The first year of the Advanced Certificate may be completed independently as a Micro Certificate in Sanskrit Grammar for Hindu Studies. This stage introduces students to formal Sanskrit grammar through the Laghu-Siddhānta-Kaumudī, laying a strong conceptual and practical foundation.

By the end of the first year, students will be able to:

• Understand the rules governing euphonic combinations (Sandhi) and the principles underlying case usage (Vibhakti).
• Define and recognize core grammatical terminology from Sañjñā-prakaraṇam, major types of Sandhi, primary Kārakas (semantic roles), Vibhaktis (case endings), and ajanta-śabdāḥ (vowel-ending nominal stems, especially a-stems).
• Explain the principles of Sandhi formation, the functional role of Kārakas, and the declension patterns of ajanta nouns.
• Apply Sandhi rules and correctly use Vibhakti forms while forming simple Sanskrit sentences.
• Analyze Sanskrit sentences by identifying Kārakas, distinguishing Vibhakti functions, and determining the Sandhi rules in operation.
• Construct short Sanskrit passages using accurate Sandhi, correct ajanta declensions, and appropriate Kāraka–Vibhakti relationships.
  

In summary, the first year focuses on four foundational areas:

• Technical terminology of the Aṣṭādhyāyī
• Rules governing euphonic combinations
• Rules governing case usage
• Rules covering vowel-ending nominal stems

The second year continues the systematic study of Sanskrit grammar through the Laghu-Siddhānta-Kaumudī. Completion of the first year is a prerequisite. Together, the first two years constitute the Advanced Micro Certificate in Sanskrit Grammar for Hindu Studies.

In addition to the learning objective of the first year, by the end of the second year, students will be able to:

• Identify the definitions, forms, and key characteristics of halanta-śabdāḥ (consonant-ending nouns) and basic tiṅanta verb forms.
• Illustrate declension patterns of halanta nouns and conjugation structures of tiṅanta verbs across persons and numbers.
• Apply correct halanta declensions and appropriate tiṅanta verb forms while composing simple Sanskrit sentences.
• Analyze Sanskrit sentences by identifying halanta nouns, determining correct Vibhaktis, and recognizing verb conjugations.
• Develop short passages that accurately integrate halanta noun forms and properly conjugated verbs.

In summary, the second year focuses on:

• Rules governing consonant-ending nominal stems in all three genders
• Rules governing verb conjugations across all ten gaṇas

By the end of this stage, students are equipped to apply grammatical principles confidently in the study of any Śāstra.

The third year completes the formal study of Sanskrit grammar through continued engagement with the Laghu-Siddhānta-Kaumudī. Completion of the first two years is a mandatory prerequisite. Successful completion of all three years leads to the award of the Advanced Certificate in Sanskrit Grammar for Hindu Studies.

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• Recognize and classify major types of Samāsa (compound formations), common Strī-pratyayāḥ (feminine suffixes), and primary and secondary derivational suffixes (Kṛdanta and Taddhita pratyayāḥ).
• Describe the grammatical processes involved in compound formation, feminine noun derivation, and primary and secondary derivations.
• Apply the rules of Samāsa, Strī-pratyaya, Kṛdanta, and Taddhita formations to generate grammatically correct Sanskrit words.
• Analyze complex words by identifying compound types, embedded suffixes, and derivational pathways.
• Formulate new Sanskrit expressions using compound structures and derivational morphology with accuracy and confidence.
  

In summary, the third year focuses on:

• Rules governing compound formation
• Rules governing feminine noun formation
• Rules governing primary derivational suffixes
• An introduction to secondary derivational suffixes