The University of Virginia record :: April 1, 1935 :: University of Virginia Library

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, and
the first doctor's degree was awarded in 1885. From 1885 to 1935 the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy has been conferred upon two hundred and forty-eight
persons. The present requirements for graduate degrees, with certain modifications,
have been in force since 1922.

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 four seminar
rooms specially equipped for small groups of students and professors engaged
in advanced graduate work. At present the class-rooms are used for certain
advanced courses in the Schools of English and History. The Bruce Collection
of books for the use of graduate students in English is in this building. This
departmental library, endowed by the late Professor J. Douglas Bruce of the
University of Tennessee, an alumnus of the University, contains valuable source
material.

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LIBRARY FACILITIES

The University Libraries altogether contained on July 1, 1934, a total of
232,014 volumes. Departmental libraries afford specialized collections in science,
classics, English, the social sciences, and education. The Medical Library, now
in the new Medical Buildings, is spacious and well equipped for graduate study.
Graduate students may, through the office of the General Library, get certain
books needed in research from other university libraries on the inter-library loan
system. Nearness to Washington makes the Library of Congress and the Folger
Shakespeare Library easily available for graduate students.

GRADUATE CLUBS

There are regular weekly or bi-weekly departmental conferences of graduate
students and professors for discussion of topics connected with graduate study.
In the various physical sciences, in medical science, in the social sciences, and in
humanistic studies, graduate clubs, composed of students and professors, are
actively engaged in stimulating investigation and publication in their respective
fields. The scientific society of Sigma Xi is an important organization for the
advancement of technical knowledge, while the Institute for Research in the
Social Sciences furnishes a fruitful field of activity. 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. A list of doctoral dissertations, with abstracts, is published each
September for distribution among other universities.

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, Physics, and the Department of Medicine 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 eight professors, appointed by
the President. The Faculty of the Graduate Department consists of those professors
in the Academic Schools and the Medical School who offer graduate
courses. Courses marked C are for graduates and advanced under-graduates;
those marked D are for graduates only, and usually for advanced graduate students,
candidates for the Ph.D. degree. In the Department of Medicine the
regular courses are evaluated as C courses; elective, special and research courses,

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and seminars as D courses. The prerequisites for each course are indicated,
varying from 6 to 12 session-hours of college work. The various Schools, or departments,
fall into four general divisions, or groups, as follows:

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

English, French, German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian,
Portugese, 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.

Group IV—Medical Sciences.

Anatomy and Anthropology, Bacteriology and Preventive
Medicine, Biochemistry, Dermatology and Syphilology, Histology
and Embryology, Neurology, Pathology, Pharmacology,
Physiology, and Surgery.

REGISTRATION

Every graduate student, new or old, is required to register at the office of
the Dean of the Department, Graduate House, West Lawn, after consultation
with the head of his School. All women students must first register at the
office of the Dean of Women, 22 East Lawn. The first three days of the
session are devoted to registration. Every applicant for admission to the
Graduate Department as a 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. For students in the Medical
Science Group, the M. D. degree will be accepted in lieu of a baccalaureate
degree. 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

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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, 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 6 collegiate
session-hours, or 12 semester-hours, of foreign language (ancient or modern)
credit are required. A reading knowledge of foreign languages may be attested
by an examination.

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 early in the
session 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. Ordinarily, courses aggregating
12 session-hours, or 24 semester-hours, are required of candidates for a
Master's degree.

(2) The preparation and submission of a thesis, to be accepted as satisfactory
by at least two professors in the candidate's Major Subject. Two copies of
the thesis, typewritten on paper of good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and bound in
stiff board or cloth covers, must be deposited in the office of the Dean of the

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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 carry the author's
name, degree, and the subject of the thesis, followed by the words: A Thesis
Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy
for the Degree of Master of Arts.

