University of Virginia Library

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOLOGY.

Professor Fontaine.

In this School two subjects are taught, Geology and Descriptive Mineralogy.
There are two courses—first, a course embracing the requisites in Geology for
the attainment of the degree of Bachelor of Arts; and second, a course
covering what is required in Mineralogy and Geology for the degree of Master
of Arts.

B. A. COURSE.

Three lectures a week will be given throughout the session. The design
of the course is to enable the student to obtain such a knowledge of the
science of Geology as should be possessed by a well-educated man. As full
an exposition of the fundamental principles will be given as the time will
allow.

Text-Books.—Le Conte's Elements of Geology and Dana's New Text-Book of Geology.
The instruction will be in part by lecture.

M. A. COURSE.

This course consists of two divisions, one in Mineralogy, the other in
Geology.

Mineralogy.—The course in Mineralogy closes with the examination
which takes place in January. Three lectures a week are given in it. In
this course attention is paid to crystallography, and especially to the physical
properties of minerals. In Descriptive Mineralogy the relations, geological
occurrence, and history of the individual species are made prominent.

Geology.—This division of the course begins after the examination on
Mineralogy in January. Three lectures a week will be given. A knowledge
of the principles taught in the B. A. course will be assumed. The more
general and complicated problems in all the branches of Geology will be
dealt with in this course. As thorough a treatment as possible will be given
of Stratigraphy, Lithology, and Paleontology. More stress will be laid on
the methods of field-work and the application of geological principles. The
aim will be to give such a knowledge of the subject as may be useful to the
student in bread-winning pursuits, or may serve as a basis for the more specialized
course required for the attainment of the degree of Ph. D.

Text-Books.—Le Conte's Elements of Geology; Dana's Manual of Geology (new
edition). For Reference.—Geikie's Text-Book of Geology. The instruction will be in
part by lecture.

PH. D. COURSE.

The Post-Graduate Course in this School is so arranged as to enable the
student to concentrate his efforts in some special line of study. Selections

will be made from one or both of the subjects taught in the School. The
work will be adapted to the wants of the student, and, as far as possible,
original research will be required in the treatment of the branches chosen.

Candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts are required to pass in
the B. A. Course, and those for the degree of Master of Arts in the M. A.
Course in Geology and in Mineralogy, in addition to the B. A. Course. For
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy the candidate must, in addition to
the requisites for the degree of Master of Arts, complete the Post-Graduate
Course.

The Lewis Brooks Museum contains collections illustrating the main
sub-divisions of Natural History. Each of the collections is arranged so as
to exemplify the principles of the science, and at the same time offers a large
variety of subjects for advanced study. In Geology the specimens show all
the different kinds of rocks, classified according to mineral character and the
formations in which they occur; the collection of fossils, plaster casts, maps,
etc., is exceptionally fine, and fully illustrates Historical Geology. In Mineralogy
the principles of the science are made plain by well-chosen suits of
specimens, models of crystals, etc.; the general collection of minerals contains
all the important minerals, and many of the rarer ones, in good specimens.
Zoology is well illustrated by a fine and large collection of mounted
skeletons, stuffed animals, dried specimens, plaster casts, etc. In Botany the
collections contain charts, papier-maché models of flowers and fruits, sections
of wood, etc.; the bulk of the collection is in the form of an herbarium,
selected from the most important and interesting botanical regions of the
world. In addition to the above, a beginning has been made of a collection
to illustrate the geology and mineralogy of the State of Virginia, and this
will be increased as rapidly as possible.

These large and carefully selected collections of geological and mineralogical
objects afford unsurpassed facilities for the full illustration of the principles
taught. As free access to these collections is allowed the student, he
can find in their study an opportunity, rarely obtained, for gaining a practical
acquaintance with natural objects acquired from various parts of the
world, and chosen for their typical character. These collections are especially
useful to students pursuing Post-Graduate courses of study in Geology and
Mineralogy.

The Professor, when the number of applicants is sufficient, organizes a
party of geological exploration. The field-work is done in the month of
July, and is entirely optional with the students. Persons engaged in the
study of Geology and Mineralogy may, although not members of the University
class, with the consent of the Professor, and on paying $25 to the
Proctor, join the exploring party.