Anthropology

Number of Concentrators: 33.

1952 Commencement Honors: Cum 2; Magna 0; Summa 0.

To the uninformed, Anthropology concentration is a living exception to the rule that a barrel of monkeys is fun. But in actuality, the field emphasizes man and his works more than his ancestors, and furthermore there are a number of students, a growing number, who have been highly satisfied with it an a major.

The accent is not on large enrollment, however, as the Department prides itself on offering concentrators considerable individual attention without a formal tutorial program. Although the staff annually turns out some of the nation's leading anthropologists, it is equally concerned with the interested dabblers, who make up fully four-fifths of the majors.

Far be it from the Anthropology Department to fall behind in University evolution, and Chairman Earnest A. Hooton has made the field less intensive in recent years so that his concentrators can pass their General Education and language requirements, and also be premeds or members of an R.O.T.C. unit of they choose.

Honors Requirements

Although all Anthropology seniors take divisionals and generals, only honors candidates and borderline cases are now given oral exams. In addition, students seeking degrees with distinction must write a thesis and take eight instead of the normal six courses in the field. While few graduated with honors last June, several other concentrators received cums in General Studies.

Anthropology courses have in recent years put less stress on detail and have been more palatable to the average student; in some instances, intensive readings and bi-weekly seminars have replaced lectures. The only mandatory courses are Anthropology 1 and 10, and students may select two of the six (or eight) on their program from a wide range of related subjects in the Social Relations, Biology, or Geology Departments.

Lower Level Courses

The popular Anthropology 1 and 10 courses, by the way, are strongly recommended to non-concentrators for upper level Gen Ed and distributional requirements.

Advanced courses in the concentration are divided into two sub-fields, Physical and Cultural Anthropology, with the latter being broken down further into Archaeology and Ethnology. Those in the Physical area will sooner or later have to cope with 102, reputedly the roughest course in a rough Department.

Previously, most of these courses were offered only alternate years because of a shortage of full-time lecturers, and the student had a difficult time working out his schedule. The addition of two prominent visiting professors next fall, however, will solve or at least alleviate this problem.

The Department's leading physical anthropologist is, of course, Hooton, and the cultural field includes men like Kluckhohn, Brew, Movius, Oliver, Pelzel, and Willey.

Their headquarters is the well-equipped Peabody Museum; hence the Anthropology concentrator has a long walk and a somewhat difficult road once he's there, but few who try it are sorry.

Applied Sciences

Number of Concentrators: 71

1952 Commencement Honors: 2 summa; 1 magna; 2 cum in General Studies

Students concentrating in Applied Science can capitalize on an opportunity that is offered at almost no other university: they can explore all aspects of engineering and get the finest training in basic science without choosing a narrowing specialized category.

The philosophy of the University towards producing a well rounded individual is exemplified here. True, a student in most instances cannot become an accredited engineer after getting his A.B. from Harvard, but he has a broad and solid foundation on which to build his graduate training.

Basic to applied science, of course, is a thorough training in physics. And basic to physics is a firm foundation in mathematics. Therefore mathematics through 105a is required of honors candidates, while non honors men can stop with 2b.

Mathematical ability in the surest portent of success in engineering or physics, and any sign of a failure to comprehend at a lower level is a good indication of future great difficulty, if not utter failure, on more advanced levels. For this reason, good grades in mathematics 1 or 2 or in Physics 12 should serve as a warning not to be considerely lightly.

Three semesters of Physics 12 are required for both honors and non-honors men. If a student elects to take Physics 1, he must take two semesters of Physics 12 without the lab to count as one half course. In addition, Chemistry 1 or 2 is required of all concentrators.

Wide Latitude

Here the fixed requirements end for non-honors candidates. They have a choice of six more half courses from the list of those open to honors candidates to fulfill concentration demands.

Honors candidates must take Applied Science 90, a half course in drafting and shop technique; Applied Science (or Mathematics) 104a and 104b, mechanics; and Applied Science (or Physics) 131 and 132, half courses in direct current and alternating current electricity; and four more half courses selected from a long list.

Applied Science 90 is different in approach than similar courses in other schools. Instructors realize that Harvard engineers will rarely need to actually draft themselves; therefore the major emphasis in the course is on blueprint reading and interpretation as well as how things are actually fabricated in the shop.

If the concentrator's interest lies mainly in electronics or electrical engineering, he can round out his requirements in these areas. On the other hand, mechanical engineering or civil engineering can be started with courses in thermodynamics, strength of materials, and advanced mechanics.

Not to be overlooked are the many graduate courses open to qualified undergraduates. Harvard leads the world in many aspects of electronics, sanitary engineering, and soil mechanics. But as Dean John H. Van Vleck says, "the undergraduate years are the time to look around, to broaden oneself, to take advantage of the many opportunities here at Harvard. The graduate years are when extreme specialization should start."

