Roots in the past
The BA Liberal Arts team recently discovered the story of the general degree at King's College London.
In 1859 the College was offering a 'A General Degree which
was intended to give a wide, general education, including some knowledge of the physical, biological and mental sciences, as well as the more traditional arts subjects. However, in the re-organisation of examinations in 1859 it was decided to allow a greater degree of specialization by the creation of the BSc. From this point the BA was sometimes known as the General Degree.
(according to Piers Cain, Examination Registers of the University of London 1838-1889 (now in the University of London Library) (London, 1982), page 5)
The London University Calendar, 1858 gives further details of the subjects studied and states
Candidates shall not be approved by the Examiners unless they show a competent knowledge in:
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Classics
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Grecian, Roman and English History
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Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
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Animal Physiology
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Logic and Moral Philosophy
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Either the French or the German Language.
The BA General Degree was phased out by the late 1970s to make way for more specialization in study, but we think it is time to re-discover those roots.
While the BA Liberal Arts may not offer Animal Physiology (as yet!) you will encouraged to pick a full and wide programme from all the other flourishing subject areas taught in the School of Arts & Humanities.