Modifications In Science Courses At Universities

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29107, 20 January 1960, Page 16

Modifications In Science Courses At Universities

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, Jan. 19.

New science degree courses will begin at the University of Otago in March. They will be optional for this year and introduced compulsorily in 1961 The vice chancellor (Dr. F. G. Soper) said today. The present intermediate courses for medical and dental students and others will continue, but with the subjects reduced in content as for the new science degree. It is understood that other or similar changes will also be made in science courses at universities in other centres.

Dr. Soper said the new science degree will “modify and slightly reduce” the content of certain subjects which have grown enormously in recent years. The object is to reduce the scope of subjects back to proportions than can be reasonably handled by students, but to keep standards the same and the courses no easier than they have ever been.

The changes are the outcome of a joint conference of science faculties of the four universities last year when it was realised that subjects were being steadily extended.

The effect of the new degree will be to encourage students to take four intermediate science subjects in their first year, drawn from a number of options. Most students at present study three subjects in their first year. The present three-subject intermediate course for medical and dental students and others will continue, with the subjects reduced in content as for the new science degree. The subjects are zoology, chemistry and physics. Students wil lhave the number of lectures reduced by about 20 per cent, in each and the duration of practical work in laboratories also reduced. After the first-year course, some students will be encouraged to specialise in a subject for a B.S honours degree, while others who want a general grounding in

science will be content with a B.Sc. pass degree. In future the M.Sc d.egree will be a research degree. The method of selecting students for admission to the medical and dental schools from those who pass the intermediate examinations will remain unchanged. The other universities will provide similar types of intermediate courses and entry to the schools will be determined by the existing quota system. The present shortage of staff In university science departments was definitely not a factor in the proposed changes, said Dr. Soper today. He emphasised that the new degree course would be only optional this year. Students can still begin a degree under the old regulations. Full details will be published in the Otago University calendar next month