University of Otago Course and Degree Requirements




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It has been approved of by the University Council, and they will be carried out as far as practicable, subject to such amendments as may from time to time be found advisable:—

  1. Matriculation.—That it is not advisable that any matriculation examination should be held for the admission of students at the opening of the Session of 1871; but that in future years there should be an examination in the following subjects:—

    (1.) English writing from dictation.

(2.) Latin accidence, and translation of a portion of a Latin author.

(3.) Arithmetic.

(4.) Algebra—elementary rules.

(5.) Euclid, Book I.

It seems probable that some such examination as that proposed would have a good effect upon the schools, especially if the candidates were placed in two classes, according to the results of their examination.

  1. Degree of B.A.—That there should be a degree of B.A. attainable by (1) attendance upon the prescribed lectures during three sessions, and (2) passing an examination in certain subjects either at the end of the third or at the beginning of the fourth session after matriculation; or at the beginning or end of any subsequent session. That there should be no honour examination in connection with the B.A. degree.

  2. Degree of M.A.—That there should be a degree of M.A., attainable only by those who have already taken the B.A. degree. That the ordinary M.A. degree should be attainable by (1) attendance upon the prescribed lectures for at least one session after the taking of the B.A. degree, and (2) by passing a further examination similar in kind to that required of candidates for the degree of B.A., such examination to be held at the end of one year from the B.A. degree, or at the commencement or end of any subsequent session. That there should also be an Honour Examination in connection with the M.A. degree. That no one should be admitted to the degree of M.A. with honours, except such as have declared their intention of entering for honours at the time of taking the B.A. degree, or within six months afterwards. That candidates for the degree of M.A. with honours should be allowed to select one or more of the following subjects, and should be examined in such subject or subjects only:—

    1. Classics and Philosophy.
  3. Pure and Applied Mathematics.

  4. Material Science (including Physics.)

    That no candidate should be admitted to the degree of M.A. with honours, after the expiration of three academical years from the date of his B.A. degree, nor after the expiration of six years from the date of his matriculation.

  5. Attendance at Lectures.—That all candidates for the B.A. and ordinary M.A. degrees should be required to furnish certificates of their attendance at the several courses of lectures prescribed for them. That the courses of lectures be somewhat as under:—

    (a.) For candidates in their B.A. degree in their—

    1st Year.—Junior Latin, Junior Greek, Junior Mathematics.

Mental Philosophy in 1871, Natural Science in 1872, and afterwards.

2nd Year.—Senior Latin, Greek, and English (alternately), Senior Mathematics and Natural History (alternately), Natural Science, and Psychology, and Logic (alternately).

3rd Year.—Greek and English (alternately), Senior Mathematics and Natural Philosophy (alternately), Moral Philosophy, Natural Science, Moral Philosophy (alternately), and Political Economy.

(b.) For candidates of the ordinary M.A. degree:—

Natural Science, Senior Natural Philosophy, Moral Philosophy.

That the greater part of the subjects of the lectures should be the same as the subjects of examination for the B.A. and ordinary M.A. degrees.

  1. Examination for B.A. Degree.—That for the present the subjects of examination for the B.A. degree should be as under:—

    Latin.—One Book of Virgil, one Book of Horace, one Book of Cicero, one Book of Livy or Tacitus, with translations from English into Latin prose; and questions on Grammar, History, and Antiquities.

    Greek.—One Book of Homer, one Greek Tragedy, one Oration of Demosthenes or Dialogue of Plato, with translations, &c., (as in Latin.)

    English.—The Professor’s Lectures.

    Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.—I do not think it necessary at present to fix a standard, and I shall be in a better position to do so when I have had some experience in the Colony.

    Mental and Moral Philosophy.—The Professor’s lectures on Psychology, including Metaphysics, Logic, inductive and deductive, Moral Philosophy, and Political Economy.

    Natural Science.—To be fixed hereafter.

  2. Examination for the M.A. Degree.—That the subjects of examination for the ordinary M.A. degree should include the subjects of the previous examination for the B.A. degree, and should also include one additional book in each case of authors in Greek and Latin prose and poetry, as well as the subjects of the Professor’s lectures for candidates for the ordinary M.A. Degree.

  3. Lectures during Session of 1871.—With regard to the lectures to be delivered during the Session of 1871, it would probably be desirable that, for the sake of any residents in Dunedin who might wish to attend, each Professor should deliver, in addition to the lectures for first year students, one course of lectures, as under:—

    The Classical Professor—English language and Literature.

    The Mathematical Professor—Second year’s course of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.

    The Professor of Moral Philosophy—The Physiology of Mind and Elementary Psychology.

    Position of Natural Science in the Curriculum.—The Professors of Classics, Mathematics, and Mental Science, are of opinion that the Natural Sciences ought to be studied from the beginning of a student’s course, and extend over a greater part of the curriculum than is customary in any of the Scottish Universities.

    The above suggestions are made in order to assist the Council in drawing up their prospectus or advertisement for insertion in the Colonial newspapers. They are the result of the comparison of the systems at work in the Universities in which the Professors themselves were educated. There are of course many details which will have to be filled in hereafter, but it is hoped that the general scheme will obtain the approval of the Council, and will assist them in



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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa PDF Otago Provincial Gazette 1871, No 730





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University, Degrees, Course Requirements, Examination, Matriculation, B.A., M.A., Dunedin