Architectural Sciences

Number of Concentrators: 51.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 11; magna, 4; summa, 0.

Architectural Sciences is strictly for the potential architect. The requirements are time-consuming and specialized. For those concentrating, however, the opinion is that the hours spent are worth the eventual benefits, and the requirements are every bit necessary for an architect-to-be.

Last year, the department regulated that only candidates for honors could concentrate in this field. This stipulation, the department heads feel, is a must for all concentrators in Architectural Sciences.

With a very few electives, Architectural Sciences can offer very little outside of its own particular field. Divided into architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning, the concentrator in Arch. Sci. must take a minimum of seven courses in his field to get an A.B. Courses required are Math 1a and 1b, Arch. Sci. 114, 201ab, and 202ab, and two other courses in the department. Two courses may be chosen in related fields. Arch. Sci. 112 and Physics 1a and 1b are required for admission to the Graduate School of Design, but not for the A.B. degree.

Although there has been some turnover in faculty as a result of a change in deans, it is expected that next year things will be much as they were this year. Personal contact between students and faculty, and small classes are stressed. There is no tutorial for Architectural Sciences majors.

Heavy Lead

The work required in this field is not easy. In the past, the average student has spent between 30 and 40 hours a week in study, the majority of which, however, are consumed over a drawing board or in the "design shops." Examinations are either oral or written, and as a senior, the concentrator must take a three-day exam to test his creative ability and an oral exam to test his knowledge in his special, chosen field.

Emphasis in the department is to teach architecture, not to teach about Architecture; that is the reason for the final, three-day, "design project" examination.

For a limited number of promising students, the chance of accelerating is given. By intensive study in the senior year, these students can complete the equivalent of the first year of Graduate School.

Astronomy

Number of Concentrators: 10.

Honors at 1952 Commencement: No candidates for honors.

Imagination and intellectual curiosity are the key to astronomy, according to most of the members of the department. But the prospective concentrator should bear in mind that a healthy aptitude for mathematics and physics is also a rather necessary asset. Astronomy is likely to prove a serious disappointment to the concentrator who expects only a superficial and lively jaunt through the field.

Astronomy majors must take a minimum of six courses in Astronomy, Physics, and Mathematics. Concentration requirements include Astronomy 1, a general survey in elementary astronomy, Astronomy 120, a course in practical astronomy, and Astronomy 140, an introduction to mathematical astronomy. A middle or upper group astronomy course may be substituted to meet this requirement. Other requisites are Mathematics 1 and 2 and any two physics courses which have the approval of the astronomy department.

Other Courses Available

The concentrators is likely to take a variety of other courses within the department during his under-graduate studies. Among the most popular are Astronomy 2, the study of navigation, Astronomy 100, a survey of theoretical astrophysics, and Astronomy 141, an introduction to photography and photometry.

The concentrator will find an extremely close faculty-student relationship within the department, for astronomers form a tightly-knit group. He thus has the opportunity to work closely with perhaps the finest faculty of practising astronomers in the country.

Donald Menzel, who plans to teach Astronomy 100 this fall, is at present acting director of the Observatory as well as director of solar research. Fred Whipple, lecturer in Astronomy 120, is a leading authority on the study of the upper atmosphere and the director of a government meteor project. Bart Bok, who will give the first half of Astronomy 1 this year, is perhaps the department's most popular lecturer and a specialist in the form and structure of the Milky Way. Dr. Cecelia Payne-Gaposchkin, one of the world's foremost women astronomers, will teach Astronomy 141. Two recent arrivals, Richard Thomas and Max Krook, round out the department's teaching staff. They are scheduled to give advanced courses in astrophysics.

One word of caution comes from the department: No fortunes are made in astronomy. Astronomers are above all men and women dedicated to learning more about the universe in which they live. Nevertheless, the astronomy department has a fine record for placing its graduates in important and respected positions.

Biochemical Sciences

Number of Concentrators: 100.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 13; magna, 5; summa, 1; 6 cums in General Studies.

Biochemical Sciences is a rapidly growing and a highly competitive field. Its growth in the last two years (an increase of almost 50 percent, which puts it second to Biology in the science fields.) is explained by the fact that it gives concentrators a great latitude among the sciences. Its competitiveness is explained by the fact that three-fourths of the men in the field are pre-meds.

Many pre-meds who cannot quite decide between Chemistry, Biology, and Physics choose this field since it provides a good non-specialized foundation for later scientific research. The requirements are not at all stringent, yet are enough for admission to med school.

