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MILLER SCHOOL OF BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.
Professor Tuttle,
Dr. Skeen,
Mr. Van Nüys.
The work of this School is designed to meet the wants of students
who desire such knowledge of the principles of Biology and of the
methods of biological research as should properly form part of a liberal
education, or who desire such training as will fit them for independent
work as students or as teachers in that department of knowledge;
and of those who seek such acquaintance with the facts and laws
of Biology as will prepare them for an intelligent study of the relations
of Biology to Agriculture.
B. A. COURSES.
Two introductory courses are offered, each of which is intended to
serve as a means of rendering the student familiar with the method,
the aims, and the fundamental laws of Biology while he is engaged in
the one case with the study of plants, in the other with that of a large
and important group of animals. Each course consists of three
lectures a week throughout the session, the lectures being accompanied
in each case with associated laboratory exercises. Graduation in
either of these courses may be offered as one of the electives for the
degree of Bachelor of Arts.
I. Botany.—The course begins with the study of the anatomy, both
gross and microscopic, of a series of representative plant forms, beginning
with the highest and passing to the lowest plants; this is followed
portion of the course begins with the consideration of the principles
of classification, followed by the study of the characteristics
of the leading divisions of the vegetable kingdom, and particularly
of those which include the non-vascular plants. The concluding portion
is devoted to the more specific study of the classification and distribution
of the higher plants and of the local flora.
To the student who seeks a knowledge of the principles of Biology
as a part of a general education, this course is particularly commended.
All the fundamental laws of Biology are well illustrated in the study
of the morphology and physiology of plants, and in most instances in
such a manner as to cause them to be more readily apprehended by
the beginner than is the case in the study of animals.
Text-Books.—These will be announced at the beginning of the coming
session.
II. Comparative Anatomy and Physiology.—This course is devoted
to the study of the Anatomy and Histology of Vertebrates, and to the
principles of Animal Physiology. During the first part of the session
several representative forms are dissected, the relations and functions
of their constituent organs being at the same time discussed in the
accompanying lectures. This is followed by a study of their histology,
particular attention being paid to mammalian histology as understood
by the aid of that of the lower vertebrates: the work is done in the
laboratory, the associated reading and lectures being accessory thereto.
This course is particularly recommended to students who contemplate
the study of medicine here or elsewhere. It is included in the required
work of the first year of the course in Medicine, and students passing
it with the required grade will there be credited with it.
Text-Books.—Martin's Human Body (briefer edition); Parker's Zoötomy;
the Professor's Elements of Histology.
GRADUATE COURSES.
M. A.
In addition to the introductory or B. A. courses above described, the
following advanced courses are offered to students prepared to undertake
them. In each the work will be chiefly done in the laboratory,
the student being in large measure independent of his associates; such
lectures will be given from time to time and such reading indicated as
will aid the student in an independent investigation of the subject in
hand. The relation of these courses to degrees is indicated below.
III. Vertebrate Morphology.—An advanced course based on Course
II, the completion of which, or its equivalent, is required as preliminary.
The work of the course begins with a study of Vertebrate
structure and development of one or more systems of organs as existing
in the vertebrates and in those forms which may be regarded as
phylogenetically related to the vertebrate stock. The library of the
department contains a large amount of standard and periodical literature
bearing on the subject-matter of this course, and the reading of
the student will be directed as far as possible in accordance with his
individual needs.
IV. Zoölogy.—This course, open to graduate students only, includes
the study of Animal Morphology, as illustrated by the anatomy, histology
and, as far as possible, the embryology of a series of representative
species chosen from the principal divisions of the animal kingdom;
the principles of classification; and the arrangement of the various
orders and classes of animals in larger groups as indicated by their
structural affinities.
Text-Book.—Parker and Haswell's Text-Book of Zoölogy. For Reference:
Lang's Text-Book of Comparative Anatomy; Korschelt and Heider's Embryology
of Invertebrates.
The completion of Courses I and II and either III or IV will be
required of candidates for a diploma of graduation in the School of
Biology, and of those offering Biology as one of their electives for the
degree of Master of Arts. Courses III and IV will not both be given
the same year at present.
PH. D.
The more advanced work in Biology will be devoted chiefly to Vertebrate
Anatomy and Morphology, each of the systems of organs being
in turn critically studied; it will in substance be an extension of the
work of Course III. Such lectures will be given and such reading
assigned as may be deemed advisable, but the larger part of the work
will be done in the laboratory of the University and at such seaside or
other laboratories elsewhere as may be designated, the principle object
of the course being to train the student in methods of original investigation
while he is becoming acquainted with the present state of our
knowledge of the vertebrates and their allies. A knowledge of the
subject-matter of Course IV will also be required of students who
elect Biology as their major subject for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
In addition to the Courses in Biology above described, provision is
made in this School for discussion, when called for, of one of the most
important of the practical applications of Biological Science. In this
connection the following course is offered:
V. Practical Biology and Agriculture.—The relations of Biology to
Agriculture are so manifold, and the subdivisions of the latter subject
so numerous, that it would be impossible to exhaust the discussion of
either in the work of any one year. A course consisting in part of
lectures and in part of an equivalent amount of practical work and
collateral reading will be offered yearly. It will include the discussion
of selected topics pertaining to Economic Botany (such as the diseases
or the parasites of plants, the natural history of cultivated varieties,
and the like); to Economic Zoölogy (such as the life-history and
treatment of injurious or beneficial insects, external or internal
parasites, the special anatomy and physiology of the domestic animals,
etc.); and to questions connected with the Principles of Agriculture
(such as the laws of growth and nutrition of crops, the drainage and
tillage of soils, systems of rotation and allied topics). The topics discussed
in such a course will be, to some extent, selected in accordance
with the objects in view of those electing it in any year. The following
suggested course will indicate a possible arrangement of subjects.
Text-Books for 1899-1900.—Sorauer's Physiology of Plants (Weiss tr.);
Tubeuf's Diseases of Plants induced by Cryptogamic Parasites (Smith tr.);
Chauveau's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals (Fleming tr.).
Candidates for a diploma of graduation in Biology and Agriculture
are required to complete Courses I, II, IV, and V.
Substitution of work fully equivalent in amount and character may
be made for the subjects published as requirements for either of the
graduations in this school from year to year in the case of any students
whose previous training or special aptitude give good reasons therefor.
The Biological Laboratory, newly domiciled in a convenient suite of
rooms in the middle of the new Academic building, is well provided
with instruments for the gross and minute dissection of animals and
plants; microscopes, microtomes, reagents, and materials for the staining
and mounting of preparations; apparatus for photography and
microphotography, and other necessary appliances, not only for student
work, but for investigation and research as well. In addition to
the large and valuable collections of the Brooks Museum, an abundant
supply of other necessary specimens and material is furnished. A
library of reference is attached to the Laboratory, and students have
access to a number of leading biological and agricultural journals, thus
acquiring practice in the intelligent use of current literature.
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