A&S Departments and Programs   • Graduate Study Offered   American Studies • Anthropology • Applied Science • Art & Art History Biology • Black Studies Chemistry • Classical Studies Computer Science • Economics English Environmental Science & Policy Film Studies Geology Global Studies Government History • International Relations Kinesiology Linguistics Literary & Cultural Studies Mathematics Medieval & Renaissance Studies Military Science Modern Languages Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physics • Psychology • Public Policy • Religious Studies Sociology Theater, Speech & Dance Women's Studies

Search

Find People

Classical Studies Department

Language Requirement and Placement Testing

The Latin Placement Exam is scheduled by the Office of the Dean of Students during the Orientation period for new students, usually the Monday before classes begin: for details contact the Dean's office or Professor Irby-Massie. 

 

Greek and Hebrew

Students who wish to take a placement examination in Classical Greek or Biblical Hebrew should contact the Department of Classical Studies to make individual arrangements for testing.

 

Latin

A student may fulfill the language requirement (in Latin) at the College of William and Mary by any of the following ways:

• Completion of Level IV in high school
• A score of at least 650 on the College Board SAT II Achievement Test in Latin
• Completion of a college language course at or above the 202 level
• Transfer credit of equivalent courses from an accredited college or university as certified by the department chair.

A student who wishes to continue in Latin will be placed into the appropriate level according to one of the following standardized examinations:

• SAT II Subject test in Latin
• AP-Latin Literature (Catullus-Horace; Catullus-Ovid; or Catullus-Cicero: only one AP-Latin Literature exam can count for credit at William and Mary)
• Or the Classical Studies placement examination, which is offered at the beginning of each semester (fall and winter) and can be taken at any point in a student’s undergraduate career.

The Department of Classical Studies does not allow self-placement under any circumstances.

Placement by score on our Latin Placement Test or the SAT II Achievement Test in Latin:

• 650 or above: 300 level Latin or above
• 450-640: 200 level Latin (between 600-640: might wish to wait to enroll in 202)
• Below 450: Latin 101

Placement by Latin AP Exam:

• Score of 5: 300 level Latin or above
• Score of 4: Latin 202

How credit hours are awarded towards matriculation:

• If a students tests into Latin 201 or 202, he/she will not receive course credit (credit hours) for LAT 101 and 102.
• A student who has successfully completed one standardized exam administered by the College Board (see above) can receive 3 credit hours (towards matriculation) as follows:
  • A score of 4 on the AP exam (Vergil or Latin Literature) earns 3 credit hours for LAT 201 only
  • A score of 5 on the AP exam (Vergil or Latin Literature) earns 3 credit hours for LAT 202 only
  • A score of 650 on the SAT II Achievement Test in Latin earns 3 credit hours for LAT 202 only
• A student who has successfully completed two standardized exams administered by the College Board can earn up to 6 credit hours for LAT 201 and 202 in any of the three following ways
  • Scores of 5 on one AP exam and 4 on the other [Vergil + Latin Literature: any combination]
  • Scores of 5 on both the AP exams [Vergil + Latin Literature]
  • A score of 4 or 5 on either AP exam together with a score of 650 on the SAT II Achievement Test in Latin

If you have taken a standardized exam, do not take the Department’s placement exam.

If you have not taken a standardized exam and you wish to continue with Latin, you must take the Department’s placement exam.