They also may count as electives allowed in COLL’s three “knowledge domains” of social sciences, natural sciences, and arts and humanities.

Halleran said COLL, which covers only a quarter of the 120 credits necessary for an undergraduate degree, will create “true college-level, W&M courses.”

Instead of a course focusing solely on Greek tragedy, for example, a student would study fifth-century Athens from the perspectives of art, religion, literature and anthropology, Halleran said.

An alumni group called The Society for the College has denounced the changes as further gutting a curriculum it already sees as weak.

Andrew R. McRoberts, the president of the society, said the integrative approach assumes students arrive at W&M already well-grounded in the basics of general education subject areas.

“You really need to master a topic before you start applying it in an interdisciplinary way,” he said.

The opponents, who are pressing the board to step in, have the backing of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni — the same group that spoke out in support of the University of Virginia’s board in its unsuccessful effort to remove the president in 2012.