University of Houston - Houstonian Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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DESCRIPTIVE STATEMENTS OF THE GENERAL COLLEGE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON The enactment creating the University of Hous- ton Wus oilicially adapted On April .10, 1934 by thv 301ml of Education. Wilh this enactment- l'our of Ihc reasons for the establishment of the UlliverHity Were DrcSP-nlcd' They are2 1. T0 prOVide practical nducation for employed adults in nonpcrnlion with local business and industrial coucvrns. 2, To provide opportunities hr 3 higher education for those who hre compelled lo wark after leaving high school. :3. To prOVidc Opportunities for cultural advance- meat and general self-iiullrovement desired by in- dividuals who are frequently barred from Such 0p- mrtuniiies by technical prerequisites. 4, To pro- vide higher education for high school graduates who for Various waSons cannot leave home. Beginning with 1934 summer session, advanced. us well as freshman and sophomore Courses are be- ing Utrered. A program of four years college work will be continued in the afternoon and evening col- lege in the San Jacintg building in the fall of 1934. However, to fulfill its functions more adequately, another branch of the University, to be known as HThe General College, will be established. This college will prOVide the educaltional Opportunities listed abOVe as reasons three and four for the es- tablishment of the University. The General College is being planned as a day college introduCing to me Dupils a new type of col. lege Curriculum providing a comprehensive survey or OVerview of the aetivities and problems or man- kind- It is being designed not as a school to trans- mit and advance knowledge, alone hm to utilize knoWledge or facts, prinCiples, laws and essential human attitudes related to the study and possible soIUtiun of problems of modern life. The courses will he developed to provide two years of callpge work of this broader type in place of the usiml fragmentary specialization courses. Specialization wiu be postponed almost to the last two years Of mllege. Courges in four major Gelds will indicate a comprehensive Program for all stut dents, allowing One elective. such us a specialized Course in the field of foreign languages or in the- spwial field Which the student wishes to choose later. The wulLrounqed Curriclllulll of the General Col- lege makes available fur :1 students the buCkground neGGStsurY for the undgrstanding 0f the prOblcms 0f lhr present world. This Understanding is casential for intelligent Citizens whether they choose to be doctors, lawyers. CllRinPefs, housewist, busilwss mpn 0r teachers, of chaos to engage in any of tho mher umprous Vocations of life. This curriculum has also other udvmitugas UVPF Ihc usual collcuv curriCulum composed ul' spuciulizml courses. Wheth- er u student stllys unr-hulf year or two yours, his time Will huvc boon spenl profilubly in nvquiring and using knowledge intrinsically worthwhile. even though his college education muy be discontinued later. The two yours Hpncml College work my h:- mnsidered unit courses complete within themselves. since they provide a training not dependent on pro- requisites or 0n the completion of mlvancvd courses later. First your chemistry. for example, as given in most college courses, may be of little value to the average citizen. the lawyer, business man. or other worker. Such a course is planned as the first course for the spacialist in chemistry and is offered to every student at large. The same is true of many present day college courses. The courses of the Gen- eral Cullege dcsCribcd here. however. are being dc- Veloped not as a training field for specialists. but as a training field for intelligt'llt citizens. THE FOUR GENERAL FIELDS OF STUDY The following brief scope of each of the four fields may give students and their parean an opportunity to judge the breadth and value of the program of the GBHemI College. For the sake of brevity this outline form is used: I. THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 1n the field of economics: anlth um! nulurul mt Sources, involving utilization and preservation of coal, oil, titrests, minaruls. ooonomics, om; utiliza- tion or plant and animal life; institutions in modern business; problems ofmnsumption und distribution, involving hoW gOuds lire marketed, the place of the retailer, of prolils, wages: altitudes toward adver- tising: department stores. chain storms, mail order nmnpunics: the consumer's point of view; the banks and bankersi pl'dCe in the hushst system. involv- ing interest, money and credits, discounts, kinds of banks. state and federal supervision of hunks, ctr. In the, field of history and government: The prin- UiplUS of popuiur government; imlividuuls' respon- sibility in a democracy; w0rh1 politics; governmoni und husinesg relations; mriiTs; the lubor problem: political geography; problems of other ruons und nu- lions: industriul und political revolutions: formu- lion of public Opinion, involving study of radio. newspapers, periodicals and books; a Hludy of types of propaganda Used in shaping public opinion for improving government, in securing special privi- li-gcs. in selling oHmpnigns. in political cumpuians.

