy for a degree if the preliminary requirements could be fully met. Of such fitness the head of each Department under which the applicant wishes to study is the judge, and his approval must be expressed in writing to the Dean of the Faculty. Such students are expected to pursue seriously the work of the course for which they are enrolled, and will be required to pass examinations therein at the discretion of the professor giving the course. They may be excluded from any course which they are following if the instructor in charge be satisfied that proper attention is not being given to the work of the course. In general, students who do not hold the first degree or its equivalent are recommended to register in one of the Colleges, the men in Columbia College, the women in Barnard College.
Undergraduate Courses. In these Colleges emphasis is placed upon the quality of the student’s work rather than upon the time spent in residence, and this fact, together with the opportunities offered in the Summer Session, makes it possible for a well prepared candidate to complete the requirements for the bachelor’s degree in three and one-half years, three years, or conceivably in a shorter period for students who by anticipating College work are able to enter with advanced standing
Admission of Women. Women who have the first degree are admitted on equal terms with men, as candidates for a higher degree or as non-candidates, to all Admission courses offered under these Faculties, unless a specific statement to the contrary is made in connection with the announcement of a course.
[…]
CHARACTER OF GRADUATE WORK AND CHOICE OF SUBJECTS
Minimum Residence. The minimum period of graduate study which entitles a student to apply for the degree of Master of Arts is one year, for that of Doctor of Philosophy, two years; but these are only minimum periods, and the statements made below in connection with each degree must be carefully noted. No degree may be conferred upon any person who has not been in residence at Columbia University for a full academic year. (See page 15.)
The Essential Qualifications. The work expected of a candidate for one of the higher degrees is different in character from that usually required of undergraduates. Attendance upon courses, the acquisition of knowledge, and the consequent ability to pass examinations, are not the only requirements; and though a very considerable amount of knowledge in the special field of work chosen and in others adjacent to it is demanded, it is not upon such attainment that the chief stress is laid. The essentials are the acquisition of the power to do independent scientific work, and the demonstration of this power by actual performance. For the assistance of the student in his own labors, instruction is given by means of lectures, in which the theoretical side of the subject, its bibliography, and its methods are set forth; and in the seminars or laboratories he is trained in the practical work of investigation, the presentation of results, and the criticism of the work of others.
Major and Minor Subjects. To secure thorough training in some one field of research, and yet avoid over-specialization with the inevitable concomitant of deficient general training, the regulations call for the selection of three “subjects” for study and eventual examination. The candidate must pursue these three subjects during the required period of residence, and the amount of work done in each subject must be satisfactory to the professor in charge. The major subject is that in connection with which the candidate for the master’s degree must prepare his essay, the candidate for the doctor’s degree his dissertation. This subject is expected to occupy approximately half of the time spent by the candidate in study for the higher degree. The first and second minor subjects, which must stand in some reasonable connection with the major and with each other, should each occupy approximately one- quarter of this time of study. The first minor subject will naturally be more closely connected with the major.
Courses. A “subject” must be carefully distinguished from a “course.” A subject is a field of knowledge, in which the candidate is expected to work and to be examined; the courses of lectures, the work in laboratories, and the exercises of the seminars, are simply means of acquiring knowledge in certain parts of the field and aids to the work of the student himself. The subjects are practically permanent, while the courses offered under each may change from year to year. The number of courses and in general the amount of work to be taken in each subject is determined, for each student, by the professor or professors in charge of that subject.
Course Records. It should be noted that the student is expected to keep his own record of courses attended. In the registration-book which is furnished him for this purpose, he enters at the beginning of each half-year the courses which he proposes to attend. At the beginning and end of each course the professor in charge certifies the student’s attendance by his signature. Before presenting himself for examination for any degree, the student must submit his registration-book to the Dean of the Faculty in which his major subject lies in order that the Dean may satisfy himself that the required minimum number of courses has been attended. Lost registration-books may be replaced if the professors are able from their own records or recollection to certify attendance; but if they are unable to do this, the candidate may lose credit for attendance.
