Butler College

Below you will find a list of courses that our students consider one of the best they've taken at Princeton.  The list is still growing and is by no means comprehensive – one of the special things about Princeton is how many of our professors are exceptional teachers! – but these recommendations may help you to select courses in the fall. 

Really detailed and focused information on specific American cities and provides a good overview of modern American history in general.  Allows opportunity for independent research on an area that YOU are genuinely interested in and teaches you a lot about reading different accounts of history and piecing together arguments.  This course requires a 20-page research paper at the end of it, though, so if you're not prepared to write such a long paper, this might not be the best course for you.  — History '13

If you are even remotely interested in the medical field (whether that be research, med school, public health, literally anything) I would recommend taking this course. It will open your eyes to a world of medicine that everyone should be exposed to at some point. That being said, be warned that there is a fair amount of reading. The reading however is all extremely interesting and relevant. — Woodrow Wilson School '12

Almost every lecture in this class was relevant, detailed, and interesting. The lectures push you to think about the effect of different forms of art on society and how history and culture is inherently connected to the study of art. Precepts are generally held inside the art museum and give you time to analyze different works of art and come up with how they are important in shaping history and how they are important in the context of modern society. — History '13

Professor da Costa Meyer makes this class. She is the most enthusiastic, animated lecturer I've ever had. The way she teaches makes the material easy to understand, but there is a fair amount of reading. The architectural theory that arises during this course is the most interesting part, and provides for interesting debate during precept. Take this class even if you're an art history buff and architecture isn't your thing, it's a nice way to change it up. — Architecture '13

Great intro class, very enthusiastic lecturer. — Architecture '11

This is an excellent 200-level art history course. The course is well-organized, lectures are informative and engaging, and precepts are incredible (they're all held in the museum's study room, so you get to learn about art objects firsthand). This course would appeal to anyone interested in Spanish, Latin American studies, history, anthropology, linguistics, or archaeology. Be prepared for a lot of (very interesting) reading and a time-intensive final paper. — Art and Archaeology '11

This was a fantastic survey course of interesting topics in modern astrophysics. It covered a lot of material but did not sacrifice depth for breadth.  Topics range from planetary science and extraterrestrial life, to stellar evolution, and finally to time travel and cosmology.  It would be an understatement to say that lectures were fascinating.  The course is designed for non-science majors, so math is kept to a minimum (trigonometry and algebra).  The emphasis is on understanding and process rather than rote memorization of calculations.  There are opportunities for night-sky observing – take advantage of them.  There’s nothing like seeing Saturn’s rings through a telescope.  This class will change the way you think about the universe and your own place in it. — Astrophysics '12

I took this course the spring of my freshman semester and while I was pretty sure that I wanted to be an Astrophysics major beforehand, this course sealed the deal. I was fascinated with the broad range of topics that astrophysics covered and was excited to work on problems that have only recently been solved. I also learned that it is best to work with others for this type of class because the work load is intended to give you real experience with the problems. This might not be the best course for you, however, if you don't like math/physics. — Astrophysics '11

Professor Glisic taught the course meticulously and was extremely helpful. You can tell he loves his field. — Civil and Environmental Engineering '11

This is a fantastic class for those interested in topical enviornmental issues. Professor Morel is an engaging lecturer and will help you to understand the context and chemistry behind the enviornmental issues relevent in a gasoline driven society. I would recommend this class to students with a strong understanding of basic chemical principles who have already taken either AP Chemistry or General Chemistry here at Princeton. — Chemical and Biological Engineering '12

This was one of my favorite classes at Princeton because Professor Schwartz is amazing.  He is funny (albeit cynical and sarcastic), knows an incredible amount about chemistry in general, and is a really nice guy.  It was also nice to learn about a topic that most people don't get around to because they become bogged down with general chemistry and orgo. — Chemistry '12

This is a great class for a classic major, as for students with general interest in the Roman Empire, like I was. You can put in a lot of work or just take it easy and read what looks most interesting to you. Professor Champlin is a very strong and  interesting lecturer, who is very passionate about his subject.  He makes the lectures fun to attend and informative. — Chemical and Biological Engineering '12

