THE B. A. DEGREE. After the sweeping changes made a year ago in requirements for Academic degrees, little alteration would be expected for some time. However, few things in the new catalogue under this head are interesting. A mere passing grade in twenty courses will no longer entitle one to the degree of B. A. Hereafter, to attain this honor, one must secure an average of C in all his work. "In striking an average, one A and two Ds, or one B and one D, will average C." We note, too, that electives are now classified as limited and free; that the three courses required in foreign languages must now be numbered courses; and that the natural science course required must include laboratory work. One more free elective is allowed than formerly, it appears, and part of one's electives may now be taken in the Law Department. This provision, which makes it possible for a good student to complete in six years both the Academic course and the new three-year Law course, is the most conspicuous change under the head of requirements for Academic degrees. It is a step which has been taken by a number of the best universities in the country, and is well worth taking by Texas. The catalogue provisions under this head are given here in full: "Academic students who intend to enter the Law Department, may, during their Junior and Senior years, substitute for four free electives the law work of the Junior year in the Law Department, and count the same towards their Bachelor's degrees; provided that little, if any, more than one-half of the Junior Law work may be carried and counted in either year. "Academic students who do not intend to enter the Law Department, may, during their Junior and Senior years, substitute for three of their free electives such courses in the Law Department as the Deans of that and of the Academic Department may approve, and count the same towards their Bachelor's degrees; provided that not more than the equivalent of two full courses may be thus taken and counted in either year." THE MASTER'S DEGREE. The only new requirement for the Master's degree is that all courses presented as graduate work must have been completed with a grade of A or B. This is a highly justifiable provision. An advanced degree should stand not only for extended training, but also for a high order of ability. ANNOUNCEMENT OF COURSES OF INSTRUCTION. A new device in the announcement of courses of study is the use of subscript figures to indicate course values in thirds. Why it is not used for courses in the Engineering Department is not understood by the reviewer. A number of new courses of instruction are offered in the various departments, to note which would be interesting, but space does not admit of it. Little reform is shown in the practice of giving old courses new names and numbers. EQUIPMENT. Under the head of equipment the chief thing new that attracts attention is the paragraph concerning the Woman's Building. "This building will be ready for occupancy by the opening of next session, in September, 1903. It is situated on the University campus, a little north of west from the Main Building, and south of west from the Chemical Building. Erected for the young women of the University, it will contain seventy-two single bedrooms for students, a large reception room, a gymnasium and swimming tank, a diet kitchen, nurse's room, dispensary and physician's room, besides a dining room and its adjuncts. A competent housekeeper, a physical directress, and a matron will give every care, respectively, to the comfort, the health, and the social and moral well-being of the young women. It is hoped that the cost of board and rooms will be little, if any, higher than at University Hall." WORK IN THE HISTORICAL ARCHIVES. The Department of History has been active in the work of arranging and making accessible the various valuable collections of materials for Southwestern history. "The classifying and indexing of these collections are being pushed forward as rapidly as the available funds will permit. During the current session, the whole time of one of the fellows in History and a considerable part of that of the other two and of the professors of History and of Spanish have been given to the work. Thus far the Bexar Archives have received most attention, because they have needed it most. A large proportion of the Spanish manuscripts are very difficult to decipher, and progress in dealing with them is necessarily slow; but the classification has already been completed to the extent of grouping the papers according to the years within which they are dated." THE LIBRARY. The library has grown from 35,000 to 38,000 volumes. Two important collections have lately been added. "The library of the late Ashbel Smith, first chairman of the Board of Regents, has recently been given to the University by his family. It contains some 1500 bound volumes and a large number of valuable pamphlets. "Also to be found in the General Library is the Hilliard Library of Southern Literature. For this collection the University is indebted to Mr. H. P. Hilliard, formerly of Austin, now of St. Louis, who gives annually, beginning with January, 1903, one hundred dollars, to be devoted to the purchase of the best books by Southern authors." STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS. "During the past year two student associations have been formed, one among the young men and the other among the young women of The University, looking to the control of certain student interests, and to the elimination of certain abuses. The authorities have encouraged these associations voluntarily organized among the students and seeking to make the student body more self-regulating, self-controlling, and self-respecting. Through proper committees, these associations will investigate breaches in the honor system and foster the highest ideals in scholarship and conduct, at the same time promoting better acquaintance among the students." THE EVANS FELLOWSHIP. The following provisions governing the new Evans fellowship in physics appear in the catalogue now for the first time: "The Evans fellowship of $150.00, provided by Major Ira H. Evans, was awarded in May, 1902, in accordance with the following conditions: The appointee was required to be a member of the Senior class in good standing, who had taken, with credit, at least three courses in the School of Physics. It was a further requirement that he should continue his work in Physics, while holding the Fellowship, and be an applicant for the degree of M. A. or M. S. in that subject. No instruction in the University was to be expected of him during the term of his appointment. This fellowship was awarded for 1902-1903 to Conrad Shuddemagen." THE COLONIAL DAMES PRIZE. The subjects prescribed for competition in the Colonial Dames $50.00 prize contest for 1903-1904 were chosen with special reference to material accessible in Austin. The list is as follows: 4. The Survival of the Dutch Influence in New York. 5. Life in the Back Country of the Carolinas. 