Classical Studies, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

The Post-Baccalaureate Program offers a flexible course of study for students who have an undergraduate degree and who wish to pursue an intensive program in the Classical languages in preparation for graduate studies, teaching, or personal enrichment. Students in the program take specific courses in Latin, Greek, and classical civilization appropriate to their level of preparation. For more information, please see the Classical Studies web page.

Full Time Enrollment:

Full Time students must register for a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 11 credits. To register for an underload, students must petition the Department of Classical Studies.

Satisfactory Progress and Continuance Policy:

All courses each semester must be completed with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average, and with no individual course grade lower than B- (grade point = 2.7). No credit toward the certificate will be allowed for a course in which a student receives a grade below C (grade point = 2.0). If a student does not meet these standards, that student will be issued an academic warning in writing. If the student’s performance does not improve to meet the above standards during the subsequent semester, that student will be suspended from the program.

Students who have received two academic warnings will also be suspended if their performance falls below the above standards in any semester subsequent to the second warning, even if the standards are met in the intervening semester(s).

To be eligible to receive the certificate, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all courses undertaken for credit at William & Mary after admission to the program. Students who spend their final semester in the program under academic warning as described above will not be awarded the post-baccalaureate certificate unless they achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all courses taken that semester in addition to fulfilling all other requirements for the certificate.

Academic warnings and suspensions will be determined and handled by the Department of Classical Studies. Suspended students who wish to be re-admitted must submit a request for re-admission to the department in writing no later than the withdrawal deadline of the semester prior to the one for which they are seeking readmission. Re-admission will be at the discretion of the department.

In the case of post-baccalaureate students attending the Program more than one year, the faculty reviews annually how well they have progressed toward completion of their Certificate. The department provides written guidance to help students judge their own progress.

Withdrawals:

Post-baccalaureate students are subject to the William & Mary’s Academic Regulations as described in the Undergraduate Course Catalog with the following modifications:

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course after the conclusion of the add/drop period must request course withdrawal from the Program Director, provided they continue to meet the Program’s minimum course requirements (6 credits and one course in Greek or Latin). Exceptions must be requested in writing and must be approved by the Program Director. If a student wishes to withdraw from the Program, they must request it in writing and obtain approval from the Department of Classical Studies

Requirements for the Certificate

The Post-Baccalaureate Program is designed to be as flexible as possible in order to allow students to take course that will suit their interests and needs. All entering post-baccalaureate students work with the post-baccalaureate advisor in the Department to design an appropriate course of study. Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a post-baccalaureate certificate in Classical Studies. In order to earn the certificate each student must:

earn at least 13 credits in the program.
complete at least two semesters in the program.
enroll in at least one course each semester in Latin or Greek.
earn at least six credits at the advanced 300-level or above in either Latin or Greek.
earn at least six credits at the intermediate 200-level or above in the other language (whichever is not met for the previous requirement).
complete a one-credit proseminar that provides an introduction to research methods and resources in Classical Studies.

In addition to courses in Latin, Greek and the proseminar, post-baccalaureate students may also enroll in other classes offered by the Department in Hebrew and Classical Civilization. Please note that the Post-Baccalaureate Program is not a graduate program, nor does the successful completion of the program guarantee admission to any graduate program.