I took this course for a QR (I don't do math much) and ended up enjoying it so much that I'm hoping to get a certificate in Applications of Computing. Lectures vary in interestingness and so does the (almost optional) reading (and precepts, at least the semester I took it, actually were optional); what makes the class really fun is the assignments. Coding - especially debugging - can be *extremely* frustrating, but a working program is incredibly rewarding, and, often enough, the process is enjoyable as well. I think computer science is good for people who like logic and solving problems and using their brains to create things that do cool stuff (and aren't necessarily engineers); it's also probably more useful than math, if you (like me) are looking for a QR. And maybe (like me) you'll end up thinking of it as much more than a distribution requirement! (A good COS course to take after 126 is 217 - sometimes rather challenging, but also very fun.) — Linguistics '12

The class is an interesting combination of creative and analytical thinking.  The weekly projects are very cool and there is a huge sense of accomplishment that comes from the programming.  While some may find it to be more time consuming than other classes, I found it to be well worth the effort.  I took it because it was required for BSE students, and I was dreading it until I walked into the first lecture and realized how awesome it would be.  I hope that non-BSE students will also consider giving it a shot! — Chemical and Biological Engineering '13

Coming from an academic history that involved no computer science at all, I thought the material covered in this course was very interesting. This was something new for me and it was very exciting. The projects sometimes took a long time and could be a little stressful, but the satisfaction of being able to complete them was unmatched in any of my other classes. This class gave me the opportunity to be somewhat more creative than many of my other classes, which i enjoyed. I feel like this class has sparked my interest in a new subject.  I would definitely reccomend it. — Computer Science (BSE) '13

The class is extremely well put-together, the assignments are quite fun and feel great to finish, and you really come out of it understanding the basics of programming.  I had never done any computer science before this class, and I had so much fun coding up the problems that I'm now a COS major.  It's definitely a manageable class as long as you keep up with the material.  All around great class; the best part may be how well they show you all the applications of computer science through the assignments and practice problems. — Computer Science (BSE) '13

This is a really fun class if you enjoy programming. You learn a lot about different programming languages and how to apply computer science from a more software standpoint. The first half of the semester, there are weekly programming assignments to expose you to different areas of the material, and the second half you work on a group project. The only requirements for the project is that it has to have a backend and a frontend, and that it should be challenging enough for the class. This class is what brought about Point, the new Princeton Events Calendar, ICE, TigerFinder, and many other really cool tools. Some people have even made video games and iPhone/Android apps. You get a lot of freedom in your projects, and learn so much about working with a group and what it's like to actually create a full piece of software or web service. Plus, Brian Kernighan is probably one of the most amazing people at Princeton. He knew all of our names after only one day of class, and was always witty and down-to-earth while being an incredibly brilliant man. Kernighan is on sabbatical for the 2010-2011 school year, but Bob Dondero, who will be teaching the course in the Spring, promises to be an excellent substitute. I would recommend this class to any computer science major, or anyone who wants to spend half a semester making something with an immediate, useful purpose. — Computer Science (BSE) '12

If you're a fan of Dan Brown's novels but are curious about how real-world cryptography works (and WHY it works) you should consider at least sitting through the first few lectures. If you want to take it for a grade you should have a familiarity with basic algorithms (i.e. via COS 226) and mathematical maturity (i.e. via MAT 21X or COS 340). Zeev is a very good lecturer. — Mathematics '14

Even if this isn't a required course for you, take it if you want to be better-informed about the economy and learn a lot about the common topics you hear about in business news. — Operations Research and Financial Engineering '13

A great way to get a better understanding of the economy. I feel much better informed after taking this class, and it provides a lot of context for current economic issues. I especially liked it because of the amount of time spent on economic policy as well as theory. — Politics '13

For an introductory macroeconomics course, ECO 101 with Professor Blinder was more than I could ask for. In fact, this class was influential in my decision to be an Economics major. The lectures brought economics alive, and gave a comprehensive overview of the basic economics needed for a society to function. Pay particular attention to the current events because those will really put old economic theories into context for you. This class required a bit of work, but as long as you pay attention to current economic affairs, the concepts are easy to understand. — Economics '12

