The University of Virginia record :: March 15, 1929

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.

THE GRADUATE HOUSE

The Graduate House, administrative headquarters of the Department of
Graduate Studies, is on West Lawn. Besides the Dean's office, this building
contains one large lecture-room for graduate classes and three seminar rooms
on the second floor specially equipped for small groups of students and professors
engaged in advanced graduate work. Each seminar room has a small
library for the use of advanced graduate students in the courses conducted in
that room. The building is therefore the administrative office of the Department
and the workshop of its humanistic section. At present the class-rooms
are used by certain C and D classes in the Schools of English, History,
Philosophy, Economics, Biblical Literature, and Political Science. The central
location of this house and its proximity to the General Library make it particularly
adapted to departmental use.

219

LIBRARY FACILITIES

The University Libraries contain 158,557 volumes. Departmental libraries,
notably those of the Scientific Schools, the Classical, the English, the Social
Sciences, and the Heck Memorial Library of the Department of Education,
have about 40,000 volumes. Graduate students may, through the office of the
General Library, get certain books needed in research from other libraries on
the interlibrary loan system. Library facilities for graduate study, both in arts
and sciences, are excellent.

GRADUATE CLUBS

Several general meetings of the students and officials of the Graduate
Department are held during the session for professional and social purposes.
Addresses are delivered by members of the Faculty or by visiting scholars.
Besides these general conferences there are regular weekly or bi-weekly meetings
of graduate students and professors for discussion of topics connected with
graduate study. Papers are presented on the progress of certain investigations
by the writers, some of which are published as monographs, or contributed to
technical journals. These clubs are stimulating centers of research activity.
The scientific society of Sigma Xi is an important organization for the advancement
of technical knowledge. The University Committee on Research,
while not specifically an organization of the Department of Graduate Studies,
is a valuable auxiliary of the Department. This committee administers an
annual appropriation for promoting research in the various Departments of
the University, especially in the matter of the publication of the results of
original investigation, and so aids the general cause of advanced scholarship.
An annual volume, "Publications and Research," containing summaries of contributions
by professors and students of the Graduate Department, is issued
by the University.

SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES

Each Scientific School occupies a separate building with an extensive
laboratory and a select departmental library. Statements in regard to laboratories
and general scientific equipment in the Schools of Astronomy, Biology,
Chemistry, Geology, and Physics may be found under the announcements of
those Schools. More detailed information is contained in the General Catalogue.

ORGANIZATION

The immediate direction of the Department of Graduate Studies is vested
in the Dean and an Administrative Committee of seven professors, appointed
by the President, two of whom serve only during the Summer Quarter. The
Faculty of the Graduate Department consists of those professors in the
Academic Schools who offer graduate courses. Courses marked C are for
graduates and advanced undergraduates; those marked D are for graduates

220

only. The prerequisites for each course are indicated, varying from six to
twelve session-hours of college work. The various Schools, or departments,
fall into three general divisions, or groups, as follows:

Group I—Languages, Literature, Fine Arts, and Music.

English, French, German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Biblical Literature, Architecture, Music.

Group II—Social and Philosophical Sciences.

Commerce, Economics, Education, History, Philosophy,
Psychology, Political Science, Sociology.

Group III—Mathematical and Natural Sciences.

Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics,
Physics.

REGISTRATION

Every graduate student, new or old, is required to register at the office
of the Dean of the Department, Graduate House, West Lawn, where he will be
advised in regard to a program of studies. The first three days of the session
are devoted to registration. Every applicant for admission to the Graduate
Department as candidate for a degree must file with the Dean an official
transcript of his college record. Admission to the Department does not
necessarily imply acceptance for candidacy for a degree. All applications will
be passed upon by the Committee on Rules and Courses of the Department of
Graduate Studies early in the first term, and each applicant will be formally
notified by the Dean of the tentative approval of his candidacy. The final
approval of his candidacy will depend upon his record during the first term,
or quarter, of his residence.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the Department.—For admission to the Department of
Graduate Studies a baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution of collegiate
rank is required, for men and women alike. In order to become a
candidate for a degree, the student must be advanced to candidacy by the
Committee on Rules and Courses upon formal application, as set forth below.

