Early Curriculum of the Rensselaer Institute

HON. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, Patron, with the right to appoint the Annual Board of Examiners.

ACTING FACULTY

Rev. E. Nott, D.D., President--also President of Union College.
Judge DAVID BUEL, Jr., Vice President.
AMOS EATON, Senior Professor, and Professor of Civil Engineering; also holding the Agency and Supervision of the Institute.
EBENEZER EMMONS, Junior Professor.
JAMES HALL, Professor of Chemistry and Physiology.
Assistants--Edward Suffern and D. S. Smalley.

Instruction, wholly practical, illustrated by Experiments and Specimens, is given 40 weeks in each year. Five days in each week the forenoon exercises are from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.

WINTER SESSION commences the third Wednesday in November, and continues 16 weeks. During the first 12 weeks, each forenoon is devoted to practical Mathematics, Arithmetical and Geometrical. This is a most important course for men of business, young and old. During the last 4 weeks of the Winter Term, extemporaneous Speaking on the subjects of Logic, Rhetoric, Geology, Geography, and History, is the forenoon exercise. Throughout the whole session the afternoon exercises are Composition, and in fair weather, exercises in various Mathematical Arts. A course of Lectures on National and Municipal Law is given by the Senior Professor.

SUMMER SESSION commences on the last Wednesday in April, and continues 24 weeks: ending with Commencement.

Students of the Natural Science Department are instructed as follows:

Three weeks, wholly practical Botany, with specimens.

Four weeks, Zoology, including organic remains; and Physiology, including the elements of Organic Chemistry

Three and a half weeks, Geology and Mineralogy, with specimens.

Three weeks, traveling between Connecticut River and Schoharie Kill, for making collections to be preserved by each student, and exhibited at examinations; also for improving in the knowledge of Natural History and Mathematical Arts.

Ten weeks, Chemistry and Natural Philosophy.

Half a week, preparing for examinations and Commencement.

The afternoons of all fair days are devoted to Surveying, Engineering, and various Mathematical Arts--also to Mineralizing, Botanizing, and to collecting and preserving subjects in Zoology.

Students of the Engineer Corps are instructed as follows:

Eight weeks, in learning the use of Instruments; as Compass, Chain, Scale, Protractor, Dividers, Level, Quadrant, Sextant, Barometer, Hydrometer, Hygrometer, Pluviometer, Thermometer, Telescope, Microscope, etc., with applications to Surveying, Protracting, Leveling, calculating Excavations and Embankments, taking Heights and Distances, Specific Gravity and Weight of Liquids, Degrees of Moisture, Storms, Temperature, Latitude and Longitude by lunar observations and eclipses.

Eight weeks, Mechanical Powers, Circles, Conic Sections, construction of Bridges, Arches, Piers, Rail-Roads, Canals, running Circles for Rail-Ways, correcting the errors of long Levels, caused by refraction and the Earth's convexity, calculating the height of the atmosphere by twilight, and its whole weight on any given portion of the Earth, its pressure on Hills and in Valleys as affecting the height for fixing the lower valve of a Pump; in calculating the Moon's distance by its horizontal parallax, and the distances of Planets by proportionals of cubes of times to squares of distances.

Four weeks, in calculating the quantity of Water per second, etc., supplied by streams as feeders for Canals, or for turning Machinery; in calculating the velocity and quantity effused per second, etc., from flumes and various vessels, under various heads; the results of various accelerating and retarding forces of water flowing in open raceways and pipes of waterworks, and in numerous miscellaneous calculations respecting Hydrostatics and Hydrodynamics.

Four weeks, study the effect of Steam and inspect its various applications--Wind, as applied to Machinery; also Electro-Magnetism- inspect the principal Mills, Factories, and other Machinery or works which come within the province of Mathematical Arts; also, study as much Geology as may be required for judging of Rocks and Earth concerned in construction.

Fees for instruction, including all Lectures, Experiment etc.; also for use of Instruments, Apparatus, Library and Specimens, $4 for each sub-term of four weeks. No student received for less than a sub-term. No extra charge excepting $8 for the course of Experimental Chemistry, where each student gives a course of experiments with his own hands.

Students furnish their own fuel, light, and text-books. Each boards where he pleases; but the Professors will aid strangers in the selection of boarding houses. A small number of strangers are boarded at the School at $2 per week; they furnishing their own bedding, washing, etc.

The Rensselaer degree of Bachelor of Natural Science is conferred on all qualified persons of 17 years or upwards. The Rensselaer degree of Civil Engineer is conferred on candidates of 17 years and upwards, who are well qualified in that department. This power was given to the President, by an amendment to the Charter, passed last session of the Legislature. Candidates are admitted to the Institute who have a good knowledge of Arithmetic, and can understand good authors readily, and can compose with considerable facility.

After a trial of two seasons, it is found to be inexpedient to enter young lads in the regular divisions, before they have sufficient pride of character to govern their conduct when preparing for their exercises in the absence of a teacher; arrangements will, therefore, be made for having a teacher always present with them, when they are not in the immediate charge of a Professor or Assistant.

Students in any one department have the right to attend one Experimental Lecture each day in the other departments, free of expense.

One year is sufficient for obtaining the Rensselaer degree of Bachelor of Natural Science, or of Civil Engineer, for a candidate who is well prepared to enter. Graduates of Colleges may succeed by close application during the 24 weeks in the Summer term.

Candidates may commence the course at the beginning of any sub-term; but the third Wednesday of November to be preferred, unless the candidate is a graduate of a regular College or otherwise well instructed in general Mathematics and Literature. In such cases the last Wednesday in April is the most suitable time of entering. His theoretical views may then be reduced to practice during the Summer course.

The degree of Master of Arts is conferred after two years of practical application.

Gentlemen wishing to learn the outline of the terms of the Rensselaer Institute are requested to pay postage on their letters; and they will receive this printed notice. If this appears to be a "narrow notice," I will state that I paid $54.28 in one year in postage for letters on others' business: some for our school course more for advice about mines, minerals, and visionary projects.

AMOS EATON, Agent.

RENSSELAER INSTITUTE, Troy, Oct. 14, 1835.