I took ECO 302 during my junior year, and realized that while I understood the concepts reasonably well, I didn't have a clue about how to apply them. ECO 313 was a blessing. Professor Farber is a big reason for this class being as wonderful as it is. He is extremely invested in the class — he has taught it ever since he conceptualized it many years ago. He came up with applications across the spectrum — from unemployment, to the capital asset pricing model to breast cancer treatment — and walked us through detailed STATA log files that he had prepared, while simultaneosly giving us an overview of the underlying econometric concepts. And he is very funny.  The weekly problem sets were both a boon and a bane. For the most part, they contained very interesting applications which allowed us to experiment with and use the techniques we had learned in the lectures that week. They were very time consuming and sometimes frustrating, but were necessary evils that were extremely rewarding in the end.  What I gained from these problem sets was the confidence to look at an economic problem and not be afraid to play with the data before I landed on the "best fit". Most importantly this course made my JP writing process a relatively painless experience, where I focused less on being afraid of the data, and more on refining my hypothesis and conclusions based on what my data told me. — Economics '13

If you've ever watched A Beautiful Mind and wondered what the big deal was about John Nash and his game theory research you have GOT to take this course. The math is not terribly difficult (it's on the level of MAT 201/202), but the problems can get very interesting. Professor Abreu is good at pointing out various subtleties in game theory. — Mathematics '14

This is a very good introduction into the exciting aspects of signal and image processing, including both the math and the applications such as information theory, wireless comm, filtering, geometric transforms (ie Photoshop stuff), and how JPEG and MPEG work. It does require some math skills, but it will definitely expose you to a side of EE you probably have never seen before. And also, Prof Kulkarni is amazing and makes the class both fun and interesting. A lot of non-science/engineering majors take this class; it's definitely a good one to take if you are into technology and want a bit of background in how things work. — Electrical Engineering '11

I'm not an English major, but this class was a lot of fun—Shakespeare is probably my favorite author, and reading one play a week allowed me to really get into his style. Prof. Danson gave great lectures, too, and showed us some film clips. I liked learning a lot about just one author, especially discussing common themes in precept and in lecture. — Mathematics '11

We read Jane Austen's six novels in this class, as well as some of her early work.  Professor Johnson is one of the foremost Austen scholars in the world and hearing her lecture was incredible.  We occasionally watched clips from various novels that have been made into movies. — English '12

Engaging material, and Professor Mitchell is an incredible lecturer! — Politics '11

Very good book selection. Engaging lectures. Comprehensive handouts. — Economics '13

ENV 201 is a great class for anyone interested in learning more about environmental problems or looking to fulfill a distribution requirement. The professors did a fantastic job of introducing current affairs to students and effectively engaged them in some of the most pressing societal problems. For this class, and especially to do well on exams, reading the assigned material is crucial. Lectures are supplementary to this material, so attending those are important for both learning as much as you can and doing well overall in the class. — Economics '12

This has been one of the best classes I've taken at Princeton. Professors Popper are an excellent team. A lot of the people in the class are pursuing an environmental studies certificate but the material is interesting and relevant for everyone. Don't be intimidated by the heavy reading listed on the syllabus. — Woodrow Wilson School '11

First of all, the essential thing is not so much this course itself as taking a freshman seminar with Professor Katz - this past year, instead of the one I took, he taught one called Wordplay, which was, I heard, just as amazing. What my class was, though, was three hours a week of learning ancient Egyptian grammar (as well as bits of history, mythology, etc.) and also about anything else that came up in our discussions, especially anything language-related. Professor Katz is hilarious, very engaging, and extremely helpful; he also picks some of the oddest and most amazing freshmen for his seminars, so that we all not only learned a lot from each other but also nearly constantly made each other laugh. (And we still do - a lot of us are still friends a year and a half later.) While this class isn't actually in the linguistics department, it does, because of the interests both of Professor Katz and the kind of students who tend to be in his freshman seminars, end up being kind of linguistics-heavy and may well have the effect of making you want to take actual linguistics classes. I mention this because I'm a linguistics major and, although this class wasn't really part of my linguistics curriculum, it was very helpful for starting to be engaged in the subject at Princeton. Warnings: (1) Professor Katz is on leave in 2010-11, so no FRS's from him right now, BUT you should take a class with him whenever you can; (2) lots and lots of people want to get into his freshman seminars and there's a cap of 15, so a lot of people tend to be disappointed... — Linguistics '12