Honors candidates will find the field lot more difficult than non-honors concentrators--but also a let more rewarding. Honors candidacy means individual tutorial. Everyone in Biochemistry receives tutorial, which is its biggest advantage over Biology or Chemistry. Group tutorial for non-honors concentrators and individual instruction for honors men are both highly praised. The system, these men feel, provides personal attention which is not available in the other fields.

Honors

Senior honors candidates may take tutorial for credit, given in conjunction with their thesis. Some feel, however, that the thesis is the big drawback to honors candidacy in Biochemistry: neither Biology nor Chemistry requires one. The thesis is a lab thesis of approximately 10,000 words. Students who receive a grade of B or better in Chemistry 40 may also undertake individual research at the Medical School.

The requirements for honors candidates, aside from the thesis, are seven and one-half courses instead of the six required of non-honors concentrators. He must also answer special questions on the general examinations which every man must take in his senior year.

Non-honors concentrators must take two and one-half courses in Chemistry, one in Physics, and two and one-half additional courses from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics. Ordinarily, Chem 1, 20, and either 40 or 60 satisfy the first requirement. The Physics course must either be as advanced as Physics 11, or Physics 1 with a grade of C or better. For the additional two and one-half courses, the standard pre-med courses, Biology 1 and Mathematics 1 are generally included.

High Level Courses

Honors candidates must take Chemistry 60, Physical Chemistry. Given by George B. Kistiakowsky and Edgar B. Wilson, it is considered a very rough course, involving an extensive amount of lab work.

Among the higher courses open to concentrators, George Wald's General Biochemistry (Biology 190), and Biology 191, a lab course, are the most popular.

Most students praised both the tutorial system and the individual tutors. They felt, and not without reason, that the tutorial setup made Biochemistry more worthwhile than any of the more specialized fields.

Biology

Number of Concentrators: 258.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 13; magna, 8.

Although more and more pre-meds are concentrating in such non-scientific fields as English or History, they still abound in Biology. As a result, the competition in Biology is tough, and no-one should enter it expecting to get eight hours' sleep on nights before exams.

Yet both pre-meds and the substantial number of students who enter Biology with hopes of going into research have found it unusually stimulating. World-prominent professors teach many of the courses, and according to students they do it excellently. From the most elementary course in the field, Biology 1, through Biology 265, Insect Physiology, the flood of brilliant biologists including William H. Weston, Alfred S. Romer, Kenneth V. Thimann, Frederick L. Hisaw, George Wald, and Carroll M. Williams set a fast pace that never allows concentrators to coast. Although generally regarded as worthwhile, Biology 122, Comparative Anatomy, and Biology 124, Animal Histology, are notorious time-consumers.

Small Sections

In featuring good lecturers, the department has not sacrificed friendliness. Most of the sections are small, especially in the advanced courses, and the professors frequently visit the laboratory periods. Students who feel that lack of a thesis in this field prevents them from working closely with members of the department may take Biology 40, Introduction to Research in Biology, which really amounts to a thesis with course credit included.

The freshman deciding between Biology and Biochemical Sciences should decide how important tutorial and general exams, are to him, for the Biology Department offers neither of these features.

Fulfillment of medical school requirements will concern the potential pre-meds. The Biology concentrator will have to take a year and a half of chemistry in addition to concentration requirements to meet the demands of most medical schools.

Research

For men interested in medical research, the problem is when to specialize. Generally, Biology concentrators have to take so much work in their field that they can readily land a job on graduation. Biochemical Sciences men often spread their efforts so much that they have to continue their work in either Chemistry or Biology in graduate school to obtain good positions.

Concentrators in Biology are required to take four full biology courses which must include Biology 1 and a half-course in each of the areas of botanical, zoological, and physiological biology. In addition, concentrators must take a full course in physics and one in chemistry.

The requirements for honors in Biology add a half course in biology and two half-courses in either biology or a related field. Since the department has no large opus such as a thesis on which to judge honors candidates, the impressions conjured up by an old Biology I section man and grades play the major parts in determining the type of honors awarded. The department sets a minimum of a "B" average for honors.

Many students enter the field expecting little more than formaldehyde and dead cat-fish. But the distinguished lecturers and friendly atmosphere of the department usually gain the respect of concentrators.

Chemistry

Number of Concentrators: 131.

1952 Commencement Honors: 3 summa; 6 magna; 4 cum laude.

Leonard K. Nash, maestro-lecturer in Chemistry 2, always prefaces his advice to prospective Chemistry concentrators with: "Do you want to spend your afternoons shielded from the harmful rays of the sun? Do you want to enjoy the temperature of a Florida summer the year round? If so...."

