University of Virginia Library

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL SCIENCE.

Political Economy and Science of Society.

Professor Holmes.

In this class there are two courses, each of three lectures a week throughout
the session. Political Economy will be prosecuted for the B. A., and Science
of Society for the Ph. D. degree.

Political Economy.—In the treatment of this department of knowledge
there is no rigid adherence to the school of Smith, Ricardo and Mill. The
modification of older doctrines, necessitated by the increase of productive inventions
and productive operations, is steadily regarded. Attention is paid to
the inquiries and criticisms of Thornton, Cairnes, Jevons, Marshall, Nicholson,
etc.; and to the altered views propounded by Laveleye, Walker, and the school
of the Cathedrists and other German schools.

Text-Books.—Walker's Political Economy (advanced course); Mill's Political Economy
(abridged). [Subject to change.]

Science of Society.—In this (the Post-graduate course) is prosecuted the
investigation of the laws and movements, the growth, decay, and constitution of
Societies, in the different phases and stages of social development. The necessary
organic functions of Society are studied in their several forms. They

are also regarded in their reciprocal relations and in their conjoint action in
successive forms of civilization. All systems are interpreted; no ideal constitution
is contemplated. The course is descriptive of processes by which experienced
results have been obtained, not speculative in advocacy of theoretic
dreams.

This class is dependent on notes for the Lectures, as no text-book exists.

History.

Adjunct Professor Dabney.

General History.—In this class, which comprises the historical work
required for the B. A. degree, great stress is laid on the view that the career of
man, as revealed in History, is not a mere jumble of disconnected dates and
facts, but a continuous stream, having its sources and tributaries in the far-off
past, its outlet in the remote future. No attempt is made, however, to traverse
in the class room the entire length of this stream; for, although constant efforts
are made to demonstrate the vital connection of nation with nation, of generation
with generation, and of anterior with ensuing conditions of historical development,
the lectures are confined to the more important periods, the
student being required to fill the gaps by private reading. The periods, and,
therefore, the text-books studied, may be more or less varied each year. Three
lectures a week.

Text-Books.—Fisher's Outlines of Universal History; Oman's History of Greece;
Froude's Cæsar; Capes's Age of the Antonines; Duruy's Middle Ages; Seebohm's Era of
the Protestant Revolution; Gardiner's Thirty Years' War; Morris's Age of Anne; Dabney's
Causes of the French Revolution; Morris's French Revolution and First Empire.

English and American History.—In this advanced class the principles
taught in the preceding course will be applied to a more special field; and in
order that the students may be encouraged to exercise independent thought
and judgment, they will be required to write essays on assigned topics. Graduates
in General History will derive most benefit from this course. It may be
taken, however, by others; and, as considerable attention will be paid to constitutional
development, students intending to study Law will find the course of
advantage. Candidates for the M. A. degree selecting History as one of their
four subjects must graduate both in this course and in the preceding. Three
lectures a week.

Text Books.—Gardiner's History of England; Green's Short History of the English
People; Gardiner's Atlas of English History; Percy Greg's History of the United States;
Thwaites's Colonies; Hart's Formation of the Union; Wilson's Division and Re union.

The Post-Graduate Course.—This course is designed for those students
who aim at the Ph. D. degree and expect to become professors of History.
A large amount of reading will be assigned, and frequent discussions of
important points will be held between student and professor. The aim will be

to cultivate the habit of original research; and, if History be the major subject
of a candidate for the doctorate, a dissertation embodying the fruits of such research
will be required.