Although many German words are similar to the English ones, and German simply sounds cool, it's probably not the easiest language to learn. But don't let that deter you! Professor Rankin is there to help you every step of the way. The language sequence is a really rewarding learning experience, and you'll be able to read German literature within the first year. — Physics '12

Don't let the seemingly boring name fool you—this class is anything but. Professor Gordin is a very engaging lecturer, and he is enthusiastic about the course material and teaching. Try to get him as your preceptor. Among the fantastic readings for the class are primary source documents written by famous historic scientists (Newton, Darwin, Watson...) and by others you may not have heard about. The caveat is that you need to attend lecture and do the readings since they complement each other, but other than that the load is light. Both humanities and science majors will find something to love about this course—I highly recommend it. — History '11

Professor Candiani is so passionate and funny! Her class really helped me to understand current events in Latin America as part of larger historical processes. — History '13

This is a directed history class, focused on the history of India between 1000 and 1900 AD. You learn about the different rulers of North India, specifically the Delhi Sultanate and famous Mughal Empire, as well as learn how to analyze historical events to prove a thesis. There aren't many papers but they force you to put together the pieces you learn in class to come up with really interesting historical arguments (that you may have thought were beyond your abilities). The course ends at the "beginning" of Modern India, covering parts of colonial India. I'd recommend it if you are at all interested in South Asian or Indian history. — Electrical Engineering '11

I entered Princeton expecting to major in molecular biology, but this class, along with its companion HIS 370 Britain 1815-1945: Dominance, Democracy, and Decline, made me decided to major in history instead. Professor Colley is an extremely well-respected historian in the field, and her lectures are terrific—among the best I've heard at Princeton. Precepts definitely depend on the preceptor (I didn't really like my precept for HIS 369 but loved it for 370), but the readings you'll be given (about 150pp per week) will be generally excellent—balanced, thoughtful, and important historiographically. The work load is not excessive, and because it's a survey class on British history and you're not expected to come in with any knowledge of British history, it's not beyond the reach of a freshman (I took HIS 369 my freshman fall). This is definitely a course to place on your list of to-do classes at Princeton. — History '11

This a great course for both history majors and non-majors looking to fulfill the HA requirement. Despite the high course number, it's accessible to freshmen and sophomores. Since there aren't any papers (just three in-class exams), it's a good class to take to balance out a writing-intensive semester (be prepared for a lot of reading, though). — Art and Archaeology '11

Professor Kruse is one of the most dynamic professors on campus. You'll be racing to keep up with him in lecture but that's only because you don't want to miss a single thing he says. Far and away the best course to take to fulfill the HA distribution requirement, and a class that will stay with you long after the semester is over. — Politics '12

This course takes a completely mindblowing yet brilliant approach to teaching science. While the areas of science are usually cordoned off into artificially separate disciplines, Integrated Science emphasizes the mathematical foundations that underlie all the areas of science. While one day you may be discussing radioactive decay, the next day you'll be using the same equations to model population growth. It's a wonderful sequence if you are interested in research, and it will be an unforgettable experience. DISCLAIMER: You'll be doing a lot of math, especially calculus, not that that's a bad thing at all. — Molecular Biology '13

As advertised, this course teaches you to problem-solve like a research scientist. If you're willing to put in the time, you can get so much from this class. The problem sets and lab write-ups are extremely rewarding, but they'll take you and your classmates 20+ hours weekly. Integrated Science is best for students who've had a good education in: (1) Single-variable calculus and (2) two or more of the four core sciences (bio, chem, phys, comp sci). Definitely get multiple perspectives on this course by talking to previous students. — Chemistry '12

If you're interested in science, don't mind doing some serious math, and love interdisciplinary stuff, this class is amazing.  It's very difficult and time consuming, but absolutely worth it if it interests you.  I recommend signing up for it, but having a couple other classes in mind in case you decide to drop it before drop/add is over.  And don't be afraid to drop, you either love it or you hate it. — Molecular Biology '13

If you've taken ITA 101 and aren't sure if you should take 102 or 102-7 then I say go for 102-7. Granted it is a little more challenging, but the benefits far outweigh that. You get two quality professors and even though you fit the curriculum of two semesters into one it is 100% doable. If you are really not confident in your Italian language skills, maybe 102 is right for you, but if you want to finish your language requirement early then 102-7 is the place to be. — Undeclared '13

