The 1828 Catalog detailing the dual course of study
Image from Amherst College Digital Collections

Something curious happened to Amherst College’s curriculum from 1827 to 1829.

According to the 1828 catalog, “two parallel courses of Study have recently been established, in of which Ancient, and in the other Modern Languages and Literature, receive particular attention.”

But there was more to the new modern track than simply French and Spanish. Those in that course of study studied more math than their classical counterparts, and across its brief existence students were exposed to topics such as Book Keeping by Double Entry, Naval and Military Tactics, and Drawing.

Alas, this experiment headed by second president Heman Humphrey was short-lived, and the college soon returned to its original curriculum.