TWO YEARS

A few years ago Columbia University inaugurated a new type of course, the two year survey. Several such courses--one called "Contemporary Civilization" and another listed as a "Science Survey," for example--have been taken by many students with very satisfactory results. At Harvard, while there are double courses such as German B. there are no two year surveys. Professor Merriman frequently complains that one year is too short a period of time to cover all the material in History 1. Students often receive the same impression form other courses with a similarly broad field.

These name conditions existed at Columbia and were met by the establishment of these two year courses. It is apparent that two years can in many cases be more than twice an valuable an a single year spent on the subject. A one year survey of English literature or European history from the fall of Rome produces the impressions which would be created by falling out of a free and grabbing hold of various branches as one dropped down. Too much material is contained in these studies to be packed into a single year without tending to confuse even the best of students.

The creation of two year courses involves many problems and is not to be undertaken without considerable study of the plan's advantages and disadvantages. However, in view of the huge success of the two year surveys instituted at Columbia, and since there would seem to be a need for such courses at Harvard. It should be worth the time of a faculty committee to make a thorough study of the question.