If you have no background in linguistics and want to get your EC requirement out of the way, this is the best class to take. It's a laid-back class with lots of fascinating readings and not too much work. From my experience, the people who choose this class come from very different backgrounds, so the discussions are really interesting. Also, because "bilingualism" involves lots of different subfields of linguistics, you get a good view of the field as a whole without getting bogged down with one specific topic. (I'd even say it's a better introduction to linguistics than LIN 201...) I took Bilingualism as an incoming freshman, and decided to major in linguistics because of it! — Linguistics '13

It's often said that you know whether you want to be a math major before you get here. While this may be true to some extent, I think it's very important that the math department offers courses that help you gain the confidence to start taking harder math classes. Topology, taught by one of the best professors in the department, was that course for me. Zoltan started from scratch, assuming nothing, and led us on a beautiful journey through topology. He knew exactly where we would be confused and was always willing to repeat himself until everyone was satisfied. Of course, it was often difficult, especially because I didn't have an intuition for the bizarre infinite dimensional spaces that we worked in. Yet, it remains my favourite class and has given me the confidence to try three math courses next semester (Yes, you're invited to the funeral!) — Mathematics '13

This course is intended for potential math majors, with ideally a solid math background—if they intend to take this course as freshmen in the spring. The professor is very helpful, the homework is not lengthy at all, and the second part of the course is more than just interesting. — Mathematics '13

This course is a lot of work (though that depends on the professor teaching it) but was well worth it in the end. Don't take it unless you're comfortable with math proofs. I liked the subject a lot—it's one of the most beautiful topics in math, and I especially liked its applications to number theory (we proved the prime number theorem). The class is fast-paced, but the problem sets are fair, especially with the graders' help, and the textbook is excellent. — Mathematics '11

Solid class in probability theory; gives a strong basis for later courses in probability theory, physics, mathematical economics, and operations research.  Course shows how to apply real analysis--instead of proving various theorems as in basic analysis courses, you now use these theorems to prove more useful results, e.g. the Central Limit Theorem.  The course is relatively quick paced with reasonable weekly homework assignments.  A background in measure theory (at the level of MAT 314) is useful, but is not required—what you need from measure theory is covered in the course.  Make sure that you go to all the office hour sessions—Prof. Sinai gives lots of hints on homework, and more importantly, you can start understanding how probability people (probabilists) think.  During office hours, Prof. Sinai shows you how seemingly disparate problems are really the same and how to attack problems using beautifully succinct but indirect methods rather than the more brute-force direct methods. — Mathematics '11

This is a great course for everyone who loves music. Prof. Lansky is great, and there is never a dull moment in his lectures. He uses great examples of past legends and contemporary artists to demonstrate compositional techniques. This course will definitely increase your awareness and appreciation of music. The lectures and assignments prepare you for final assignment, which is to write and record your own composition. You will learn a lot and have fun learning it. Although this course is accessible with any level of musical experience, it helps to have some musical training and knowledge of basic notation. — Astrophysics '12

The professor starts from music from the medieval period and shows how it slowly led to Western classical music. Through this, he explains the development of certain rules/principles of different periods. Everything he explains is so logical! I had studied classical music for many years before college but I had never noticed all this structure in the music! In many of our assignments, we had to create tunes and harmonizations following the rules - this wasn't always easy, but it was pretty fun! And while I probably won't became a famous composer, I can at least write simple pieces that sound like they were from a particular period. This class really changed how I look at classical music.

This class was extremely fun and laid back. The professor was a really nice and knowledgeable guy who went to Princeton and is himself an accomplished musician. I really liked just listening to a lot of the music and then hearing about where the influences on that music came from. — Chemistry '12

I absolutely loved this course and it is a great distribution requirement. The class gives you a chance to analyze the development of rock music from its roots. If you have an interest in rock music like I do this is really a very exciting class. It not only gives students a basic timeline of the bands as would be expected, it also helps to analyze the social impact of the music and even gives people a chance to understand the more technical musical side (which was really satisfying for some one like me who has never really had much musical talent). There was a pretty sizeable amount of work outside the classroom, but to me it seemed to go by like nothing because I was so interested in the topic. Professor Wegman made the class as interesting as it was because you could tell he really had a passion for the subject. — Computer Science (BSE) '13

