Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-18
TECH CATALOG.
Innovation in 1898 Annual of
Interest to Alumni.
Conditions Imposed With Regard to
Granting Advanced and Professional
Degrees Enrolment of Students.

the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
catalogue for '98 made it's appearance at
the institute Thursday and was distrib-
uted to the students from Registrar
Marshalls office.
While the catalogue this year neces-
sarily resembles in many respects those
or former years, there are a few inno-
vations in this years annual that will
be interesting to alumni of the institute,
students and many others as well. The
BOARD Of trustees, acting on the recon-
mendation of the faculty, has decided
TO grant advanced and professional de-
grees, on certain conditions as to grad
uate study, professional experience, etc
AS is well known, the Polytechnic In
situte has been one of the most con-
sentative of all the engineering colleges
IN the matter of granting degrees. 1t
mas never granted single honorary de-
gree or a professional degree such as
c. +. or M. E., restricting itself to the
award OF a diploma with the degree of
bachelor of science. Among the engin-
eerirg schools of the United States there
is great diversity of practice in this re-
spect, ranging from the extremely con-
sentative position occupied by the Wor-
cester Polytechnic Institute, and few
other institutions. to the award of So
called professional degrees to undergrad
yates at the end of four years or
often of an even shorter course Of study
There has long been feeling among
the alumni and many other friends of
the institute that it ought to provide for
advanced or professional degrees upon
conditions that would insure against
their award to any except those who
would be everywhere admitted to be en-
tirely worthy of the honor. The great
additions to the equipment and facili-
ties for advanced instruction which have
come to the institute during the past
decade, have attracted not few grad
uate students, and their number would
doubtless be greater if they were reason
ably sure of receiving some recognition
and certificate Of their work
But in the event of any change in the
policy there was also another class of
men fully entitled to a recognition of
much more than ordinary success in the
professions for which they were trained
at the institute, but to whom resident
graduate study of one or more years
would be impossible. This class, too,
has received recognition.
The board Of trustees and faculty rec
ogniZe that this is one of the most i'm
portant steps taken by the institute in
recent years. They believe that the more
than usually vigorous conditions which
they have established will be an effectu-
al safeguard against any abuse Of the
privileges which are now offered. These
conditions as printed in the institute
catalogue, are as follows:
ADVANCED AND PROFESSIONAL
DEGREES.
Graduates Of the Worcester Polytech-
mic Institute, or others of equivalent
training and attainments, may, upon
vote of the faculty, become candidates
for the degrees of mechanical engineer,
civil engineer electrical engineer, doc
tor of science or master of science. In
order to be recommended for the de-
gree of master of science, the candidate
must pursue and complete to the salts
faction of the faculty full year Of res
ident graduate work, as presented in
the course of study Of the department
from which the degree is sought. He
must also present to the faculty two
bound copies of an approved thesis.
To be eligible to the degree of me-
chanical engineer. civil engineer, cleo
trical engineer or doctor of science, he
must satisfy the requirements for the
degree of master of science. and, in add
ltlOn, must nave ndu three years OI SUI
cessful practice of his profession. of
which satisfactory evidence shall be fur
nished.
Graduates of the Worcester Polytech-
mic Institute who have had seven years
professional experience of an acceptable
character in the particular line of pro
fessional work for which one Of the
above degrees is given, may be recon-
mended for such a degree upon present
ing to the faculty of the institute, not
later than April /, in the year in which
the degree is to be taken, two bound
copies of a satisfactory thesis a COM
plete report Of professional experience
and achievements, and, before com
mencement week, such other informa-
ton as to their qualifications tor the
degree, by examination or otherwise, as
NAV be found desirable.
Those desiring to become candidates
for advanced or professional degrees
under conditions given above, are re-
quested to correspond with the presid-
ent of the institute, notifying him of
their intention at the earliest practicable
moment.
The catalogue shows an enrolment OF
PIG students divided as follows: Seniors,
30; juniors, 3S; sophomores, 81; fresh
men, 80; specials. 8; graduate students,
8. total ZIG,