The specific regulations of the Council concerning subjects are as follows:
Immediately after registration, each student who declares himself a candidate for the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, or either of them, shall designate one principal or major subject and two subordinate or minor subjects. The choice of subjects must in every case be approved by the Dean of the Faculty under which the major subject is taken.
Choice of Subjects. When a candidate designates any subject as his major and first minor, as permitted by the Regulations of the Faculties of Philosophy and Pure Science, no subdivision of that general subject may be chosen by him as a second minor, provided, however, that with the recommendation of the Dean and the head of the Department concerned, by a special vote of the Committee on Higher Degrees, to be taken in every such case, a candidate may be allowed to choose all his subjects under one Department.
The subjects from which the candidate’s selection must be made are:
Under the Faculty of Political Science
Group I.—History and political philosophy: (1) Ancient and oriental history; (2) mediaeval history; (3) modern European history from the opening of the 16th century; (4) American history; (5) political philosophy.
Group II.—Public law and comparative jurisprudence: (1) Constitutional law; (2) international law; (3) administrative law; (4) comparative jurisprudence.
Group III.—Economics and social science: (1) Political economy and finance; (2) sociology and statistics; (3) social economy. In his choice of subjects under this Faculty, the candidate whose major subject lies within its jurisdiction is limited by the following rules;
A candidate for the degree of Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy must select one minor subject outside of the group which includes his major subject.
A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must select one minor subject within the group which includes his major subject.
The candidate for the degree of Master of Arts must take, in each subject, courses occupying at least two hours weekly throughout one year. In his major subject he must also attend a Seminar.
The candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must take, in his major subject, courses occupying at least four hours weekly during each required year of residence (provided that this number of hours be offered in the subject), and must also attend a Seminar during the period of residence. In each minor subject he must take courses occupying at least two hours weekly during each required year of residence.
Under the Faculty of Philosophy
I. Major Subjects: (1) Philosophy; (2) psychology; (3) anthropology; (4) education; (5) linguistics; (6) comparative literature; (7) classical archaeology and epigraphy; (8) Greek language and literature, and, incidentally, Grecian history; (9) Latin language and literature, and, incidentally, Roman history; and the following, including in each case the study of both the language and literature; (10) English; (11) Germanic; (12) Romance; (13) Sanskrit (with Pālī and Iranian); (14) Semitic; (15) Chinese.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 may be offered each as the equivalent of a major and one minor subject.
II. Minor Subjects: (1) Philosophy; (2) psychology; (3) anthropology; (4) education; ( 5) linguistics; (6) comparative literature; (7) Greek; (8) Greek archaeology; (9) Latin; (10) Roman archaeology; (11) Sanskrit; (12) Iranian; (13) English; (14) Anglo-Saxon; (15) Gothic; (16) Germanic philology; (17) German language and literature; (18) Scandinavian languages and literatures; (19) Romance philology; (20) French language and literature; (21) Spanish language and literature; (22) Italian language and literature; (23) Hebrew; (24) Arabic; (25) Assyrian; (26) Syriac; (27) Ethiopic; (28) Semitic epigraphy; (29) Turkish; (30) Armenian; (31) Chinese; (32) Coptic; (33) Celtic; (34) Comparative Religion.
A candidate for the degree of Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy may, with the consent of the Dean of the Faculty and of the heads of the Departments concerned, select both minor subjects within the same Department, and may divide a minor subject, taking parts of two subjects germane to his major subject.
The choice of subjects made by a candidate must in every case have the approval of the Dean and the head of the Department under which the major subject is taken before being finally allowed.
Under the Faculty of Pure Science
(1) Anatomy; (2) astronomy; (3) bacteriology; (4) botany; (5) chemistry; (6) civil and sanitary engineering; (7) electrical engineering (8) geodesy; (9) geology; (10) mathematics; (11) mechanical engineering; (12) mechanics and electro-mechanics; (13) metallurgy; (14) mineralogy; (15) mining; (16) palaontology; (17) physics; (18) physiological chemistry; (19) physiology; (20) zoölogy .
With the consent of the Dean, the major and one minor subject may be taken under one Department. Both minor subjects may not be taken under one Department without the consent of the Faculty.