This class is great for anyone with an interest in the political, economic, or environmental aspects of oil and energy, or anyone who just wants to educate themselves about the topic. It will be easier if you come in with some background knowledge of economics, but even if you don't, you will learn so much from one semester. Speaking up in precept is important. — Politics '12

Michael Barry is one of the most knowledgeable teachers I have ever had. Though the idea of a three-hour lecture is daunting, Barry's tales and lessons are so captivating that you will never be bored. The material itself, while teaching you all you ever wanted to know about Afghanistan, also examines how Afghanistan fits and has fit into the larger world political scene. Of the international relations courses I've taken (and that's a lot), this course may have taught me the most about the way the entire world is shaped by international players. It's a great way to fulfill an HA, and it is a great introduction to Central Asia.  — Politics '13

An excellent class, in which you will learn a huge amount about Afghanistan, its history, and whatever else Professor Barry decides to draw upon from his vast experience and knowledge of the region. It was also fairly laid-back, with only two papers and no exams. — Woodrow Wilson School '12

If Prof. Graziano is teaching this course (or any other) it is worth taking regardless of what your academic interests are.  Graziano has an incredible lecturing style—he draws everything on the chalkboard, almost without any notes, and manages to turn each aspect of neuroscience into an entertaining story. — Woodrow Wilson School '12

Some people say this subject is dry, but I thought Professor Rigollet was hilarious. The workload isn't very bad at all, and there are a lot of practical applications to be learned here. — Operations Research and Financial Engineering '13

I took this class to fulfill the EM distribution requirement, thinking that it might be interesting to take a philosophy course, but I had no idea what a great class it would be.  The book that we read for the class was as thick and heavy as a brick and the readings are pretty deadly (philosophers aren't the best of writers), yet Professor Smith somehow managed to bring the readings alive and make them genuinely interesting during lectures.  I had Professor Smith for my precept, and I would strongly encourage others to try to do the same.  So long as you do the readings relatively thoroughly, you shouldn't find the course's work too overwhelming. — History '13

Professor Smith's lectures quickly transformed my attitude and misconceptions about philosophy into a genuine excitement for moral argument. In this course, we got to read some of the most famous works in moral philosophy: Hobbes, Kant, Hume, Rawls, Korsgaard, Singer. Professor Smith's organization and presentation of each philosopher's ideas were simply phenomenal. Each lecture was a well-planned and engaging adventure. What with his hilarious examples, music videos, personal anecdotes, and the occasional guest expert, each hour went by in a blink. Professor Smith would interpret and explain philosophical arguments in the clearest of terms, and always utilize class participation (yes, even in a class of hundreds!) to make sure he was connecting with us. He took even the most complicated texts and reconstructed them so we could follow each logical step. Fortunately, I've taken many good classes from good professors at Princeton. However, what made my experience in Intro to Moral Philosophy truly unforgettable is the personal connection that Professor Smith made with his students. -- Chemistry '12

The mathematics of this course is not very difficult, and Professor Page does an amazing job explaining the concepts. This is where the microscopic statistical mechanics starts to explain the macroscopic laws beautifully. When I took it it was a completely new topic for me, and it made me truly marvel at the beauty of physics for the first time! — Physics '12

I took this class to fulfill my EM distribution requirement, and it was a terrific introduction to political philosophy—we read Hobbes, Machiavelli, Locke, Arendt, Erasmus, and lots more. Lectures were enthusiastically delivered and formatted to give students good summaries and background knowledge to the reading. It's not a great deal of work—many people take it to fulfill distribution requirements as well—but there's definitely the potential to learn a lot about something interesting and different from anything I'd ever studied before. — History '11

Can nuclear proliferation be good? Is the U.S. a superpower in decline? Would the gold standard protect the world economy? If you've ever asked these questions, or if you're rolling your eyes at the cliched cheesiness of this pitch, you should still take International Relations (IR) regardless. IR covers not only political science, but history, economics and even game theory as well. It will almost definitely change the way you think about foreign policy and global affairs in general. Be prepared for lots of reading, but even more reward. — Molecular Biology '13

