The Columbia Core Curriculum, 1888-1959

F 11 The Columbia Core Curriculum, 1888-1959

1. 1888 - 1918

1888	President F.A.P. Barnard doubts importance of the undergraduate program to University’s future; calls for its elimination
1890	College enrolled 250 students
1890	Undergraduate program designated “Columbia College” to distinguish it from the graduates schools and Faculties; President Seth Low sees it primarily as feeder to the professional schools.
1894	Greek eliminated as an admission prerequisite to the College
1894	John Howard Van Amringe (CC 1860) succeeds first Dean of Columbia College, Henry Drisler (CC 1839); to serve until 1910
1897	Move from 49^th St. to Morningside Heights; no provision for separate College facilities or dormitories
1900	Admission allowed without Latin, but deficiency had to be remedied before graduation
1900	College enrolled 475 students; up from 250 a decade earlier
1902	Nicholas Murray Butler becomes CU’s 12^th president
1903	President Butler rejects idea of eliminating the College, as some faculty urged
1903	University acquires South Field for $2 Million; designated for undergraduate buildings
1905	College adopts “Combined Program,” which encouraged undergraduates to transfer into graduate/professional programs after two or three years
1905	Reintroduction of BS degree; would not require prior knowledge or study of either Greek or Latin
1905	College [Hamilton] Hall under construction; future home of the College
1907	Opening of Hartley and Livingston Halls; first undergraduate dormitories on Morningside campus
1907	Introduction of a faculty advisory system for College students
1907	Reorganization of Arts & Sciences Faculty with College Faculty more permanently assigned to undergraduate instruction
1908	Creation of Columbia College Committee of Instruction; serves as College Faculty’s executive committee
1908	NY Regents Examinations accepted for admission to CC; makes College more accessible to NY public high school graduates.
1910	John Erskine (CC 1900; PhD 1903) joins Columbia English Department after six years at Amherst
1910	Frederick P. Keppel (CC 1898) succeed Van Amringe as 3^rd Dean of Columbia College
1910	College enrolled 750 students; up from 475 a decade earlier
1912	Dean Keppel inaugurated “College Faculty Smokers” for informal gatherings of College faculty
1913	John Erskine published his eassy on “The Moral Obligation to be Intelligent”
1914	Butler and Keppel speak against large lecture courses in the College
1914	Some faculty promoted specifically for demonstrated teaching effectiveness with undergraduates
1915	John Erskine proposes a “General Honors” Course for selected 3^rd and 4^th Year students; encounters faculty opposition
1915	College enrolled 1250 students; up from 750 five years earlier
1916	Latin requirement abandoned for BA; BS degree discontinued.
1917	Sociologist Franklin Giddings proposes a “War Aims” course for all in the College
1917	Yale-trained mathematician Herbert Hawkes named Acting Dean of CC, while Keppel on government service
1918	Philosopher Frederick Woodbridge organizes “War Aims” course for all students in Student Army Training Corps (SATC)
1918	1/3rd of freshmen and sophomore courses prescribed; 2/3rds electives
1919	College enrolled 1900 students; up from 1250 four years earlier

2. 1919 – 1941

1919	Year-long Contemporary Civilization Course launched; required of all freshmen; focus on contemporary world issues
1920	John Erskine’s year-long “General Honors” course launched; for selected upperclassmen; involves consideration of “Great Books”
1921	Second year of “General Honors” added to the College curriculum; not required
1921	Acting Dean Herbert Hawkes named 4th Dean of Columbia College
1923	History of Science course introduced by Frederick Barry – aimed at underclassmen but not a Core requirement
1925	General Honors Course offered in several team-taught sections, involving 19 instructors.
1925	College enrolled 2000 students; up from 1900 in 1920
1928	Second semester of CC now broken off and expanded into year-long “CC-B”; required of all sophomores; focus on contemporary economics and politics; Economist Rexford Tugwell a prime mover
1928	“CC-A” now considers period from 1300 to 1800
1928	John Erskine resigned from Columbia; became President of Juilliard School of Music
1929	Erskines’s General Honors course suspended
1930	College enrolled 1950 students; down from 2000 in 1925
1931	General Honors course revived as “Colloquium on Important Books,” at initiative of Instructor Jacques Barzun
1933	CC-A revised to include more art and music
1934	Science A and Science B introduced for non-science students; courses not required; dropped in 1941
1935	College enrolled 1750 students; down from 1950 in 1930
1937	Humanities A introduced as year-long required course for freshmen; focus on literature and philosophy; Mark Van Doren a prime mover
1938	Humanities B introduced as sophomore-year elective; focus on art and music; year-long; 4 meetings a week. Half the curriculum for CC freshmen and sophomores now prescribed.
1940	College enrolled 15000 students; down from 1750 in 1935
1941	CC-A redircetd away from present to distant past and use of primary texts; now “contemporary” in name only
1941	Science Core disbanded due to staffing shortages because of the war.

3. 1941 - 1960


1943	Historian Harry Carman succeeds the retiring Herbert Hawkes as 5th Dean of Columbia College
1947	Humanities B now required of all College sophomores
1950	Harry Carman retires as 5th CC Dean;
1954	Maturity credit system (and "Concentrations") replaces with traditional credit system and specific "Majors":
1959	CC - B abandoned as core requirement