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llossugv of Greeting to tho Sllulpnl Body and Prospeclire Studonls of The U nirersily of Houston: The University of Houston extends a cordial invitation to all students who are interested in broadening their outlook on life to enroll for the openingr session beginning June :1, 1934. and to others who may be unable to take summer work to enroll for the first regular yearas work. beginning Svptomlwr IT. The L'niversity of Houston is a service institution for the metropolitan area surrounding llous- ton. The University desires to grow in service and become the center of culture. as well as the cen- ter of practical learning in professional. business. and industrial pursuits. This University will be- t'nlllt' great if the Pltlzcnship of this area desires to make it great. The University, untler the con- trol of the Board of Education, is dedicated to community service, to the development of that kiml of education which will render each individual better able to perform well some definite ser- vit-v and to recoiw from such service a lasting satisfaction in his life pursuit. If you tlvsirc to grow in usefulness, to keep your mind alert and your cyvs turnetl toward the hottvr things of life. the University covets an opportunity to assist you. There is a splendid futurt- for ewry man and Woman in the development of this great metropolis of the South. and Houston wants the Uniwrsity to grow and to share in this grand undertaking, huiltling not only a film city industrially and professionally, hut a City notml for its outstanding citizonship and its mnphasis on the cultural aspm'ts of life. Hay you. the students now and to he, look to the University of Houston as a friendly ally in all of your ambitions to lICt'tlllle outstanding individuals in the service of your city, state, and nation. E. E. OBERHOLTZER, President, The University of Houston

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and in determining international attitudes; func- tioning of state and local government with empha- sis on possibilities of improvement. In the field of sociology, philosophy, and psychol- ogy: The problem of how to study; adjustment of individuals to their environments; the problems of family life as a unit in our society, involving study of ellect of divorces and broken homes; problems of parenthood; building, planning. financing, and furnishing homes; laws of heredity; child develop- ment problems. involving contributions of psychol- ogy to the raising and educating of children, prob- lems of adolescence, discipline; problems of city and rural life; unemployment insurance; old age insur- ance; life and health insurance; thrift and savings: the problems of education, studied from the citi- zen's point of view, involving a study of goals of education, social value of education, who shall be educated. by whom education shall be controlled. how supported; problems to be met by city school onicials, involving the curriculum. measuring the results of learning. financing the schools. 11. Tm; BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Human biology. involving study of forms of life, laws of life, preservation of health, medicine, the place of doctor. dentist, and nurse; the structure and operation of the human body; personal hygiene and community health; the health personality; plant and animal life; food and nutrition, involving study of nutritive value of foods. combinations of foods, economical purchasing and preparation of foods, critical appraisal of substitutes. of synthetic foods. and of all foods from standpoint of health and safety: clothing, involving the study of fabrics, colors, design. consumeris protection against frauda ulent claims; economical clothing budgets. factors affecting price and quality of clothing. lll. Tm: PHYSICAL SCIENCES Mathematics of business; mathematics needed in life activities: practical chemistry, involving study of nature of Chemistry. composition of medicinal remedies, food. textiles. soaps. dyes. building ma- terials. soils. rubber, etc.; recent theories of matter and energy: radio activity; value and nature of re- seurch in medicine, chemistry, and physiw in im- proving living conditions; technological develop- ment in production, involving study of contribu- tions to modern life and living conditions of the ac- eumulatc wealth: raised standards of living: indus- trial plants; raw materials; manufactured foods: agencies of transportation and communication. sources of energy and power and the means of their transportation: descriptive astronomy. lV. Tm: LANGUAGE AND 011nm F131; ARTS English literature for comprehension, apprecia- tion and enjoyment; reading of literature in current publications; instruction in composition in small labom tory groups according to the ability and needs of the students; appreciation of music, apprecia- tion of art: appreciation of the motion picture and theatre. tTo these may be added, if the demand justifies it. coursox in drawing and commercial art. These will be planned as specialized coursm to be elected by students who wish to major in art, arch- itecture, commercial art or commercial designJ ADMISSION TO THE GENERAL COLLEGE The General College is open to any student ad- mitted to the University. It is planned particularly for the following types of students: 1. Those who wish to secure a broad intellectual training as a basis for later specialization. -. Those who wish to spend two years or less in college. 3. Those who might not be accepted by other ool- leges because of lack of preparation for spee- ialized fields and who wish to demonstrate their ability and make up deficiencies. 4. Those who, for financial or other reasons. wish to remain at home. 0. Those who can not expect to profit from the variety of specialized courses otIered in the usual college program. It is a well known fact that in some colleges more than one-half of the students fail because they cannot master the technicalities of these highly specialized courses. PLAN OF THE COLLEGE Each student will have the opportunity of three periods per week of class work in each of the four major fields. For intensive study, research, and in- dividual instruction and guidance. in addition to these class periods, each student will be assigned to a small laboratory group in each major field, u group consisting of about ten students. Instructors will work with each of these small groups, joining in the discussions. giving individual attention and suggestions, Outlining the work, and evaluating the results. In addition, the elective subject will require the usual three hours in recitation. Such guided study and individual uitl allows ample time for phys- ical recreation activities. such us Swimming, tennis. golf. etc.