Amazing class—great for those who want to delve into Psychology but are wary of intro classes that have a lot of scope but not a lot of depth. Professor Lerman was a great lecturer, the subject matter is fascinating, the grading and workload is fair and there is some room for creativity with the papers. Made me decide to be a PSY major! — Psychology '13

I recommend this class because it is really the only class that integrates ethics/morality and political theory and covers 3 of the most important issues you will deal with as a politics major. Also, Professor Beitz is one of the best professors and lecturers I've had at Princeton and the readings were some of the best I've had as well. — Politics '12

Very good introduction to politics in Africa. The instructor has lots of experience on the continent and her anecdotal style of teaching makes for very interesting lectures.  — Woodrow Wilson School '11

Amazing class, and one that helped me decide I wanted to be a politics major and get a certificate in African Studies. The lectures are engaging, the course covers a wide variety of interesting issues, and while there is substantial reading, it's all very relevant and not too difficult. You don't need to have a background in Africa or politics to enjoy this class and learn a lot.  — Politics '13

Incredible lecturer, hugely engaging. — Architecture '11

This course got me really interested in international relations. It covered multiple important IR topics such as game theory, international trade and the democratic peace, but was taught at a pace that allowed you to digest the material thoroughly and develop insights of your own. Prof. Gowa is one of the most prominent scholars in the field of the democratic peace, so she really is the best instructor you can hope for on this topic. In addition, she is warm and helpful both in class and during office hours. Definitely consider taking this class (even if you haven’t taken any POL classes before) if you are at all interested in Politics/IR! — Woodrow Wilson School '13

This was my favorite class that I have taken in my time at Princeton.  I was a bit intimidated at first by the relatively high level of the course and the fact that only a few freshmen take it, but the subject sounded really interesting so I decided to give it a try anyway.  On the syllabus, there seems to be an overwhelming amount of reading (and there is quite a bit, to be sure), but it is all extremely interesting.  The work was not overwhelming (besides the reading, we had one long paper and one short paper) and should be enjoyable for those who find world history (and especially the history of warfare from the ancient Greeks to modern day) interesting.  The lectures were by far the best part of the class: Professor Bass was absolutely amazing, everything a lecturer aspires to be—fascinating, attention-grabbing, and funny—and he related well to the students in the class.  This course definitely sparked my interest in political science, and I may well go on with my studies in this general direction. — History '13

As far as language classes at Princeton go, this is as fun as it gets! If you speak Spanish or another Romance language, you can dive right into speaking another language and learning about another culture without getting bogged down with complicated grammar. The students who take this course tend to be very engaged, since they already have their language requirement out of the way and are mostly taking it for fun. As a result, the classes are very interactive and tight-knit. My favorite part of the course was the Brazilian music we'd listen to almost every day in class. Plus, Princeton has lots of opportunities for travel to Brazil, and speaking Portuguese definitely helps! — Linguistics '13

This is a super interesting class. I initially decided to take it because I needed an SA and it fit in my schedule, but I'm so glad I did. You learn about all the mental illnesses and abnormalities that people have, and some of the stories you hear are just fascinating.  Precepts are based around a discussion of a movie (from popular culture) that involves a disorder we went over in lecture. Litchman is a really good lecturer and has a great sense of humor.  — Computer Science (BSE) '12

This course was an incredibly fascinating way to learn about healthcare. It was a perfect combination of medicine and psychology and really helped me understand how these two fields work separately and together. Professor Taga is also a great professor who is friendly and loves to answer questions. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in health, whether you are a psychology major or not, because it really gives you a perspective that is necessary for going into healthcare. — Psychology '14

Fantastic course.  REL 222 is an intro course in the religion department, meaning that the material is accessible to non-majors (including those who may never have thought critically about religion/philosophy of religion before).  The course approaches religion obliquely, never focusing on any one major world religion but instead discussing the "philosophy" of religion in depth.  The weekly viewing sessions are extremely recommended—even though most films are available online, the online versions don't have the comments that Prof. Stout makes before each movie.  Those comments can really help in formulating topics for papers.  The workload is relatively light, and the two paper requirement is very manageable.  However, students should consult early and often with their preceptors on appropriate topics and get feedback on drafts.  Non-religion majors should also not feel cowed in precepts with religion majors—yes, religion majors may have more to say, but as long as you stay up with the films and readings, you too can make a good contribution to the conversation. — Mathematics '11