(3) A final comprehensive examination, oral or written, after the acceptance
of the candidate's thesis, conducted by the candidate's major professor and
two 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) 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 examinations in those languages set by the candidate's major professor,
or by some one in his School designated by him. Examination papers
shall be read and marked by professors in the Schools of French and German.
The language examinations of candidates for the Ph.D. degree should be held
by October 1 of the session preceding the final academic year of candidacy for
the degree. Credit in this University for not less than 3 session-hours in B
courses in either language may, on the approval of the School of the candidate's
Major Subject, be accepted as satisfying the requirement in that language. Upon
recommendation of the professor of the Major Subject, and at the discretion of
the Graduate Committee, some other foreign language may be substituted for
either French or German.

(2) The successful completion, in not less than three full years of graduate
work, of the program of studies approved for the candidate by the Graduate
Committee as embodied in his formal application. The application for advancement
to candidacy should be submitted to the Dean not later than October 15 of
the session preceding the final year of candidacy for the degree, and must be
submitted by October 15 of his final year. The program of studies must include
a Major Subject, pursued for at least three years, and a 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 one year of advanced graduate study, preferably the last, must
be spent in residence. By special permission of the Graduate Committee the

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student may be allowed to complete his dissertation in absentia under the direction
of his advisory professor.

(3) A dissertation exhibiting independent research in the candidate's Major
Subject, to be submitted in complete form to the Special Departmental Committee
of which the candidate's advisory professor is chairman, not later than May
1 of the final year of candidacy. Three typewritten copies must be sent to the
Dean's office, before the conferring of the degree. Two of these copies will be
deposited in the General Library; one copy will, upon request, be turned over to
the department or school in which the dissertation was prepared. The dissertation
shall be typewritten upon paper of good quality, 8½ by 11 inches, and substantially
bound in stiff covers; pasteboard covers are not acceptable. The cover
shall bear the title of the dissertation with the author's full name and academic
degree or degrees, and in addition the following words: A Dissertation Presented
to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for
the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The candidate is expected to arrange, at
the earliest possible date, for the publication of the dissertation, either as a whole
or in part, as the department or school concerned shall direct. Fifty-two copies
of the printed dissertation shall be deposited in the University Library.

Each dissertation, when finally submitted, must be accompanied by an
abstract of from five hundred to a thousand words, to be approved by the department
or school. This abstract, or summary, will be published in a bulletin for
distribution among other universities. No dissertation will be accepted without
this attached abstract. A fee of $25 toward the editing and publication of this
annual bulletin of summaries must be paid by the candidate for the Ph.D. degree
before the conferring of the degree.

(4) A final examination, oral, written, or both, in addition to all examinations
in course, upon such phases of the Major Subject and of allied subjects, as
the Special Committee (described below) shall prescribe. Ordinarily no candidate
may 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.

Upon approval of the dissertation, the Dean will appoint, upon nomination
of the School concerned, 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 Graduate Committee. This Special Committee
may, through its chairman, invite other members of the departmental faculty to
take part in the examination of the candidate. It is recommended indeed that
the doctoral examination be given before the entire professorial staff of the
School concerned. The result of the examination should be promptly reported
to the Registrar.

Grade.—A graduate student's standing in a course is indicated by one of the
following symbols: A, B+, B, C. A, B+, and B are passing grades: A is distinguished,
B+ is very good, B is satisfactory, C is unsatisfactory. Failure to
attain the grade of B on any one term will invalidate candidacy for the degree in
the current session.

Only graduate courses may be counted toward a graduate degree.

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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 long 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 12 session-hours, or 24 semester-hours,
of graduate courses 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 long 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 long session of the University,
will be required. Candidates for degrees at the Summer Quarter Convocation
must hand in their theses by August 1 and take their final comprehensive examinations
as soon as their theses have been approved.

Graduate Students in the Summer Quarter must complete the courses of
study for 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 long session. Candidates for degrees at the
Summer Quarter Convocation must notify the Graduate office of their intentions
at the beginning of the Summer Quarter. Each candidate must submit for departmental
approval to the chairman of the department concerned the subject of
his thesis.

Fellowships.—A list of Fellowships available for graduate students will be
found on page 172.

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.