<p>I’m afraid I don’t know enough about humanities Ph.Ds to contest your argument, though you’re wise to point out that Ph.D standards can never realistically apply to literally thousands of undergraduates. Perhaps that’s the issue; again, it’s much easier and considerably less time consuming to evaluate a physics worksheet than a philosophy paper.</p>
<p>Personally, I prefer the harsh grading policies of science and engineering. Sure, I don’t always benefit from them, but it compels me to work harder, which may be why these programs are noticeably better than others at Berkeley. Furthermore, it curbs grade inflation, a huge problem at many universities including Cal.</p>