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 185960
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 certain modifications,
have been in force since 1904.