In addition to course work, students must successfully complete a series of qualifying examinations and papers.

(1) Translation examinations in French or Italian and German
These examinations, for which the student may use a dictionary, may be taken as often as necessary. One language must be passed at the end of the first year, and the other at the end of the second year.

(2) Qualifying Papers
This section of the graduate program is designed to give the Ph.D. student training in the research methods necessary for the dissertation. Each student will submit two research papers of professional quality, one on a Greek topic and one on a Roman topic. Each paper will be reviewed by the student's advisor and at least one other member of the faculty. The papers may be revisions of seminar term papers and may lead to the dissertation. Under normal circumstances, neither paper should exceed 20 pages. This requirement should be met before examinations are taken, ideally by the end of the spring term of the third year.

(3) Greek and Latin translation examinations
These examinations, which are based on Reading List I for Greek and Latin, consist of two passages of prose and two of poetry.

(4) Greek and Latin literature examination
This examination is based on Reading Lists I and II for Greek and Latin and assumes a general knowledge of Greek and Latin literary history. It consists of brief identification and comment on 3 out of 6 passages in Greek and 3 out of 6 in Latin; both prose and poetry must be chosen in each language.

(5) Oral examination
The written Greek and Latin literature examinations are followed by an oral session of 1 1/2 hours, with 45 minutes on Greek and 45 on Latin. This examination will start from the written examinations, and then move freely into a more wide-ranging discussion.

(6) Exam Schedule
The exams will take place ideally in late April of the third-year spring term (i.e., the sixth semester). Over a two-day period in one week, the Greek and Latin translation exams will be taken. Then, over another two-day period in the following week, the Greek and Latin literature examinations, and the oral examination will be taken. A precise schedule for these examinations will be made at the end of the student's fifth semester.

Note: In exceptional cases the department may permit a delay of one term in taking exams 3, 4, and 5 (above). Each examination may be repeated once in case of failure.