And so the average students shudders and chooses a more relaxing field. But Chemistry concentration at Harvard has many advantages. There is not a bad lecturer in the whole department; it is easily apparent that staff members are chosen for teaching ability as well as scientific brilliance, a fact that is frequently not so apparent in other departments of the University. And there is no thesis required for honors candidates.

Little Freedom

Unlike biologists and physicists, chemistry concentrators do not have a large degree of freedom in choosing courses in their field, at least in the first three years, of chemists must necessarily have a firm foundation in the four main areas of chemistry: inorganic, analytical, organic, and physical. After these requirements have been met, students may choose any courses they want, including research for credit.

Eugene Rochow and Nash complete in the indoctrination of neophytes to the field. Rochow teaches the somewhat staid Chemistry 1, offered to those whose secondary school preparation is not sufficient to take Nash's whirlwind Chemistry 2.

Chemistry 2 is a half course introduction to the more theoretical side of inorganic chemistry. Legends say that the course is monstrously difficult, but in many respects it is easier than Chemistry 1. Nash imposes a bare minimum of memory work on the class: the short time of the course does not allow him to languish valuable time on such "hand-book chemistry." True, the theory is presented at a clip so fast that Nash is usually limp after a lecture, but students with ability spend no more time than those in Chem. 1.

Rochow is also a fine lecturer (he was on leave of absence this year) and there are those who swear by him.

Louis Fieser's Chemistry 20 is probably the most difficult introduction to organic chemistry in the country. The pre-med competition is fierce and the hour exams are frequent (every other week). Fieser is also a fine lecturer, and students find the two afternoons of lab work per week interesting.

Chemistry 40 is the best reason for majoring in English that the department has to offer. The lab work in both 40a and 40b is tedious, but James J. Lingane, instructor in the course, has pared away all the material that is not essential to the learning of proper analytical technique, even going so far as time-saving centrifugation instead of ordinary filtration in 40b. The ground covered by the course used to take three semesters instead of the two now used. Biggest advantage to the course is the unique approach used. Instead of the one semester of qualitative and one semester of quantitative analysis offered at most schools, Chemistry 40 begins with quantitative work and for the spring term introduces the student to actual on-the-job type qual-quant analysis. But some students spend fifteen hours per week in the lab.

Chemistry 60, physical chemistry, is the course that separates the mental giants from the men. The course requires more than the Mathematics 1 and Physics 1 that are required of Chemistry concentrators. Mathematics 1 and Physics 12 are virtually essential for full comprehension of the rather abstract principles presented. But Chemistry 60 is generally regarded as the most interesting of the "staple" courses offered by the department.

Chemistry requirements for non-honors concentration are the courses described above. The physics requirement has been changed from requiring Physics 1 passed with a R or better to just Physics 1 passed. Honors candidates must take one more advanced course in Chemistry and one more course in Chemistry or a related field.

And chemistry concentrators are kept off the streets and out of harm's way during the afternoons.

Classics

Number of Concentrators: 50.

1952 Commencement Honors: Cum, 3; Magna, 2; Summa, 2.

Classics is a difficult field in which practically everyone is an honors candidate. It includes some of the top undergraduates in the college.

Yet, it boasts one of the highest ratios of full professors to students in the field. J. P. Elder, associate professor of Greek and Latin, stated that the Classics Department "stresses tutorial." All concentrators get tutorial, given by the members of the department and teaching fellows. Next year there will be no teaching fellows in the field, with all teachers being members of the department.

Freshmen beginning to concentrate in Classics are advised to take Latin 2 next year and to begin Greek. Classics, being a language field, necessarily has its courses "on a ladder." Upper level courses are not possible until one has mastered the rudiments of the language.

Classes in the department are usually small except for beginning Latin and Greek, which usually include freshmen trying to pass their language requirements. These elementary courses for the most part repeat the regular secondary lessons in Cicero, Virgil, Homer, and Caesar. Nightly reading assignments are given and those in the courses find it almost essential to keep up with the work. Upperclass work ranges all over the field of Classical poetry, drama, and history.

Requirements

Classics concentrators are required to take six courses in the field, with one more necessary for honors candidates. Two types of degrees are given at Commencement, in Linguls and in Litris. In Linguls requires that one pass several composition courses in the language, though usually no thesis is required. These are usually mandatory for the latter degree. General exams are necessary in addition to special exams which may be required.

Several of the best-known professors in the University are in the field, including John H. Finley '25, master of Eliot House, Mason Hammond '25, master of Kirkland House, Elder, and Arthur Darby Nock, Frothingham Professor of the History of Religion and Senior Fellow of the Society of Fellows.

Classics concentrators may combine with a related literature or subject, such as English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or any other modern literature, Sanskrit, Classical Archaeology, Linguistics, Fine Arts, History, or Philosophy.

