Educational Work at Loma Linda by W. A. Ruble

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1910

Educational Work at Loma Linda

By W. A. Ruble

From the beginning of the work at Loma Linda, the object constantly held before us has been to make this a strong educational institution, in harmony with the counsel received from the spirit of prophecy. In an effort to meet this demand in the past, a strong nurses’ course has been planned for this sanitarium, and is carried into effect each year. Following this, a medical evangelistic course, giving three years’ training in addition to the nurses’ course, was offered. Still the instruction came from the servant of the Lord to strengthen the educational course. Endeavoring to follow this instruction, steps have been taken to establish a medical college at Loma Linda, as has been previously outlined in these pages.

Educational advantages are therefore offered at Loma Linda according to the following outline:—

Medical Evangelistic Course

This course consists of three years of nine months each, and is especially designed for those who do not desire a medical degree. It carries with it both medical and evangelistic experience, and qualifies workers as gospel medical missionary evangelists. The principal object in establishing the College of Medical Evangelists is to prepare medical evangelists. With this training many should go into foreign lands when comparatively few could take the five years’ medical course. We hope that mature men and women, who have definite plans for work as ministers, missionaries, etc., will offer themselves for this course.

Medical Course

A five-years’ course of nine months each, embodying the usual didactic, laboratory, and clinical lines of instruction. It also offers the practical experience of internship and evangelistic missionary work. The College of Medical Evangelists is chartered as a medical college under the laws of the State of California. The laws of this and other States require for entrance into medical schools the completion of a full high-school course. The college is open only to those who desire to prepare themselves for the work of the Christian physician and medical missionary. It leads to the degree of doctor of medicine. In offering this course, the founders of the college have taken into consideration the high standard held by State boards for scientific training in medical schools, and have determined to meet that standard as far as scientific education is concerned.

Entrance Requirements

LITERARY QUALIFICATIONS. — There are three ways in which students may be admitted to the medical course. These methods are prescribed by law, and are as follows:—

1. Bachelor’s degree. A student may be admitted on submitting to the faculty satisfactory evidence that he is the possessor of a bachelor’s degree in the arts or sciences, granted by an approved college or university.

2. High school diploma. A diploma from an accredited academy or high school, which requires for entrance the completion of grammar school (eight grades), and whose course of study embodies the subjects listed under “3” as “required,” and graduation from which requires the completion of no fewer than thirty points; such credits to be presented with the diploma.

3. Examination by a duly authorized agent of the State from which the applicant comes, or by a reputable instructor recognized by a State board of medical examiners. Such examination is to be in the following branches:—

A — REQUIRED SUBJECTS, 20 POINTS POINTS Mathematics: minimum, two years . . . . 4 (a) Algebra through quadratics, one year (b) Plane geometry, one year English: minimum, two years . . . . . . 4 (a) Rhetoric and composition, one year (b) English literature, one year Latin: minimum, two years . . . . 4 (a) Latin grammar, one year (b) Four books of Cæsar, one year Physics, with laboratory work: one year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 History: minimum, one year . . . . . . . . 2 General history, one year Languages: minimum, two years . . . . 4 German, French, or Spanish, two years

B — OPTIONAL SUBJECTS, 10 POINTS English language and literature: maximum, one year . . . . . . . . 2 History: maximum, two years . . . . . . 4 (a) Ancient, one year (b) Medieval and modern, one year (c) Civics and economics Advanced mathematics: maximum, one year . . . . . . . . 2 (a) Solid geometry, one-half year (b) Trigonometry, one-half year Natural science: maximum, two years 4 (a) Biology, with laboratory work, one year; or,— (b) Botany and zoology, with laboratory work, one-half year each (c) Geology, one-half year (d) Astronomy, one-half year Physical science: maximum, one year 2 (a) Chemistry, with laboratory work, one year Physiology and Hygiene: one-half year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Drawing: one-half year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

A total of thirty points of academic work is required; and of this, twenty-six points are necessary for entrance. The remaining four points must be worked off before the beginning of the second year.

A point in any subject is defined as a half-year’s work, and must consist of eighteen weeks with five class periods a week of not less than forty-five minutes each. Two points equal two credits, or five counts, or one unit.

Academic subjects are listed as “required” and “optional.” In the required subjects, students must have completed the minimum number of points. The balance of thirty points may be made up from the optional subjects, but credit can not be given for more than the maximum number of points listed for each. It is supposed that the students coming from our schools have had the amount of Bible study usually given.

Students coming from Eastern States should secure a Michigan State medical student’s entrance certificate; or in lieu of this, one from their home State. Those who can not present a bachelor’s degree, an academic diploma from an accredited school, or a medical student’s entrance certificate, must have their credentials passed upon by the examiner appointed by the board of medical examiners of the State of California. This can be done just preceding the date set for the opening of the college year.

Advanced Standing

Applicants having taken one or more years in a reputable medical college, and desiring admission with advanced standing may be admitted upon the presentation of the proper credentials. These consist of the necessary entrance credits or diplomas, which, together with the usual application, must be submitted to the dean of the faculty. There must also be received by direct communication from the dean of the college from which the student desires to withdraw, a statement as to the applicant’s moral and professional qualifications, and the exact amount of work he has done in said college.

A Five Years’ Course

The work of the medical course extends over five years of nine months (thirty-six weeks) each. While the medical course as given in nearly all medical schools lasts only four years, it is manifestly impossible to crowd into this time all that should be given in medical and scientific lines, together with Bible, evangelistic training, hydrotherapy, dietetics, etc., and also provide for a practical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of disease under competent instruction, as called for by the curriculum. Every year of the course is a practical year. The student is not cloistered within four walls, but is from the first an active Christian worker to just the extent his advancement and experience will warrant.

Further information regarding the College of Medical Evangelists will be furnished upon application.

W. A. RUBLE, B. S., M. D., President.