More Pathways

The most common way to build a W&M liberal arts education is over four years, mostly in residence on or near the main campus, with enough time and flexibility to stretch academically and really explore all the opportunities that are available. Other pathways can also work well, depending on your plans and specific interests.

Transfer in from Another College or University

Students who transfer to William & Mary bring their own mix of courses and credits already taken. We'll work with you to determine where you are now and how you want to complete your bachelor's degree.

Through our co-enrollment programs with various Virginia community colleges, participating students can transfer to William & Mary at the start of the junior year, complete their studies, and graduate with a four-year bachelor's degree.

Summer Academic Sessions

Each summer William & Mary offers about 180 courses, primarily in Arts & Sciences, in two summer sessions at two locations (on the main campus and in Washington, D.C.). Because summer classes are intensive and tend to be smaller in size, students often benefit from closer working relationships with faculty and their peers. The summer is also an ideal time to study abroad.

St Andrews Joint Degree Programme

Our joint degree program with the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, is one of the few international undergraduate joint degrees offered with a U.S. university. Students complete two years at each institution (the first and second years must be completed at the two different universities) and earn a single diploma – a Bachelor of Arts, International Honours – from both institutions.

Sharpe Community Scholars Program

Apply for this freshman-year program, and part of your first year will involve putting your classroom knowledge into action. What you learn from your projects helps to inform your classroom studies, and might point you toward new academic and career interests. The program also offers summer grant funding for self-designed community research projects.

Combined Engineering Degree

Through this program, students study a prescribed curriculum for three years at William & Mary and then complete two additional years in engineering at a partner university. The end result is a W&M bachelor's degree and a bachelor's or master's degree from a partner university.

Completion Certificate in Public History & Material Culture

The National Institute of American History & Democracy (NIAHD) offers an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue a concentration in public history, museums, cultural heritage, historical artifacts, and/or the built environment. Our hands-on, place-based approach to history provides research opportunities and meaningful contact with professionals in the field, including archaeologists, curators, interpreters, artisans, and preservationists. To obtain the NIAHD program's certificate of completion, students enroll in a field school and a public history course, complete an internship, and further shape their pathway by selecting three electives relevant to their interest in the field.

Accelerated Master's Degrees

With proper preparation, our undergraduate students can complete bachelor's degrees in some majors and then, with just one more year of study, earn a master's degree. These majors offer this type of accelerated master's degree: