HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Information regarding Graduate Degrees
1935 – 1936
I. General information for candidates for the A.M. and Ph.D.
The program of study for the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees must form a consistent plan of work pursued with some definite aim. It should be submitted to Professor Burbank, Chairman of the Department of Economics (41 Holyoke House) for approval in the first year of study.
Candidates for degrees must apply to the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. 24 University Hall, by December 1, for the degree at Midyears; and by January 15, for the degree at Commencement.
II. Special requirements for the A.M.
A. Residence.
The candidate must take one full year of advanced work at Harvard — four courses with a grade of B or higher in each. These courses may be taken in one year or over a period of years.
B. Languages.
An Elementary knowledge of French and German, and a Reading knowledge of the other language is required. This requirement may be met as follows:
1. Reading knowledge: a passing grade in the written examinations given by the Department early in November and March.
2. Elementary knowledge: (a) a passing grade in an elementary course at Harvard or some other institution; (b) a passing grade in the written examinations given by the Department early in November and March; or (c) a passing grade in an undergraduate examination at Harvard, which is given as follows:
French: September 21; January 6; April 21.
German: September 21; January 7; April 22.
This requirement may be met at any time prior to application for the Master’s degree.
C. General Examination.
The candidate must pass an oral examination on FOUR fields of study, to be selected from those listed in the Division Pamphlet [NOTE: The fields are listed in the 1934-35 regulations], distributed as follows:
1. TWO selected from Group A, including Economic Theory.
2. TWO selected from Groups A, B, or C (not more than ONE from Group C).
The fields are covered only in part by formal course instruction. Supplementary reading must be undertaken to meet the requirements.
Preparation for the examination normally requires TWO full years of study. A student is advised not to stand for examination until he feels thoroughly prepared.
With Professor Burbank’s consent, a student may offer THREE fields of study for the Oral Examination, substituting a pro-seminar course for the fourth field [Economics 15b, 18, 22, 24, or 33].
When the General Examination is passed in the Spring, the candidate is excused with credit from the final course examination in courses relating to fields offered for the General Examination.
In judging the candidate’s fitness for the degree, regard will be had for the general grasp and maturity shown, as well as for the range and accuracy of his knowledge of the special subjects examined.
To secure a date for the General Examination, candidates must make arrangements with the Secretary in the Division Office, 15 Little Hall, before April 1.
III. Special requirements for the Ph.D.
A. Residence.
The candidate must take two years of advanced work — eight courses — with grades of B or higher in each. One year, or four courses, must be taken at Harvard. Credit for work done at another institution may be substituted for the other year’s work, with Professor Burbank’s approval.
Candidates for the Ph.D. entering the Graduate School after September 1, 1935 are required to show evidence, in some section of the graduate work, of high distinction [“A”] in formal course instruction, General or Special Examinations, or Dissertation.
B. Languages.
The candidate must present a Reading knowledge of both French and German. This requirement is satisfied ONLY by passing the Department written examination which is given early in November and March. It must be met SIX months before the Special Examination. Examinations in the two languages need not be taken at the same time.
At the time of the Special Examination, the candidate must show an acquaintance with the literature in his special field in two modern languages other than English, ordinarily French and German.
C. Fields of Study.
The candidate must present SIX fields of study to be selected from the groups listed in the Division Pamphlet [NOTE: The fields are listed in the 1934-35 regulations] according to the following distribution:
1. The THREE fields in Group A are required unless a candidate can show that he has done sufficient advance work in Economic History or in Statistics to warrant his substituting a field from Group B or Group C.
2. The remaining THREE fields may be selected from Group B and Group C — though not more than ONE field may be taken from Group C.
Evidence of a knowledge of the SIX fields is shown as follows:
1. General Examination. (See II, C.)
2. “Fifth Field”
The requirement regarding the “fifth field” may be met by presenting work of distinguished quality in an approved course at Harvard.
3. Special Field.
The candidate meets the requirements of the sixth field by standing for oral examination and presenting a thesis which normally lies within the field examined. Ordinarily this field is chosen from Groups A or B. By special arrangements the same subject may be offered for the General and Special Examinations. However, this program is unusual, and arrangements must be made with the Chairman of the Department. In this case, the candidate must show evidence of a thorough knowledge of another field, which might have been offered for examination.
a. Candidates for the degree at Midyears would arrange for the Special Examination on or before December 1 in the Division Office, 15 Little Hall; for the degree at Commencement, on or before April 1.
b. Two copies of the thesis must be in the hands of the Chairman of the Division, 15 Little Hall, by January 3 for the degree at Midyears, and by April 1 for the degree at Commencement. [See Division Pamphlet for further information regarding the thesis].
D. General information.
At least SIX months must elapse between the General and Special Examinations.
Candidates for the Ph.D. must plan on no less than THREE full years of advanced study, and it is only a student with superior training and no outside demands on his time who can attain his degree in that time.
Additional information may be found in the Division Pamphlet and from the Secretary in 41 Holyoke House.
SOURCE: HARVARD UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES.
HUC 8522.2.1 Box 2 of 10. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003.
Folder: Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1935-1936.
2 replies on “Harvard, Economics. Information regarding degrees, 1935-36”
Great idea for a blog! Fascinating to see the language requirements as indicator of expectation of broader interest in societies. Will you be posting current equivalent document for comparison? And will you be adding your own comments to the original material you post?
The language requirements were in place for reading the economic literature in French and German. Looking at course syllabi in economic history, there appeared to be no hesitation to list titles in those languages.
I’ll try to strike a balance between providing source material, reference data bases (e.g. who’s who, courses taught, faculty lists, dissertation lists), and commentary. Right now, mostly figuring out the bells-and-whistles of the blogging software.