Professor Gregory is a beautiful and poetic speaker, the course material was fascinating and exciting to read, and the class opened my mind to the diversity within Christian thought. The question of reconciling Christian belief with liberalism is one I'm still grappling with as a liberal who, partly through this class, has come to identify as a Christian. Atheist or Hindu or evangelical, this class is incredibly thought-provoking and formative. — History '13

The professor is extremely animated; this may be one of the few lectures you actually look forward to attending every time. — Woodrow Wilson School '12

This course is great for everyone and is helpful in fulfilling an LA if you'd rather not have to take a literature course. Tim is a great professor who makes class fun and the setting of the classroom is unlike any other setting you will encounter at Princeton. It is very laid back and the people in the class are very supportive. Regardless of your acting experience you will be successful in this class. It focuses on the process more than the final result. So you could still end up being a bad actor, but if you become better throughout the semester and follow what is asked of you then you'll be successful in this course. If you've ever had an interest in acting then this course is the perfect place to start. Undecided on taking this course? I say go for it. You won't regret it. — Undeclared '13

This class was great because it was so different than the other courses I was taking. It is small and interactive and you really get to learn how to act. I am a true beginner and I feel so confident about my acting abilities after this class. The class has a lot of scene work, but overall the workload is definitely manageable.  Tracy is an amazing teacher and I had so much fun learning in this class. — Psychology '14

I can’t say enough about this course. Not only is performance studies itself a unique, fascinating, and flexible academic approach that can be applied to almost any field, Professors Dolan and Wolf make an outstanding team that brings the class into the upper echelon. They were accessible, engaged, and supportive. The students are encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, and to approach problems with the simple but surprisingly enlightening mantra that everything is performance. Our term projects were a blend of self-crafted performances and academic work, and for the first time, I felt like I was able to successfully address struggles and issues that I had faced in my own life in an analytical fashion. The course was immensely gratifying. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the power of academia, and it convinced me to pursue a theater certificate. At the end of the semester, all of the students felt closely bonded, unlike any other class I’ve taken. I recommend this class wholeheartedly to any student from any field of study that is willing to open-mindedly explore and experiment outside of his or her comfort zone. — Comparative Literature '13

Before I took this class I used to watch “movies,” afterwards I watched “films”... a big difference. P. Adams Sidney was one of the best instructors I have ever had, period. He was able to present the works of Bergman, Hitchcock, Scorsese and Spike Lee in a way that showed you the true meaning and intentions of the director. I learned how to interpret films actively rather than watching a blockbuster passively. 3 thumbs up! — Astrophysics '11

If you are interested in the Woodrow Wilson School or are just curious about ethics, I would absolutely recommend taking this course.  The beauty of this course is that it takes ethical dilemmas, many of which are argued theoretically, and attempts to apply them to the real world, which makes for an extremely thought-provoking and relevant course. — Woodrow Wilson School '12

I found this class really interesting because we examined American history through the lens of African Americans and public policy decisions that were made since the Declaration of Independence. The readings and lectures were interesting and the class opened my mind to many new ideas and perspectives. — Sociology '11

Professor Keohane is a living encyclopedia! This seminar is really challenging and explores in depth some of the most important areas of inquiry in international relations such as human rights, climate change, justice cascade, etc. It provides a great foundation for any future coursework in any of these areas and introduces students to great and important minds through scholarly papers and peer reviewed books. Prepare to spend more time in this course than in all your other courses combined, but also prepare to be blown away by Professor Keohane's critical analysis of theories and current issues alike. Hardest yet most rewarding class that I've taken at Princeton. Professor Keohane's seminar really taught me how to think critically as a scholar of international relations and how not to be afraid to ask questions and critique experts' arguments. — Woodrow Wilson School '14

This is a "must" for anyone interested in international relations and strategic thinking. Prof. Friedberg is one of the University's foremost thinkers on strategy, and this class is one of the few courses where you can talk about the role that strategic thinking plays in international relations. Looking at grand strategies throughout history, you learn a lot about the decisions that affect goals of nations, the decision-making process, geopolitics, and more. This course, though requiring A LOT of reading, will stretch your mind in new ways. This was by far my favorite class I have ever taken. — Politics '13