Whitman College Reinvents Its Curriculum
Whitman faculty adopt radical academic changes, emphasizing scientific courses and individual student electives starting next year.
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Radical changes in the course of study at Whitman College were adopted by the faculty at their meeting yesterday. The two most noticeable aspects are the strengthening of classical, literary, and scientific offerings, and a significantly increased number of electives. While the A.B., B.S., and B.L. degrees will be retained for now, students may choose their specialization in their Freshman year and select their own courses after their Sophomore year. To accommodate the expanded schedule, classes will likely run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, the college aims to offer physics, chemistry, and biology courses equal to any in the Northwest. Meanwhile, a Whitman debating team—Hez Brown, Gains Greenslade, and Edward Baldwin—will depart for Eugene to debate the topic, 'Is the Incorporation of Labor Unions Desirable?'
“This will be an immense advantage to a student as it allows him to follow his own bent.”
The debate topic—the incorporation of labor unions—remains a highly relevant discussion regarding corporate power, even 120 years later. It is also fascinating to see a liberal arts college like Whitman fundamentally restructuring for 'scientific' competitiveness, a trend that persists in higher education today.
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