The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-07
THE GRADUATE DEPARTMENT AT THE "U'
Nearly 200 Students Now pplementng Their College Work
Genius and Originality Given Room for Unhampered
Deveopment-Muc Enthusiasm Over the Work

There are nearly 200 students enrolled
in the graduate department of the Uni
versity of Minnesota. Among $500 stu
dents, this is not a large number; but it
must be remembered that Minnesota uni
yersity is young western school, and
that graduate department. is only possi-
BILE after need for 1t has been created.
The 200 students represent many schools
east and west, It would be idle to boast
that the graduate department of Mime
sofa university is we'll enough known to
draw students from the extreme east.
Graduates Of the well-knoWn eastern
schools who are cont inuing work here are
doing so because, for other reasons than
educational, their lines have been cast
in the west 1t Is enough for Minnesota
to boast that she can offer post graduate
courses that are acceptable to men and
women coming from the great educational
centers of the east. However, the ma jor
ity of the 200 graduate students received
their bachelor degrees at Minnesota uni
yersity. For various reasons they are
continuing their work; some are prepar
ing to be teachers and want a broader
knowledge of certain subjects; others re-
ceived such stimulus from undergrad
uate work that they feel the desire for
more thorough cultivation
In q lew cases SluueuIS are Working
for the mastery Of a speciality. An aver
age of about two of this latter class go
out each year with the degree of doctor
of philosophy They will make for the
most part ministers and college profess
sors.
Those who are working for broader
general cultivation usually take master
degrees. All junior and senior courses are
open to graduate students. Many in
deed of the so-called graduate students
are only found in the undergraduate
classes. There is such variety of sub
iects offered to the undergraduate that
he simply cannot avail himself of all the
desirable courses before graduation. For
instance, a student who is specializing in
English will have offered him in the
junior and senior years about eighteen
attractive courses, from which he may Sc
lect six. If he is really alive to oppor-
tunities, and few students can come in
touch with the English department of
Minnesota university without waking up,
he will, if possible, get back to the univer-
sty for some of the remaining twelve
courses.
What Is Graduate Work:
This, to be sure, is rot, properly speak
ing, graduate work. It furnishes one Of
the reasons why graduate department
should exist, but perhaps not the highest
reason: The fundamental purpose is to
furnish the time, place and opportunity
for original research work. 1t is not
enough to be a scholar in the sense OF
finding what has been done. The real
student desires to develop his own indi-
yiduality, by carrying effort into lines
that have not been worked before.
True graduate work is not getting from
others, but doing for ones self TIE
graduate department of maturity and dig
nifty lays great stress upon this fact
Genius and distinctive originality are CIV
en- the proper conditions for unhampereo
development. Viewed in this light Min
hesota does nos claim to have a graduate
department that ranks with the highest il
the country. In fact. Minnesota mod.
estly makes no great boast for this de.
partment. There has been for severa
years a growing demand for advanced
work The university authorities have
tried in small way and with no add
tional funds to meet that want. In thi:
| way he department has grown to what i
| now is, two hundred students, more thai
| either Michigan or Wisconsin can boast
The number Of students in attendance
| however, is not necessarily proof tina
! the work is higi grade Loyal Mime
| sofa students must admit that the equip
| ment FOR research work in some lines i
not to be compared with that OF school
that make specialties of graduate depart
ments. There is no, attempt on the par
of any one connected with the universit
to cry up advantages that do not exist
! There is no desire to draw students her
who might find tetter equipped librarie
and laboratories in older schools. Blu
, there is a desire to have the work don
| held at it's full value. The gradual
| students are enthusiastic in their appre
, citation, but their number is limited, an
the department deserves to be know!
| throughout the state
Appreciated by Students.
| cit is wonderful that We should fin
such advantages in a school where tn
graduate department is so little known,
! is a common remark. There are
MAN. delightful courses offered that
could keep on here for years and year
with profit. said graduate of Iowa uni
versity in a mild burst Of enthusiasm.
The opinion of those students who hav
had work in other schools than Minnesot
| is entitled to considerable weight.
Miss Mary Peck, OWnderfully br1gh
and we'll liked woman OF the English dc
partment, had some graduate work her
before she became a member of the fac
ulty In answer to how and why sh
found her way to the university, MIS-
Peck said:
81 came out here with no intention Q
working for degree. I knew there wa
a state university, but that was all
knew about it. I drifted over to tn
graduate department because alway
gravitate toward any place where ca
get work in my line. I happened t
fall into the hands Of Professor Burton
Dr.. McClumpha, Professor Klaeber an
Professor West. I found out very 500
that 1 had unwittingly found an inst1
tuition where I could get Just as goo
advantages as anywhere in the countr!
as far as instructors go. The lacks {
this place are lacks of newness and fund!
The library, although good working II
brary, needs filling out, and especially
needs working catalogue.
"The instructors with whom l am az
uuainted are authorities in their sui
jects and are constantly making origin'
investigation.
There is one thing you find in this IL
stitution which is often lacking in olde
| ;e Ia q old story We