DEAN HERMAN G. JAMES

College of Arts and Sciences

HE primary purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is quite clearly distinguished from the primary purpose of any of the other colleges in the University. Briefly stated this distinction might be worded as follows: While the other colleges of the University are primarily concerned with preparing a student to earn a living, the College of Arts and Sciences is primarily concerned with preparing a student to live.

   It may be said then that the primary purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is to turn out men and women who will be worthy and creditable members of human society, irrespective of what their specific calling or occupation may be.

   To accomplish this purpose, the College of Arts and Sciences offers a wide variety of courses in all the fundamental fields of human knowledge. Its regulations attempt to insure that students in this College shall receive broad contacts in the domain of human thought and achievement, and at the same time, pursue some particular line of studies sufficiently to enter beyond its portals. With its wide range of selection, it avoids narrow and hampering restrictions so that each student's particular bent may be given full opportunity for development.

   In a secondary sense, the College of Arts serves a more specific purpose in offering courses which are of direct technical value in the preparation for many of the numerous professions represented by the professional courses and colleges of the University. The importance of this secondary service to the student in the University must not be overlooked, but it is well to remember that it is secondary to the fundamental purpose briefly outlined above.

   If, therefore, you have some idea of being more than merely a lawyer, or a doctor, or a farmer, or a dentist, or a teacher, or a business man, or a follower of any vocation whatsoever, the more time you can spend in the effort to learn to live prior to or in connection with your effort to learn to make a living, the more will you be attracted to the College of Arts and Sciences.

 

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