SECTION 2 - THE PROGRAM OF STUDY
IV. Examinations Students must be registered during the semester in which they intend to take an examination.
A. Language Requirements:
Before students can be advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D., they must demonstrate by written examination a reading knowledge of three foreign languages, one classical and two modern. The classical language will normally be Latin or Classical Greek. (Training in Classics is available through the Summer Latin/Greek Institute.) A student whose course of study requires knowledge of a language other than Latin or Greek may take an examination in another ancient or classical language (biblical Hebrew, classical Arabic) or in a medieval language (Old and Middle Irish, Middle Welsh, Old English, Old French, Old Icelandic, Old Church Slavonic, or Provençal). Note that Middle English and Middle French are exluded as options for this requirement.
The choice of modern languages must be approved by the Executive Officer and will be determined by (1) relevance to the student's areas of literary concentration and (2) the existence of significant criticism or critical writing in the language. The student's native language may be used to fulfill the modern language requirement as long as it meets condition (1) or (2) in the preceding sentence. In all cases, students will be required to translate from the foreign language into English.
Dictionaries will be allowed only in the ancient, classical, and medieval examinations, unless a student is specializing in Classics, in which case one of the examinations must be passed without a dictionary.
Students may pass the Latin requirement in one of three ways: (1) by passing two courses in Latin literature with a grade of B or better; (2) by passing the Program's Latin examination; (3) by receiving a grade of B+ or better in a special graded introductory course in Latin literature to be offered by the Program.
The Latin examination consists of a choice of four passages, one each in Classical and Medieval prose and one each in Classical and Medieval poetry. Of these four, the student is required to translate two passages, one in prose and one in poetry.
The Executive Officer may recommend exemption from a language examination for students who have passed at least two graduate courses totaling at least six credits in the literature of that language with a grade of B+ or better.
The student is required to have passed the examination or attained exemption in one language no later than the completion of the First Examination. All language requirements must be met before a student can be admitted to the Second Examination.
All language examinations are two hours in length and will consist of one literary and one critical passage. If the student should fail the examination, the paper will be read by a second faculty member designated by the Executive Officer. In case of disagreement between readers, the Executive Officer will refer the examination to a third reader, whose decision will be final.