Under the Faculty of Fine Arts
For specific information see the current Announcement of that Faculty.
Change of Subjects. Minor subjects may not be changed except by permission of the Dean to be given only on the written recommendation of the heads of the Departments from which and to which the change is desired; major subjects may not be changed except by a special vote of the Faculty in each case.
Faculty Jurisdiction. The student entering Columbia University as a candidate for a higher degree should first of all decide upon his major-subject. He will be registered under the Faculty which has charge of this subject, and will be primarily under the jurisdiction of its Dean. If he selects a minor subject or attends any course under another Faculty, he will be registered under that Faculty also, and will be subject to the jurisdiction of its Dean so far as such subject or course is concerned. It will be seen that the several Faculties have different regulations regarding the choice and combination of subjects. Regarding the interpretation and effect of these regulations the candidates will obtain all necessary information from the several Deans.
Students in Professional Schools. Students in the professional schools which form part of the University, or are in alliance with it, may, if otherwise qualified, combine work leading to the higher degrees with their professional studies; and in some subjects courses which count toward the professional degrees or certificates may be accepted as part of the work required for the higher degrees. In all such cases the professional student must register himself as a candidate for the higher degrees under one of the four non-professional Faculties, and is subject to the jurisdiction of that Faculty as regards examinations and all other matters pertaining to the higher degrees. To complete the requirements the candidate must take his major subject under one of these Faculties, and must conform to all its rules as regards examinations, essay, and dissertation; but he may offer, as the equivalent of the two minor subjects, such of his professional courses as may be approved for that purpose by the Dean of the Faculty under which the major subject is taken and by the Committee on Higher Degrees. He should, before registering consult the Dean of the non-professional Faculty under whose jurisdiction he proposes to work.
Arrangement of Work. Students who devote all their time to work under a non-professional Faculty will usually find it advantageous to pursue the study of their major and minor subjects simultaneously. This, however, is not required, and students who are pursuing professional courses of study, or who are engaged in work outside of the University, such as teaching, may find it advisable, or even necessary, to take up the major and minor subjects in successive years.
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS
The Essay. As regards candidates for the master’s degree, the custom of the University lays proportionately more stress upon the acquisition of knowledge, as evidenced by examinations, and less upon capacity for investigation shown in seminars or laboratories and in literary production, than is the case as regards candidates for the doctor’s degree. At the same time, seminar or laboratory work must be done by the candidate, and it is expected that the master’s essay shall be something more than a restatement of things well known. [If the candidate intends or hopes to continue his work for the doctor’s degree, and if he has already selected the topic of his dissertation, it will be advantageous for him to make the master’s essay a study in the line of his future dissertation, confining it to a narrow part of the field and presenting such preliminary results as he has reached. If the essay be read in seminar (as is often the case, and is required in the Faculty of Political Science) the candidate gains the benefit of discussion and criticism by his fellow- students as well as by the professor. In those subjects in which field-work is required for a satisfactory essay, the candidate is advised to perform it before entering the University.
The specific regulations of the University Council concerning the essay are as follows:
Each candidate for the degree of Master of Arts shall present an essay on some topic previously approved by the professor in charge of his major subject. This essay must be presented not later than April 15 of the academic year in which the examination is to take place and must be accompanied by formal application for the degree. Such applications must be made on forms provided for this purpose. to be had of the Registrar. When the essay has been approved, the candidate shall file with the Registrar of the University a legibly written or typewritten copy of it. This copy is to be written on firm, strong paper, eleven by eight and a half inches in size, and a space of one and a half inches on the inner margin must be left free from writing. The title page of every such essay shall contain the words: “Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of ——, Columbia University.”
Period of Residence. The minimum period of study for the master’s degree is one year; and if the candidate in his previous course of study has been adequately prepared for advanced work in the subjects he selects and is able to devote his entire time to university study, he will usually be able to attain the degree within that period. If the student is not adequately prepared, or if he is engaged in outside labor, such as teaching, two or more years may be necessary. The satisfactory completion of work at four consecutive Summer Sessions, or two consecutive Summer Sessions, together with the half year intervening or immediately following, will be accepted in full satisfaction of the requirements for residence and attendance for the degree of Master of Arts.
THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy differ from those established for the degree of Master of Arts (which is not necessary for the acquisition of the doctor’s degree) not only as regards the amount of work, but as regards its character. In the minor subjects the difference is chiefly quantitative, and double the amount of work in attendance upon courses and in collateral reading will in most cases prepare the candidate for the final test. The detailed regulations of each Department under which the candidate expects to study must be ascertained from the head of that Department. As regards the major subject the practice of the University has recently been stated in legislative form by the University Council as follows:
The general examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will not be confined to the courses which the candidate has attended in Columbia University or elsewhere, or even to the field covered by such courses. The candidate is expected to show a satisfactory grasp of his major subject as a whole, and a general acquaintance with the broader field of knowledge of which this subject forms a part.
Examination. The general examination for the doctor’s degree is oral, and is conducted by the professors in charge of the candidate’s major and minor subjects, in the presence of the Faculty or of so many of its members as are designated or may desire to attend.
Language Requirement. The candidate for the doctor’s degree must show his ability to read French and German. When his major subject lies in the Faculty of Political Science or in the Faculty of Philosophy, ability to read Latin also is usually demanded.
The Dissertation. The candidate for the doctor’s degree must also present an acceptable dissertation embodying the results of his investigation of some The topic bearing closely upon his principal subject of study, and must defend this dissertation before the members of the Faculty or so many of them as may be designated or may desire to attend. The dissertation must be printed and 150 copies deposited with the Registrar of the University before the degree is conferred. In cases where the cost to the candidate is excessive, the number of copies to be deposited may be lessened by special vote of the Committee on Higher Degrees. Further formal requirements, established by the University Council, are as follows:
On the title-page of every such dissertation shall be printed the words: “Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the Faculty of ——, Columbia University. ”
Each dissertation shall contain upon its title-page the full name of the author; the full title of the dissertation; the year of imprint, and, if a reprint, the title, volume, and pagination of the publication from which it was reprinted; and there shall be printed and appended to each dissertation a statement of the educational institutions that the author has attended, and a list of the degrees and honors conferred upon him, as well as the titles of his previous publications.
As regards the order of time in which these requirements must be met, and as regards certain other details, the regulations and practice of the several Faculties are somewhat different.
Special Faculty Regulations. In the Faculty of Pure Science, ability to read Latin is not required. In the Faculty of Political Science this requirement may be waived when the professor in charge of the candidate’s major subject certifies that ability to read Latin is not necessary for the prosecution of the candidate’s researches. In the Faculty of Philosophy also the requirement may be waived on such a certification from the professor in charge of the major subject, but only when the major subject is psychology, anthropology, or education.
In the Faculty of Philosophy, the ability of the candidate to read French, German, and Latin (if required) must be certified by the heads of these Departments, and the examinations in these languages must be passed at least one academic year before the candidate may present himself for the oral examination on his subjects. In the Faculties of Political Science and of Pure Science, ability to read the required languages is certified by the Dean, on the report of such examiners as he may designate. In the Faculty of Political Science, the examination on the required languages may be taken a year in advance of the examination on subjects, and‘ candidates are advised to take it at such earlier time, but they are permitted to take it at the same time with the examination on subjects. In the Faculty of Pure Science, the examination on languages and that on subjects are held at the same time.
In none of the Faculties is a candidate admitted to the final examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy except upon recommendation of the professor who has approved the topic selected for his dissertation and of the other professors in charge of his major and minor subjects. In the Faculties of Philosophy and of Pure Science, it is also requisite that the dissertation, in its completed state, should have been definitely approved. In these two Faculties the final examination on the major and minor subjects and the defence of the dissertation must take place at the same time, but it is not required that the dissertation shall have been printed before it is defended. In the Faculty of Political Science the candidate may be admitted to examination upon his major and minor subjects before the dissertation is completed, in case the professor under whose direction he is prosecuting his investigations judges that these have been carried to such a point that a satisfactory dissertation will probably be produced. In this Faculty, the candidate is not admitted to the final test, the defence of the dissertation, until the dissertation has been submitted in printed form.
Before the candidate is admitted to the final oral examination in his subjects, he may be subjected to such other examinations, oral or written, as may be required by the several Departments under which he has taken subjects, and at such times as they may prescribe; and the admission of the candidate to the final examination depends on the result of these previous examinations.
Divisional Requirements. The Divisional Announcements contain full statements of the specific requirements of the several Divisions in regard to examinations. In case of doubt the candidate should confer with the heads of the Departments concerned. The candidate who fails to secure full and precise information on all such points neglects his duty at his own risk.
Application for Examination. Applications for the final oral examinations must be made on special forms to be procured from the Registrar. They must be filed with the Registrar at least three months before one of the three dates at which diplomas are issued (viz., the first week of October and of February respectively, and the annual commencement), in order to secure examination before that date. In the Faculties of Philosophy and of Pure Science, in which the completion of the dissertation is required before admission to the examination on subjects, the complete dissertation should be submitted (preferably in typewritten form) to the Dean not later than March 1, and must be so submitted by April 1, if the candidate desires to receive the degree at the following Commencement. In the Faculty of Political Science, candidates who have previously passed the general examination on subjects may submit printed dissertations even later than April 1, if application for admission to the defence of the dissertation has been made on that date; and if copies of the printed dissertation be submitted two weeks before the date set for its defence, and all other conditions have been fulfilled, the degree may be conferred at the following Commencement. All applications for the general examination must be handed to the Registrar, for transmission to the Dean of the Faculty in which the candidate’s major subject lies, and must be accompanied by the candidate’s registration- book, properly signed and attested. All fees, including the examination-fee, must be paid and the Bursar’s receipt shown to the Dean before the arrangements are made for the examination.
The Oral Examination. The oral examination in the major and minor subjects is never divided, not even when the candidate has subjects under more than one Faculty. In this case the examination is held under the auspices of the Faculty in which the candidate’s major subject lies, With the co-operation of members of the other Faculty delegated for the purpose. When a dissertation, as not unfrequently happens, touches on matters that fall within the jurisdiction of Departments in more than one Faculty, it is customary for the Dean of the examining Faculty to invite members of the other Faculty or Faculties interested to be present at the time when the dissertation is criticised and defended.
Recommendation and Award. When all these requirements have been successfully met, the candidate is recommended to the University Council, and (if the requisite number of printed copies of the dissertation have been deposited with the Registrar of the University) the Council, acting through the Committee on Higher Degrees, recommends to the President of the University that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy be awarded. Such recommendation may be made at any time during the academic year, but degrees are publicly conferred only at the annual Commencement.
In the endeavor to prepare himself to meet the formal requirements above outlined, the student will find the following explanations and suggestions of value:
Suggestions as to Language Requirements. As regards the language requirements, it has been noted that in the Faculty of Political Science the examination may be postponed, and that in the Faculty of Pure Science it is usually postponed, until the time of the examination on the major and minor subjects. It is strongly recommended, however, that the student who is unable to read the required languages with ease should take the earliest opportunity of supplementing this defect in his preparation. In many subjects he cannot use the sources without acquaintance with Latin, and in hardly any subject can he use the necessary modern literature without ability to read French and German. Students whose preparation is defective in any of these languages will find reading courses provided in Columbia College or Barnard College, to which they are admitted without additional fee. Courses of this character are also provided for students who find other ancient or modern languages necessary for their researches.
The Faculty of Philosophy, as stated above, does not admit students to full candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy until the language examinations have been passed, and this must be done a full academic year before the candidates may come up for the final examination, i.e., if the candidate intends to come up in May, by the first week of the preceding October, and sooner in proportion if the candidate wishes to take the final examinations earlier in the academic year.
