University of Virginia Library

HISTORICAL STATEMENT

While the original organization of the Academic Schools of the University
by Jefferson contemplated instruction of graduate grade in each School,
the first "post-graduate department" in the modern sense was instituted in
1859-60 by Basil L. Gildersleeve, then Professor of Greek in the institution.
The degree of Master of Arts continued to be conferred upon graduates in
all six Schools of the University. Professor Gildersleeve conducted graduate
courses in the School of Greek; shortly after the Civil War a "post-graduate
department" was announced for the School of Latin. Graduate courses were
offered in individual Schools, but there was no general department organization
for graduate study until 1904. In that year the Department of Graduate

Studies was established as a regular co-ordinate division of the University,
with definitely prescribed regulations corresponding to the requirements
of the Association of American Universities, in which the University of
Virginia was the first Southern university to hold membership. The degree
of Doctor of Philosophy had, however, been offered by the University as far
back as 1880. The present requirements for graduate degrees, with minor
modifications, have been in force since 1904.