Economics

Number of Concentrators: 331.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 17; magna, 20; summa, 1; 2 cums in General Studies.

The fact that Economics can boast one of the top faculties in the country, and probably has more nationally known professors than any other department in the College, is one of the main drawbacks to the concentrator. For few undergraduates are able to claim having really studied under any of them.

Most of the courses are conducted under the lecture system which does allows the undergraduate little contact with the men who divide their time between Washington and Cambridge.

The mistake should not be made that a concentrator in Economics will be trained in how to make his first million, no illusions should be developed that Economics is just another term for business administration. What the Department of Economics attempts to do is quite simple: the development of the economic background to present day social and political issues.

Tutorial

Economics I, required of every concentrator, is designed to introduce the student to the field. Its main criticism is that it is too general. But in the past it has been quite efficient in preparing students for the more advanced courses.

In an attempt to introduce some personal contact, the Department has now extended tutorial to all sophomores and juniors. According to Departmental chairman Arthur Smithies, its purpose is threefield: 1) to make specific things brought up in classes more concrete, 2) to tie the various fields of economics together, 3) to bring out the close relationship between economics and the other social sciences.

Tutorial in the junior year, usually limited to honors candidates, is now open to non-honors candidates also. Called "presumptive honors tutorial," it meets in sessions conducted along honors tutorial lines. The program was opened last year with the hope of inducing more concentrators to apply for honors in their senior year. According to Ayers Brinser '31, Head tutor of Economics, a great majority of the juniors who enter the junior tutorial with no intention of being an honors-candidates, change their minds during the junior year. By offering the presumptive tutorial, the department enables students who did not sign for honors to change in their senior year.

Basic Courses

Requirements for concentration do not impose too great a restriction on the concentrator's program. Four Economic courses including Economics I are a must for non-honors men, while honors candidates are held for five. Three of the courses must be chosen from the basic courses: Economics 101, Economic Theory and Policy; Economics 141, Money, Banking and Economics Fluctuations; Economics 151. Public Finance; Economics 161, Business Organization and Public Regulation; Economics 171, Economics of Agriculture; and Economics 181a and b, Trade Unionism and Collective Bargaining, Public Policy and Labor.

Honors candidates may elect to take tutorial for credit for one semester of their senior year, while they work on their 40,000 word theses. Currently, more than a third of the concentrators are honors candidates.

The department also requires all concentrators to take full courses in Government, History, Social Relations or the second group Social Science courses.

Most popular of the advanced courses last year was Economics 161. Professors Gaysen and Galbraith divided last year's schedule. The course deals with the structure and character of business and their markets; the attitude of the public toward combination and regulation, including the transportation industry and the public utilities; and the problems of resource conservation and industrial mobilization.

Labelled by most concentrators as the most difficult of the basic courses, Economics 141 crams a great deal into its program. Most concentrators prefer to get this one out of the way in their sophomore or junior year, since it is a good foundation for other courses in the field.

Labor Economics

One of the most popular professors teaching an undergraduate courses, John Dunlop will be back to give the two semesters of Labor Economics. Different from the other basic courses in that it emphasizes more human aspects, Economics 181 combines human and legal aspects of the labor movement as well of the economic foundation.

Economics 101, the basic theory course for undergraduates, is restricted to honors candidates in their last year of study.

English

Number of Concentrators: 271.

1952 Commencement Honors: Cum, 6; magna, 11; summa, 1; 6 cums in General Studies.

The death of the old English 1 and the relative success of English 10 this year have made English much more inviting as a field of concentration. The old course, which assigned a few pages of everyone who wrote in the language, gave way to the streamlined version last September and has so far been considered a great improvement by tutors and students alike.

Required of all concentrators, English 10 restricts itself to the "giants" of the language. Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Shakespeare, Donne, and Bacon form the bulk of the first half of the course, handled by Professor Baker. Professor Bate lectures the second half, handling Pope, Swift, Johnson, Keats, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Eliot and a few others. Specialists on various men often pinch hit for both Baker and Bate.

The main objection to the new course is that instead of having regular section meetings and additional tutorials, it combines sections with tutorials. This deprives concentrators of a year of tutorial since the weekly meetings must be given over almost entirely to material directly related to the course.

A major drawback to candidates for honors is the Latin (or Greek) requirement. To get an honors degree a student must have had three years of preparatory school Latin (or two of school and one of college Latin), or two years of school Greek. An A or B in Latin 1 or 2 or a satisfactory grade in Greek 1 will suffice.

Honors

Honors candidates must also take eight full elective courses of which three may be in related fields. In most cases he must choose his courses with an eye to General Examinations which he will take in the Spring of his Senior year. The department has published a syllabus which is essential to the concentrator and which is on sale at the Coop for $1.