As regards the character of the linguistic examinations it should be noted that acquaintance with the required languages is demanded, not, as in undergraduate work, from the point of view of general culture, but strictly from the utilitarian point of view. It is necessary, for example, that the mathematical student should be able to read French and German mathematical literature, and that the student of economics should be able to read the economic literature published in these languages. The student of European history must be able to read chronicles, treatises, and laws written in Latin, and the student of philosophy should be able to read mediaeval philosophical writings in the Latin in which they were written. It is not requisite, however, that any of these students shall be able to pass such examinations in Latin, French, or German as may properly be imposed upon those who are specializing in the field of philology or of belles-lettres.
As to Preparation for Examination. As regards preparation for the general examination, candidates are warned against restricting themselves to the minimum of courses prescribed by the Departments in which they are working. It is often advisable, by way of supplement, to take one or more courses of lectures quite outside the fields covered by the subjects, and possibly under another Faculty. Very extensive private reading is almost always necessary, not only in connection with the courses taken and with the writing of the dissertation, but for general preparation. On all such points the advice of professors must be freely sought.
Choice of Topic for Dissertation. In particular, the choice of a topic for the dissertation should receive the most careful consideration; it should be made neither too early, before the student is well informed upon the general outlines and bearings of his major subject, nor so late as to result in a hurried treatment. Often a topic is suggested by the professor in charge of the subject or by some other instructor; sometimes the student’s own reading or experiments will indicate a suitable one; but in every case the approval of the topic rests with the professor in charge of the major subject.
The dissertation must be founded on the author’s own investigations, and must embody a real contribution to the knowledge of the topic or topics treated in it. No amount of erudition displayed in a dissertation will ensure its acceptance if the condition stated here be not fulfilled.
Consultation with Instructors. It may be noted that the most promising topics for investigation are often suggested by a combination of subjects lying under different Departments or even different Faculties. Many of the recognized fields of science are mere clearings, and pioneer work is needed between them. But even where a topic apparently lies entirely in the field of one Faculty or in that of one Division or Department, its investigation often suggests excursions into neighboring territory. In such cases the student should bear in mind that he is entitled to information and counsel, not only from the instructor under whose immediate direction he is prosecuting his researches, nor only from the instructors whose lectures he is attending, but from any instructor in the University; and no serious student will find that such an application is taken as intrusive. In the field of research, instructors and students are co-laborers.
Professor in Charge of Investigations. The immediate direction of the investigation always pertains to a single professor in the Department in which the candidate’s major subject lies. To this professor the candidate should report from time to time and submit the completed dissertation, preferably in typewritten form, for preliminary judgment. The final acceptance of the dissertation occurs only after its formal defence.
Printing of Dissertation. The printing of the dissertation, whether this precedes the defence, as is required by the Faculty of Political Science, or follows the defence, as is permitted by the Faculties of Philosophy and of Pure Science, is placed by the rules or custom of the several Faculties under the direction of the Dean or of the professor who has directed the candidate’s investigations. In every case there is some one authority through whose hands the proof- sheets must pass.
Under the rule of the Faculty of Political Science, noticed above, which permits the oral examination on subjects to be separated from the defence of the dissertation, it is possible and not unusual for candidates to complete, after the expiration of their academic residence, a dissertation which they have carried to a satisfactory stage of development during residence. The candidates who avail themselves of this privilege should remember that the rules above stated regarding the submission of the completed dissertation, preferably in typewritten form, and, after its provisional approval, the submission of the proof- sheets, continue to apply; and that disregard of these rules may entail the rejection of the printed dissertation or the reprinting of certain portions thereof. Strictly speaking, independent publication is not prohibited, but it involves unnecessary risk, and often unnecessary expense, to the candidate himself.
Series, Journals, etc. When a dissertation is accepted for publication in a scientific series or journal, edited at Columbia University or elsewhere, or in the memoirs of a scientific society, or when it is accepted and printed by a general publisher, the same practice should be followed, i.e., the proof-sheets should be sent to the professor in charge of the candidate’s investigations or to the Dean, as the rule or custom of the different Faculties may require. In all such cases the candidate must secure a sufficient number of reprints for deposit with the University, and these reprints must be furnished with the special title-page and the supplementary vita or outline of the candidate’s scholastic record which are required by the regulations of the University Council.
