The Curriculum: 1900
In 1900-01, Purdue’s academic year included three terms. The 14-week fall term began on September 12. The 12-week winter term began on January 7. The 11-week spring term began April 1.
Freshman judging class, 1907
Courses in the School of Agriculture lasted for one term, or sometimes a combination of two or three terms. Some life and physical sciences or social sciences courses met for 18 or 19 weeks, one-half of the academic year.
Most courses in the curriculum were prescribed for all students, but with advice of a faculty mentor, individuals could select two alternatives in each the junior and senior years from the following:
- General: Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, French or German
- Science: Microscopic Technique and Normal and Pathological Histology
- Advanced Entomology and Horticulture: Troop
- Agricultural Chemistry and Physics: Latta and Huston
In 1900-01, students spent about 1,000 hours in class or laboratory during each of the four undergraduate years. Today, the number is about 700 hours in class or laboratory during each of the four undergraduate years.
1900-01 Program Requirements, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree, School of Agriculture, Purdue University
Subject Weeks Hrs/Wk Instructor
Freshmen Year
Algebra 19 4
Geometry 18 5
Botany 19 4
Chemistry 19 4
Composition, Rhetoric, Literature 37 4
Shop Work 26 9
Mechanical Drawing 26 4
Agriculture 14 2 Latta
Farm Equipment 12 2 Latta
Farm Buildings 11 9 Not Listed
Breeds of Live Stock 11 4 Plumb
Sophomore Year
Trigonometry 14 3
Biology 37 8
Chemistry 37 6
Physics 14 4
Literature and Composition 19 3
Economic Botany 14 6 Troop
Farm Roads 12 1 Not Listed
Farm Economy 14 2 Latta
Economic Entomology 14 2 Troop
Farm Motors 12 3 Hoffman
Junior Year
Composition and Literature 18 4
History 19 4
Anatomy & Physiology/Animals 26 6 Craig
Surgery and Sanitation 11 2 Craig
Science and Art of Agriculture 14 2 Latta
Farm Drainage 11 2 Latta
Horticulture 14 4 Troop
Stock Breeding 12 2 Plumb
Stock Feeding 12 2 Plumb
Dairying 11 4 Plumb
Elective I 37 8
Elective II 37 8
Senior Year
Human Body 18 4
Geology 19 4
Psychology 19 4
Political Economy 19 3
Diseases of Domestic Animals 14 4 Craig
Rural Law 12 2 Rice, Esq.
Thesis Work 23 5 Faculty
Elective I 37 8
Elective II 37 8