Kissinger, H. A.

DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS

Please report to your tutor *adviser* between September 27 and
October 4 in his office.

The name of your tutor *adviser* will be posted on Tuesday,
September 27, on the walls outside Holyoke 8. In case of any questions,
inquire within Holyoke 8.

The tutors' and advisers' offices and hours are listed on the
mineographed Directory Sheet on the Bulletin Board outside Holyoke 8.

Be sure to give your tutor your address and a schedule of your
classes.

If you are an honors candidate in Junior or Senior standing in
History or Government, and you have not been assigned to a tutor, please
check with Holyoke 8.

If you have decided not to be an honors candidate, please notify
Holyoke 8 as soon as possible.

Fill out the following and leave in Holyoke 8.

DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT concerning CONCENTRATION IN GOVERNMENT

I. Basic Requirements

Students who concentrate in Government are required to complete:

1. Eight half courses in Government

2. Economics I or Social Sciences 115

3. One full or two half courses in History (Social Sciences 111 may be substituted for the History requirement.)

Except in very special cases, concentrators will include Government Ia and Ib in their programs.

Candidates for honors in this field usually take somewhat more than the eight half courses in Government which are required. At the same time, all students are discouraged from over-concentration.

II. Departmental and Special Examinations

At the end of the last term of the senior year every student concentrating in Government is required to take two written examinations and, at the option of the examiners, an oral examination:

ATTENTION is called to the following announcement: January, 1950, is the last occasion on which the Divisional Examinations will be given at mid-years. Beginning with 1950-51, they will be given only once a year, in May.

1. A three-hour departmental examination which is designed to cover the entire field of Government. Candidates for honors are required to answer one or more questions in the field of political theory. Non-honors candidates are not required to answer a political theory question.

2. A four-hour special examination on a particular area within the field of Government which has been selected by the student. Special examinations are offered in the following areas:

a. Political Thought and Institutions

b. American Government

c. International Law and Relations

3. At the option of the examiners, a student may be called for an oral examination at a time about two weeks subsequent to his departmental and special examination. The oral examination is given: (1) to honors candidates when their written examination leaves their classification in doubt (i.e. *summa magna*, or *cum laude*) and (2) to non-honors candidates when their written examinations are of such poor quality as to raise a question as to whether they are of passing grade.

In selecting courses the student is advised to bear in mind the requirements of the departmental and special examinations. The list of courses selected should provide both a well-rounded view of the field of Government as a whole and also a more intensive coverage of the special area chosen by the student.

All tutors and advisers have sample copies of past departmental and special examinations, and sample copies are also on file in Lamont Library, where they may be examined by any student.

2

(cc)

### III. The Plan of Study

Upon beginning concentration in Government every student is required to prepare and file a Plan of Study containing a selection of courses sufficient to meet the requirements for concentration in the department, and the requirements for distribution as set forth in the Rules Relating to College Studies. This Plan should be discussed with the student's tutor or adviser and must be signed by him or by some other representative of the department.

The Plan of Study is merely a preliminary statement of intent by the student and may be altered or amended after consultation with the tutor or adviser, provided the selection of courses actually completed satisfies the requirements for concentration and distribution.

### IV. Candidates for Honors

a. **Eligibility:** Ordinarily no senior will be encouraged to be a candidate for honors unless he has maintained an average of Group IV standing during the preceding year.

b. **Thesis:** Every honors candidate in the department must submit an honors thesis, in his senior year, on a subject selected by him with advice of his tutor. The preparation of the thesis must involve independent research, and it must be submitted in a form which complies with the usual standards of scholarly work. Two copies are required, one of which must be the original. As theses are graded on the quality rather than on the quantity of the material submitted, it is expected that they will not exceed approximately 100 pages in length. Theses are due on a date prior to the Divisional Examinations.

c. **Grades:** The usual grades of Honors are Honors (cum laude), High Honors (magna cum laude), and Highest Honors (summa cum laude). The grade of honors awarded by the Division is determined by weighting the candidates' departmental and special examination grades most heavily; second, his grades in History, Government, and Economics courses; and third, his thesis. In the case of a magna-plus or higher quality thesis, double-weight is given to it.

If the cumulative grades of the candidate in these three areas be judged unworthy of Honors, but worthy of a degree, the Division may recommend him for a degree without Honors.

All recommendations for honors by the Division are subject to the vote of the Faculty.

### V. Advisers and Tutorial Instruction

Every concentrator is assigned either to an adviser or a tutor in the department. An adviser will consult with his students at the beginning of each term, assisting them in the selection of their courses. He will consult with them again at the time when it becomes necessary to select courses for the succeeding term. He will also be available for consultation at other times, but it should be made clear that advisers are not expected to offer tutorial instruction.

A tutor acts as the adviser to those students who are assigned to him as tutees. In addition, he will offer regular tutorial instruction upon an individual or group basis as he may determine. Tutorial instruction is designed to round out and integrate the student's mastery of the field of Government in general and of his area of special interest within this field in particular. It should never

be devoted to special assistance in the passing of course examinations. Ordinarily, a student will meet with his or her tutor weekly or biweekly except during the reading and examination periods. The tutor will assign reading supplementary to the requirements of the regular courses and will usually request the preparation of a certain number of special tutorial essays during each term. The reading and the essays will be discussed in tutorial conferences, the aim being not only to increase the student's factual knowledge but more particularly to develop facility of oral and written expression and habits of independent investigation and thought.

In most cases a student receiving tutorial instruction in his junior year will concentrate on problems in the area of political theory. A substantial part of the senior year is devoted to the preparation of the honors thesis.

## VI. Course Credit For Tutorial Instruction in Certain Cases

Honors students may apply for course credit for tutorial instruction in their senior year. In special cases honors juniors may also apply. This course must be added on the study card and should be countersigned by the Head Tutor or by the Secretary in Holyoke 8.

Tutorial for Credit (Government 99) is NOT a thesis course. Honors Seniors taking it must do work additional to that done on their thesis in order to obtain credit.

## VII. The Availability of Tutorial Instruction for Students Concentrating in Government.

Tutorial instruction is limited to:

1. All seniors concentrating in Government who are candidates for honors.

2. All juniors concentrating in Government who are currently in Group III or higher.

3. All sophomores who are concentrating in Government who are currently in Group III or higher.

If you are a returning student in any of the above three categories and were in Group III your last term before withdrawing from the College, you will be entitled to tutorial instruction this term. Transfer students, unless they are seniors, are not entitled to tutorial instruction until they have been at Harvard one term and have reached Group III or higher.

Students who qualify for Tutorial after mid-years in February should immediately report their grades to Holyoke 8, in order that they may be assigned to a Tutor as early as possible in the Spring term. Otherwise, there will be a delay of a month or more in assignment.

If you have any questions or problems with regard to tutorial instruction in your case, you are requested to communicate with Professor A. C. Hanford at Holyoke 8.

September, 1949