6. Life in a Spanish Mission in the Southwest. "The writer may confine himself to some particular phase of the subject he chooses; but it must be a single phase, so that his essay will have unity. The time covered in any case may also be chosen by the writer, but it must be clearly indicated, and must fall within the Colonial Period. Both historical accuracy and literary excellence will be taken account of in the award. The length of the essay should not exceed 6000 words. All essays must be handed to the Registrar not later than May 1, 1904." THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING. The expansion of the Department of Engineering is evidenced by the increased length of the Faculty list. Provision has been made for the election of a professor of electrical engineering, though the place has not yet been filled. There have also been added a lecturer on railway practice, an instructor in mechanical drawing, and a student assistant in civil engineering. Some important additions to the material equipment of the department have been made within the year. We note, also, that three elective entrance subjects have been added. They are mechanical drawing, two credits; manual training, one credit; field work, two credits. The outline of courses presents few changes. In the requirements for the degree of C. E. less drawing, but more mathematics and civil engineering are prescribed than formerly. THE SCHOOL OF MINES. The organization of the School of Mines is more definitely shown than in former catalogues. Four courses not heretofore defined now appear. They are: 1. Mineralogy (full course). Laboratory work and lectures. 3. Practice in determining minerals by use of Weisbach's Tables (Frazier's Translation) and the blow-pipe. 2. Mining (full course). Chemistry 1 prerequisite to this course. 3. Occurrence and distribution of ores and other useful minerals. Methods of obtaining them from the ground. Chemistry 1, Geology 1, and Mineralogy prerequisite to this course. 3, Metallurgy (full course). 3. Methods of obtaining metals from their ores. Treatment above ground, concentration, leaching, smelting. Qualities and uses of metals. Chemistry 1 and 2, Geology 1, and Mineralogy prerequisite to this course. 4. Mining Law (one-third course). THE MINERAL SURVEY. The activity of the Mineral Survey is very gratifying. 1. "Since its establishment the Survey has issued the following Bulletins: No. 1. Texas Petroleum, July, 1901, 4000 copies. No. 2. No. 3. No. 5. No. 6. Sulphur, Oil, and Quicksilver in Trans-Pecos Texas, February, Coal, Lignite, and Asphalt Rocks, May, 1902, 4000 copies. The Minerals and Mineral Localities of Texas, December, 1902, A Bulletin, giving the Report of Progress for 1902 (in preparation). "These Bulletins have been widely circulated in this and other States, and in many foreign countries, and the demand for them has been so active that no copies of the first four are now on hand for distribution, while the edition of No. 5 will soon be exhausted. "During the coming year the work of the Survey will be continued, and it is proposed to issue two or three Bulletins before January, 1904. The subjects selected for these are Clays and the Clay Industry; Salt and Gypsum, and Sulphur. For 1904 the subjects selected are Cement and Cement Rocks, Copper, Silver, and Lead Ores, and Artesian and other Underground Waters." THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW. Of all departments the law school has undergone the most radical change since the old catalogue appeared. "The Board of Regents at its meeting in June, 1902, extended the course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Laws to three years, the change to go into effect at the opening of the session of 1903-1904. "A curriculum of the three years' work has been arranged (see page 169). In this course, fifteen hours of class work each week are required in the Junior and Middle years, respectively, and sixteen in the Senior year. Three hours per week in the Junior and Middle years and one hour per week in the Senior year must be taken in Academic studies. The topic for study in the Academic Department for the Junior year must be selected by the student with the approval of the Deans of the two departments. For the Middle year, the Academic work is the course in Political Science required of Law students. Any student credited with this course will substitute for it some course selected by him with the approval of the two Deans. For the Senior year the one hour a week in the Academic Department is in Argumentation. "Students who present credits fully covering the Academic courses required for the Junior and Middle years may be excused from all Academic work in those years. In such cases the Dean of the Law Department shall arrange the law work for the students, taking care to provide work to cover all the time which the student has at his command." THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE. The changes in the Department of Medicine indicated in the catalogue are neither great nor numerous. A few new names appear in the Faculty list; the terms of admission to the School of Nursing have been restated; and a new page on student associations is inserted. The latter include the Alumni Association, the University Medical Club, the Students' Council, the Students' Co-operative Book Store, and The University Hall Drug Club. We are informed that decided progress has been made in the equipment of the school within the past year. The number of graduates in 1902 was 16 as against 6 in 1901. ENROLLMENT. The last year's enrollment for all departments exceeded by 57 that of 1901-1902, a total of 1348 against 1291. While the Departments of Lit |