University of Virginia Library

PH. D.

The more advanced work in the school of History has
for its chief aim the cultivation in the student of a habit of
independent investigation. Even more than in the undergraduate
courses each student will be encouraged not only
to acquire a sound knowledge of well ascertained facts, but
to exercise his own judgment as to the significance of these
facts in the great chain of human events, and also to apply
the rules of evidence and common sense to the establishment
of hitherto unknown facts or to the rejection of supposed
facts which lack the support of trustworthy evidence.
The course is designed for those who aim at the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy, and, if History be the major subject
of a candidate for the doctorate, a dissertation embodying
the results of original research will be required. This
dissertation should not, however, be written until the
second year of graduate work.

The mode of instruction will consist in informal, conversational
discussions between students and professor, the
students being expected to ask questions freely and to
accept or reject the opinions of the professor on these
questions according to their own judgment after candid
and earnest consideration. Informal debates will be held

between members of the class, and each member will come
into close personal contact with the professor. Three
hours a week.

The course for the session of 1896-97 has been devoted
to the careful study of the intellectual, social, moral and
religious development of Europe, without losing sight of
the close connection between this development and the
events of military and political history. An extensive
course of reading, consisting of Buckle's History of Civilization
(2 vols.), Lecky's History of European Morals (2
vols.), Lecky's History of Rationalism in Europe (2 vols.),
Draper's History of the Intellectual Development of Europe
(2 vols.), White's History of the Warfare of Science with
Theology (2 vols.), Fisher's History of the Christian
Church, Bryce's Holy Roman Empire, and Guizot's History
of Civilization in Modern Europe, was assigned, and the
facts and opinions presented by these authors have been
subjected to a closely critical examination.

The course for 1897-98 will consist in the study of a
large number of specially selected works on American
History; or, if occasion requires, the course for 1896-97 may
be repeated.