Nearly all concentrators take one of the two Shakespeare courses offered by the department. Professor Levin's English 123--omitted this year--will be given next year and will cover 12 selected plays. Professor Harbage's English 124 covers all the plays. Levin's course allows more intensive study of the plays it covers, but some prefer to read all the plays. Both are full courses.

The Chaucer course, English 115, is a virtual requirement for all honors candidates. Professor Whiting does the lecturing in what is generally considered the toughest course in the department. All the works of Chaucer are read and exams require a very thorough acquaintance with the reading since spot passages are chosen at random.

The department can be roughly divided into three sections: composition, English literature, and American Literature. There are several courses in Public Speaking. Only one of these may be counted for the degree and none for concentration in English, however.

English C is the simplest and most popular of the composition courses. Taught entirely in sections, it requires 1000 words a week, usually of the student's own choice with an emphasis on style rather than content. English K and L cover the short story and English M and R cover exposition.

American Division

American Literature is probably the weakest of the three sections. Professor Jones' English 170 runs the full year in two half courses, covering the field from 1890 to the present. Professor Miller runs English 7, covering American literature from "the beginning to the present" Most of the other American Li courses are restricted to graduates and the major is virtually forced to concentrate in English Writers.

The English writers, however, are very well covered with numerous lecture courses and conference groups. There are courses on both periods and on individual authors. The "Drama since Ibsen" course, English 160; "Forms of the Modern Novel," Comp. Lit. 166; Professor Bush's course on Milton, English 131 are all popular. Courses on practically all the "giants" provide almost unlimited choice within the field.

Students who wish to major in English and "minor" in an allied field will get two years of tutorial in English and one in the allied field.

Far Eastern Languages

Number of Concentrators: 2.

While the Far East is one of the most interesting fields in the Social Sciences, undergraduate concentration in Far Eastern Languages is discouraged. The Language courses are not the way to begin familiarity with this controversial area.

Department Chairman Serge Elisseeff cautions undergraduates not to concentrate in his field unless they already have a solid background in one of the Asiatic Languages (i.e. Chinese or Japanese). Instead, he recommends courses taken from the fields of History and Government which offer a thorough study of the Far East.

Concentrators in Far Eastern Languages must include six courses in or related to the fields, of which at least four must be in the Department of Far Eastern Languages. Honors candidates must take seven courses in the field, of which ordinarily five should be in the Department.

Fine Arts

Number of Concentrators: 86.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 6; magna, 3.

With an expanding faculty, reorganized courses, and the best facilities of any college in the country, the fine Arts Department loans forward, ready for the student interested in getting a broad understanding of history and culture.

It turns away from the budding artist, suggests that he look elsewhere for his training, and reminds the prospective major that it guarantees no positions for men who graduate with just an A.B. degree in the field.

Women outnumber men majoring in Fine Arts, but most of the few job offers mailed to Fogg Museum are for men.

Fine Arts is a small field here, with vast facilities, and is a sort of happy hunting ground for every interest. Although concentrators are required to take six full courses for an A.B. degree, two of those may be taken in related fields. The choice is wide, since most Social Science or Humanities courses are open.

Fine Arts 13

The only usually required course is Fine Arts 13, a history of art, scheduled for reorganization next year due to the retirement of Professor Kuhler. Fine Arts 14, adopted on an experimental basis last year becomes a permanent fixture next fall. It was run last year by Professor Bobber, who jumped into the Fine Arts lime light only a year after arriving at Harvard with this popular survey of painting and sculpture conducted through Boston galleries and museums.

Fine Arts 170a and 170b, half courses on Modern Art, will join into a full course next September, under Professor Decknatel. In Fine Arts 16, the Theory and Practice of Drawing and Painting, Professor Lux Feininger, renowned painter, replaces Professor Bloom, who leaves the college this spring.

Other courses remain substantially the same, ranging from early Greek sculpture, studies in Chinese art in 1000 B.C., to problems of modern design.

Faculty Turnover

Fine Arts faculty turnover is speeding up, and younger men are entering the Department, with new ideas and changing concepts of art. Now age and experience of instructors are in good balance. Here, the faculty has no set pattern for instructors, who teach as they interpret.

Most work on the theory that appreciation and analysis can be best learned by doing, and emphasize small classes and frequent trips to Boston museums and galleries. As one professor put it, "we build our courses around great things made by people of every age."

Honors candidates get two and one half years of tutorial, which for some, is the basis of much of their work.

The Department is expanding rapidly, attracting students from social sciences, humanities, and even natural sciences. While only 35 received a degree in 1951, 70 graduated a year later, and last spring 80 students left the department. Many come to Fine Arts after concentrating in other fields for as many as two years.

