Princeton Engineering

The B.S.E. degree requires the completion of 36 courses over eight semesters. These include basic math, science, and computing requirements; the University writing seminar; humanities and social science electives; departmental core courses; departmental electives; departmental independent work or senior thesis; and free electives. In the B.S.E. degree program, independent work and senior theses count toward the total of 36 courses.

For information on departmental requirements and independent work, please see the undergraduate pages of the individual engineering department websites.

The six engineering departments share a common foundation of study in math, physics and chemistry.

This includes four semesters of mathematics, defined as:
Math 103, Calculus,
Math 104, Calculus,
Math 201, Multivariable Calculus, or Math 203, Advanced Multivariable Calculus, and
Math 202, Linear Algebra with Applications, or Math 204, Advanced Linear Algebra with Applications, or equivalent.

Information about placement in mathematics is available from the Department of Mathematics.

Two semesters of physics, defined as:
Physics 103, General Physics (mechanics), or Physics 105 Advanced Physics, and
Physics 104, General Physics (electricity and magnetism), or Physics 106, Advanced Physics, or equivalent.

Information about physics courses is available from the Department of Physics.

One semester of chemistry, defined as:
Chemistry 201 General Chemistry, or Chemistry 207, Advanced General Chemistry: Materials Chemistry, or equivalent.

Information about chemistry courses is available from the Department of Chemistry.

One semester of computing and programming, satisfied by:
Computer Science 126, General Computer Science

An alternative to Math 201 and Physics 103 is offered jointly by the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Departments of Physics and Mathematics. Known as Engineering/Math/Physics 191-192, this course integrates the presentation of multivariable calculus and general physics (mechanics). It is open to B.S.E. students qualified to place into multivariable calculus.

The above requirements can be satisfied with advanced placement credit. Information on advanced placement and its uses is available from the Office of the Dean of the College.

All Princeton undergraduates are required to take a writing seminar in either the fall or spring of freshman year to fulfill the University writing requirement. The writing requirement may not be fulfilled by advanced placement credit.

All students in the B.S.E. program must complete at least seven courses in the humanities and social sciences during their eight terms of study. Humanities and social science courses are defined as courses that fulfill the following University distribution areas: Epistemology and Cognition (EC); Ethical Thought and Moral Values (EM); Historical Analysis (HA); Literature and the Arts (LA); Social Analysis (SA).

Although there is no foreign language requirement for B.S.E. students, intermediate-level language courses (numbered 107 and 108 in the Romance languages, 105 and 107 in all others) and higher may also count towards the seven H/SS courses.

B.S.E. students must distribute four of their seven courses across the areas listed above (EC, EM, HA, LA, SA) or foreign language at the 107/108 level or higher. The remaining three or more courses may be chosen from any area.