New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
THE NEK DECREE IN LAN.

An interesting and hopeful step has just been
taken by New-York University toward ad-
iustment. or readjustment, OF the relationship
between collegiate and university courses of
study and between their respective degrees.
This university in common with the great ma
jorty of it's fellows, does not think 1t desirable
to insist upon the baccalaureate degree pre-
requisite to admission to all of its professional
or postgraduate schools, though it does en-
courage such acquisition of that degree when
practicable; and it is emphatically opposed to
lowering the value Of the baccalaureate degree
by comforting it after only q two years. course
At the same time it recognizes the desirability
of discriminating. especially in its law school,
between those who have and those who have
not previously pursued full college course and
received the bachelors degree. Accordingly it
has decided upon the following arrangement: Its
ordinary law course leading to the degree of
LII. b. or Bachelor Of Laws, and qualifying stu
dents for admission to the bar. will be main
tanned as at present, and will be open to prop
erly prepared students whether they are college
graduates or not. It will also conduct a law
course leading to the degree of ]. D., or Doctor
Of Law, which will be open to Only those who
have received the baccalaureate degree from
colleges OF approved standing.
This arrangement seems to be logical and con-
sistent 1t simply provides for doctorates In
law, conferred in course, just as in medicine,
philosophy and other departments of learning
For such an end the degree Of Doctor Juris is
well suited That of LII. D. is by universal
practice and consent an honorary degree. That
of D. G. L. is used In course by at least one
American university of the highest standing
but it is liable to be confounded with the same
degree conferred as an honorary one by other
institutions. There will be no mstaking the
purport Of J. ID. Moreover. 1t is consistent with
other features of the university system. Thus
while any qualified person may pursue post
graduate course only one who has bacca-
laureate degree may secure Doctorate Of
Philosophy. So the masters degree in peda-
gogy may be by high school graduate
but the doctors degree by none but collegiate
bachelor. The doctors degree in medicine Is
given, it is true, to others than bachelors; but
that practice seems to be justified by the greater
length-four years-of the professional course In
medicine. AS a matter of fact. moreover, a
large proportion of medical students are holders
of baccalaureate degrees.
1t may be that Americans, as has often been
said are too fond Of these titles and place too
much value upon them. What is certain, how
ever, is that so long academic and profes-
sional degrees are conferred each OF them
should have we'll defined meaning and stand
ard significance, and there should be an equi-
table bestowal of degrees upon members OF the
various professions. There has hitherto seemed
to be some injustice in providing that while one
who is not college graduate may become n
doctor in medicine even the most worthy col
lege graduate shall not become q doctor In law;