Geology

Number of Concentrators: 61.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 6; magna, 1; summa, 0.

Geology, with rock scratching and field trips substituted for thesis and tutorial, is the field for the esoteric student, whether scientist, mountain climber, or just someone who wants to get away from it all.

An honors candidates in Geology must take five courses in the department itself and three from the related fields--chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. To make up for the missing thesis, a candidates must stay in group IV or above for his entire college career, and take an oral examination at the end of the senior year.

Thus the recommendation of a student for honors depends entirely upon his undergraduate marks and his success in the orals, as determined by the examining committee.

Those concentrating but not seeking honors are required to take four courses from the field, and two from the related fields.

Basic Courses

Although there are certain divisions within the department, almost everyone takes certain courses. Geology 1a and 1b, Introductory Physical Geology and Introductory Historical Geology are taken by all concentrators and other students out for a general education.

Considered guts, they nevertheless are good basic courses giving the concentrator a good background, and the dabbler a fair smattering. Other good courses are Geology 111, Billings' course in Structural geology; Geology 113, a course in surveying that takes a full day in the field once a week; and Minerology 102, an elementary course that includes five to seven hours of lab work a week.

Once in the department a student has his choice of five separate special divisions: geophysics, economic geology, paleontology, (the study of fossils, animals and plants), geomorphology, and dynamic and structural geology.

After graduation, a student can usually get a small job with a mining or oil company, or in the Civil Service. Higher paying jobs demand graduate work and a master's degree. And a lot of the jobs in Geology are draft-deferred.

Germanic Languages

Number of Concentrators: 13.

Commencement Honors: 1 magna.

Although Germanic Languages attracts relatively few concentrators, those in the field generally feel that it is an excellent department. One of the key reasons is the small group of concentrators, thirteen this year, which leads to almost individual instruction.

In most years, between 50 and 75 percent of the concentrators try for honors, and Department Chairman Taylor Starck reports that only about one in twenty-five fails to get at least a cum. The only concentrator graduating last year received a Magna.

Six courses, at least four of which are in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures are required for all concentrators. Not more than two of these may be courses regularly open to Freshmen.

Government

Concentrators: 619.

1952 Commencement Honors: cums, 46; magnas, 16; summas, 1.

As with anything of such gigantic proportions, Government is a very hard field to generalize about. If there aren't 619 reasons for majoring in Government there are certainly a couple of dozen.

Concentration in the field is no longer restricted to those interested specifically in political science. In recent years it has been accepted as good preparation for Law, Business, Journalism and Education in addition to Government Service and Politics. It also has recently acquired the reputation as the fields to major in if you don't know what you're interested in.

Concentration in Government can be gritty much what you make it. With such a large number of concentrators of widely differing interests the department offers a great variety of courses. Depending on which you choose your next three years can be one long weekend or a fairly tough grind. Government has its quota of "guts" and it also has its fair share of solid, hard course.

The repartment requires at least eight half courses in Government (probably a few more for honors candidates), either Economics 1 or Social Sciences 115 and full or two half courses in History (Social Sciences 111 can be substituted for this requirement.)

Specialization

The Government major must choose to specialize in one of the three divisions of the field-American Government, Political Thought and Comparative Government, and International Law and Relations.

A peculiar examination system which includes both a three-hour general departmental examination on the whole field of Government and a four-hour special examination in the students division requires a careful distribution of courses in all three areas. He must get a good feeling for the field in general plus a more intensive preparation in his specific area.

In addition to the general and departmental examinations given in May of the senior year, students are often required to take oral examinations.

The most popular of the three areas is American Government. Almost everybody in this division takes McCloskey's difficult but rewarding 124-American Constitutional Development, partially because one section of the divisional examination deals exclusively with Constitutional Law.

American Division

V. O. Key is an authority on political parties, but his lectures in 135-Party Government in the United States are pretty dry and dull. Arthur N. Holcombe, dean of the department, gives a basic but dry course on the National Government of the United States.

Hanford's and Lambie's courses in State and Local and Municipal Government and Gaus' in Public Administration are among the less popular in the area.

Flippant, witty Charley Cherington gives two enjoyable and popular courses, 153--Problems in American Federalism and 155--Government Regulation of Industry, the latter in collaboration with Palamountain. Next year, 153, now a half course, will be made into a full one with Dr. Wood taking the second half.

Two other interesting and specialized course are Maass" 157-Government and the Conservation of Natural Resources and Huntington's 159-Government and Defense.