Advancement to Candidacy for a Degree.—Any graduate student who
wishes to become a candidate for a degree must file with the Dean of the
Department his application on a blank form to be secured from the Dean's
Secretary. This application must include a proposed program of work arranged
in accordance with the requirements for the several degrees as stated
below, and must be accompanied, in case the applicant does not hold an academic
degree from this University, by an official transcript of the applicant's
academic record made out by the Registrar of the institution from which the
baccalaureate degree was received, and by a catalogue of that institution,

221

marked to show the courses of study pursued. The application will be submitted
by the Dean to the Committee on Rules and Courses, who will consider
it in conference with the professors concerned. The Committee will have
the right to require that the applicant add to his program any courses, undergraduate
or graduate, considered necessary to supply his deficiencies, or to
enable him to pursue with profit the courses he has selected. When the program
has been finally approved, the Dean will report to the applicant his advancement
to candidacy for a degree.

It should be distinctly understood that graduate degrees are not conferred
merely upon the basis of the number of courses passed, or of the length of time
spent in resident or non-resident work, but upon the basis of the quality and
scope of the candidate's knowledge, and his power of investigation in his
chosen field of study. Candidates whose training and attainments are inferior
cannot expect to secure a degree in the normal length of time estimated below
for the respective degrees.

As a prerequisite to full candidacy for a Master's degree, at least six collegiate
session-hours of foreign language credit are required.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES

Master of Arts.—The degree of Master of Arts will be conferred upon the
holder of a degree of Bachelor of Arts who has fulfilled the following requirements:

(1) The successful completion, in not less than one full year of resident
graduate work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the
Committee on Rules and Courses, as embodied in his formal application for
advancement to candidacy. This application must be submitted not later than
one week after registration, in the year in which it is expected that the degree
will be conferred. The program must form a consistent plan of work, to be
pursued with some definite aim, and grouped around some one subject to be
known as the candidate's Major Subject, the name of which will be incorporated
in the body of each diploma conferring the degree. The program
should be arranged in consultation with the professors concerned, and must be
approved in writing by a professor of the candidate's Major Subject, who shall
be designated by the Dean of the Department of Graduate Studies, after consultation
with the candidate.

(2) The preparation and submission of a thesis, to be accepted as satisfactory
by the professor of the candidate's Major Subject. Two copies of the
thesis, typewritten on paper of prescribed quality and size, and substantially
bound, must be deposited in the office of the Dean of the Department of
Graduate Studies not later than May 15 of the year in which it is expected
that the degree will be conferred. The back of the cover must bear the title
of the thesis and the writer's name, and the title page must bear the words:
A thesis presented to the Academic Faculty of the University of Virginia in
candidacy for the degree of Master of Arts.

222

(3) A final comprehensive examination, oral or written, after the acceptance
of the candidate's thesis, conducted by the candidate's major professor
and one or more of his departmental colleagues.

Master of Science.—The degree of Master of Science will be conferred
upon the holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science who fulfills requirements
corresponding to those stated above for the degree of Master of Arts. The
degree of Master of Science, like that of Master of Arts, is regarded as a
cultural rather than a professional degree and the prerequisites for candidacy,
including a reading knowledge of foreign languages, are estimated accordingly.

No extension or correspondence courses will be credited toward a Master's
degree.

Doctor of Philosophy.—The degree of Doctor of Philosophy will be conferred
upon the holder of a baccalaureate degree who has fulfilled the following
requirements:

(1) The successful completion, in not less than three full years of graduate
work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the Committee
on Rules and Courses, as embodied in the student's formal application for
advancement to candidacy. This application must be submitted not later than
October 1 of the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the degree.
The program of studies must include a Major Subject, pursued for at least three
years, and one Minor Subject, pursued for at least one year. The Minor Subject
must be closely related to the Major Subject, and the program as a whole
must contribute to the mastery of some definite field of knowledge as an
object of study and research. The name of the Major Subject will be incorporated
in the body of the diploma conferring the degree. At least two years
of graduate study must be spent in residence. By special permission of the
Committee on Rules and Courses the student may be allowed to complete his
dissertation in absentia.

Upon advancement to candidacy the Dean will appoint a special committee
of not less than three Professors, under the Chairmanship of the Professor of
the candidate's Major Subject, and including a representative of the Committee
on Rules and Courses. This committee will conduct the candidate's
final examinations, and pass upon his dissertation.

(2) A reading knowledge of French and German sufficient to enable the
student to use these languages for purposes of research. This knowledge shall
be attested by passing examinations in French and German, set by the professors
of these languages, in consultation with the Professor of the Major Subject,
not later than October 1 of the session preceding the final academic year
of candidacy for the degree. Upon recommendation of the professor of the
Major Subject, and at the discretion of the Committee on Rules and Courses,
some other language may be substituted for either French or German.

(3) A final examination, written, oral, or both, in addition to all examinations
in course, upon such phases of the Major Subject and of allied subjects,
as the special committee shall prescribe. No candidate can be admitted to the
final examination until his dissertation has been accepted. Preliminary examinations
may in addition be required by individual schools, as stated under
the announcements of these Schools.

223

(4) A Dissertation exhibiting independent research in some branch of the
candidate's Major Subject, submitted to the Special Committee not later than
April 15 of the last year of candidacy. The copy submitted shall be typewritten
upon paper of prescribed quality and size, and shall be substantially
bound. The cover shall bear the title of the dissertation and the name of the
writer, and the title page shall bear the words: A Dissertation presented to
the Academic Faculty of the University of Virginia in candidacy for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy. Upon approval of the dissertation the candidate
must arrange for the publication, at the earliest practicable date, of the whole
or such portions of the dissertation as the special committee shall direct. If
publication prior to the conferring of the degree be impracticable, the candidate
must deposit with the Bursar a sum of money sufficient to cover the
cost of 50 copies, which shall be the property of the University Library. Two
copies, in addition, must be placed in the office of the Dean of the Graduate
Department.

Grade.—A graduate student's standing in a course is indicated not by
a numerical grade, but by one of the following terms: Distinguished, Satisfactory,
Unsatisfactory.

Only those courses marked C and D may be counted toward a graduate
degree.

Summer Session.—The Master's degree may be won by properly qualified
persons in three full Summer Quarters. In no case will this degree be conferred
without resident graduate study during three quarters, the equivalent
in time of the regular session. Not more than two graduate courses each term
of the Summer Quarter will be credited toward the degree except by special
permission of the Dean and the Committee concerned. At least twelve session-hours
of graduate work are required for the Master's degree.

A candidate for the Master's degree in the Summer Quarter must register
with the Dean of the Graduate Department and submit a program of studies in
accordance with the regulations prescribed for admission to candidacy for that
degree in the regular session. In addition to the preparation of a thesis, a
final examination, written or oral, upon the program of study and acceptable
to the Professor of the candidate's Major Subject in the regular session of the
University, will be required.

Graduate Students in the Summer Quarter are required to make their
Masters' degrees within five summers after admission to full candidacy.
Graduate students are strongly advised to continue their residence during one
or more terms of the regular session.

Fellowships.—A list of Fellowships available for graduate students will be
found on page 150.

A special Bulletin of the Department of Graduate Studies is issued each year.
This contains detailed information as to courses and regulations of the Department,
and should be consulted by persons interested. This Bulletin and further
information will be supplied by the Dean of the Department of Graduate Studies.

University of Virginia Library

DEPARTMENT OF GRADUATE STUDIES

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

HISTORICAL STATEMENT