Size of Dissertation. No definite rule as to the extent or size of a dissertation can be laid down; a mathematical or chemical dissertation may well embody important results in 20 or 30 pages, while one on a philological or historical topic may well demand 100 or more pages. One of the mistakes most frequently made by students is the selection of too broad a topic. If then the original plan is carried out, the dissertation becomes either too bulky or too sketchy. It is likely in either case to include so much that is well known that any real contributions to knowledge which it contains are obscured. When the student perceives that he has made such a mistake, he should ask himself in what direction he has obtained results which seem new and important, and he should so narrow his plan of treatment as to confine himself to this part of his field.
Style of Dissertation. The completed dissertation must be written in a clear and acceptable style. “Fine writing ” is not expected or desired, but a slovenly style of composition, or inaccuracies of expression, will operate to the rejection of a dissertation. Technical terms must, of course, be used, and new technical terms must be coined when they are necessary, i.e., when the facts to be stated or the ideas to be presented cannot be expressed in terms intelligible to the layman without sacrifice of accuracy or without awkward circumlocution. The need of using technical terms, like the need of using other than verbal symbols, varies greatly in different sciences. In dealing with subjects which can be made intelligible to the layman, the use of technical terms should be avoided whenever this is possible. Above all, the candidate should eschew the not uncommon practice of giving a false air of profundity to a very simple statement by the use of Greek or Latin compounds when English words are adequate; and he should not fancy that a distinction which is of no importance becomes a contribution to science when expressed in novel technical terms which may not be needed.
Period of Candidacy. Reviewing the matters above set forth, the student will perceive that it is impossible to fix upon any definite number of years as the normal time within which the degree of Doctor of Philosophy should be attained. The regulations demand a minimum period of two years of graduate study, one of which must be spent at this University, before the candidate may be admitted to the general examinations for the degree. It has been found by experience that only an exceptionally gifted student, who has devoted the later years of his undergraduate course largely to studies in the line of his subsequent graduate work, can properly prepare himself for examination on his major and minor subjects within this period; and even in such cases it has rarely happened that a satisfactory dissertation has been completed and printed before the end of a third year. In the great majority of cases three full years of work in residence at Columbia University or elsewhere have been found necessary; and in many cases where a difficult investigation has been undertaken even the best students have been unable to complete the dissertation within three years.
Credit from elsewhere for Residence. Candidates who have spent one or more years in graduate study in other universities should note that the credit given for such work is credit for time of residence only. The acquisition of the master’s degree, at Columbia University or elsewhere, or other certification of courses successfully accomplished and examinations passed, does not exempt the candidate from any part of the examination on his subjects.
As regards the maximum period of candidacy the following regulations have been adopted by the University Council:
No person may continue to be a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1) for more than three years after residence at Columbia University has ceased; or (2) for more than six years from the time of initial registration for a higher degree.
Lapse of Candidacy and Restoration. The Committee on Higher Degrees has power to restore to candidacy persons whose time has elapsed under either of the foregoing rules; but this is done only on presentation of cogent reasons, and only for a limited period. The candidate who overruns either of the above periods will act most wisely and in not petitioning for an extension of time until his Restoration dissertation is so nearly completed that he can safely promise its submission before a definite date; for if he exceeds the extended period a request for a second extension of time is unlikely to be favorably regarded. It will also be advisable for him to obtain from the professor under whose direction he has been working a statement that his dissertation promises to be satisfactory.
Ph. D Association. All men who have received the degree of doctor of philosophy from Columbia University are eligible to membership in the Association of Doctors of Philosophy of Columbia University. The objects of the association are to bring the holders of the degree of doctor of philosophy together socially, to keep them in touch with the University and with one another, and to promote the best interests of the doctorate, of the University, and of the members of the association. Three meetings are held each year,—two during the winter and one at Commencement time. A room in East Hall has been set aside for the use of the Association.
Source: Columbia University. Bulletin of Information. Faculties of Political Science, Philosophy and Pure Science: Instruction for Candidates for the Degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy, 1908-10. pp. 7-23.