Political Theory

The most difficult of the three areas is Political Theory and Comparative Government. Certainly the hardest course in the department and probably one of the most difficult in the college is Friedrich's 106--History of Political Thought, which traces political philosophy and jurisprudence from antiquity through the 20th century. Almost all honor's candidates take this course since they are required to answer a question on political theory on the general exam.

Other good courses in this area are McCloskey's 107, American Political Thought, Beer's basic but difficult 112--Parliamentary Government and Fainsod's top-notch course on Dictatorship and the Government and Politics of the Soviet Union. Cherington will be teaching a new course next year on Canadian Government and Institutions.

The third area, International Law and Relations features two difficult but good courses by dynamic McGeorge Bundy on Principles of International Politics and the United States in World Politics.

Cheever's 190--Conducted Control of Foreign Policy and Emerson's two courses on Imperialism and Nationalism are all good and well-liked.

International Relations

Colorful Bruce Hopper gives two courses, Europe in World Politics and Russia and Asia in World Politics, while Inis Claude gives both International Law and International Organization.

As one of the five major fields, Government offers group tutorial for both sophomores and non-honors juniors. Honors seniors and so far as possible, honors juniors get individual tutorial.

Almost any student interested in the field of Government can be sure of finding eight or ten interesting and worthwhile courses among the 36 regularly open to undergraduates. Its a field which offers something to fit almost anyone's interests and tastes and thus make a good major for students with a wide variety of types and abilities.

History

Number of Concentrators: 354.

1952 Commencement Honors: cum, 24; magna, 25; summa, 0.

At a History tutorial meeting last year the instructor in charge idly asked one promising member of his six-man tutorial group whether he intended to be a historian after Commencement. The student replied politely that he liked history and that he seemed to do quite well in it, but that he was going to medical school. Surprised, the tutor put the same question to the other students. Out of the six honors juniors in History, four turned out to be practicing pre-meds, and the other two were undecided about their careers.

This is not to say that History rivals Bio-Chemistry as a refuge for the grunt-and-grind boys, but as a field it does present unique opportunities for the man who is undecided about his future or who wants a solid social sciences background without cramping his pre-professional training. Its adaptability is due to the fact that only six courses are required for honors candidates, and two of these may be from related fields. Thus there are honors seniors in the field who have taken but three courses with the actual label "History."

Big Names

This flexibility is not the field's only claim to distinction nor its main one. The department is loaded with big names--and a surprisingly large number of them are excellent lecturers. Taylor, Brinton, Schlesinger, Merk, Owen, Langer, Morison, Gilmore, McKay, Handlin, and Schlesinger, Jr., are names which command respect in academic circles throughout the nation. In recent years, however, the department has suffered some serious depletions through voluntary and involuntary resignations. An associate professor, Franklin Ford, will be added to the staff next year. Coming from Bennington, he sports an enviable reputation in his field of European history; he will give two half courses next year, one in modern Germany and the other on France and Europe from 1500 to 1715. But there is some bolstering needed in the American history division, especially with full professors Frederick Merk and Samuel Eliot Morison due for retirement within the next two years.

Group Tutorial

Once in the field, the sophomore will find himself, confronted with regular group tutorial sessions which will probably meet in his House and will be composed of other sophomores from his House. Sophomore tutorial is alike for both honors and non-honors candidates, it consist mainly in readings from the great historians of the past, with occasional papers to let the tutor know how much has taken root.

Next year, however, honors and non-honors juniors may be travelling widely divergent paths. Under a plan now being considered by the department, non-honors men will henceforth take their big comprehensive examination at the end of the junior year instead of the senior year, as is the present system. Under this plan, non-honors students would have no departmental exams in their senior year--except if they failed the exam the year before, in which case they will be re-tested.

The plan, which has already been approved by the department's tutorial staff, will have as its main advantage the emphasizing of junior non-honors tutorial. Faced with his make-or-break comprehensive examination at the end of the year, the non-honors junior will take a much sharper interest in his tutorial assignments. At present non-honors men tend to loaf through junior tutorial, since departmental exams are not impending for another year. Then, by the time comprehensive do roll around, the non-honors senior no longer has tutorial to give him the wide knowledge of history in general required for the exam.

No change is planned for honors candidates. As juniors they will discuss specific problems in history in group tutorial, and as seniors they will prepare for their thesis through individual tutorial sessions. They will continue to take general examinations as juniors and specials as seniors.

"Specials" refer to the student's special field--History is divided into a flock of subdivisions, specialties inside a specialty, such as Greek history, Latin American history, and American History since 1789 (by far the largest special field). The concentrator can take as many courses as he wants in his special field, but also has to take two courses in different areas.

For those who stick with the field the rewards often turn out to be tangible ones. Although no summas were earned by the class of '52, fully one-third of the honors seniors received magnas, while all the rest graduated with cums.