Western Civ history long
By PHYLLIS JONES Kansan Staff Writer
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the first of two articles concerning the history of the western civilization program, and the problems and criticisms surrounding the course.)
KU students are now frantically studying for the western civilization comprehensive examination to be Saturday. His mind gets blown from too much Plato, the worried student wonders why he must endure this self-inflicted torture. Why was this course created? What good is it?
The western civilization program was set up in 1945 as a five-year experimental course. In an article in the University Daily Kansan, Walter E. Sandelius, then director of the program, said that the course was designed to "give students a cross section of the social sciences."
At that time, the article said, the University felt the requirements were not giving students a well-rounded picture of social sciences.
Objectives
Thus, the western civilization was set up with these objectives in mind, to enable students to: 1. Understand the basic meaning of western culture and how it is characteristic of the American way of life.
2. Study the beginning of doctrines with emphasis on democratic and Christian ideals.
3. Observe the western world's struggle against ignorance, greed, and intolerance and to learn to protect and continue what has already been achieved.
To acquaint students
4. Strengthen habits of independence and self-reliance in the students.
These goals have hardly changed today. As stated in the instructor's manual, the purpose of the program is to "acquaint those students who take the program with the ideas and ideals which have shaped our civilization, especially those which have been vital during the past 500 years."
To achieve this goal, students are assigned books each week by such ancient writers as Socrates and Aristotle, and the more contemporary works of Bertrand Russell and John Stuart Mill.
May 8
1969 KANSAN 7
The discussion groups are intended to aid the student in his progress, but, according to the instructor's manual, are "not organized to take the place of the student's self-study."
The principle behind this policy is that the student who understands the material through his own efforts rather than his instructor's will have learned better and will retain the information longer.
The western civilization course is the only course specifically designated as a requirement for graduation from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The two most important reasons as listed in the instructor's manual are (1) The materials used in the readings are from several areas of the Social Sciences and the Humanities including Political Science, Economics, History, Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy; and (2) The method of instruction—self-study supplemented by discussion groups—is considered to be a valuable intellectual experience for all students who plan to graduate from the College.
Other schools too
In 1960, the passing of the comprehensive examination was made a graduation requirement for students planning to receive bachelor's degrees in Education, Journalism, and Chemical Engineering.
The reading list for the course is divided into 24 parts, each of which is discussed during a one-hour weekly session. The discussion meetings are divided equally into section I and II, and held for a semester. Students receive two credit hours for each section, and an additional two credit hours for passing the four-hour comprehensive examination which covers both sections.
In preparing the reading list, the student manual said the faculty committee took the reading speed of an average student as a guide. On this basis, the amount of time required is considered moderate.
Two hours weekly
But, the average student asked said he spent at least two to three hours a week reading the books because of the difficulty of the material.
The difficulty of the material and the amount of time needed to cover it thoroughly are two of the chief student complaints against western civilization.
Tomorrow: student and instructors' complaints. and suggested changes.
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