Undergraduate Announcement, 2008-09
The information in this publication is primarily concerned with academic procedures, departmental programs, and course offerings of the University. Information about other important areas is available from various offices of the University, included in other publications distributed to students, available in the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students or the Office of Communications, or found on the Princeton University website.
Table of Contents
8 Academic Calendars
11 University Administrators
12 Undergraduate Information
13 The Undergraduate Program
15 Admission, Financial Aid, Fees
15 Admission
15 General Principles
15 Entrance Standards
15 Application Procedures
16 Transfer Admission
16 Undergraduate Financial Aid
16 Fees and Expenses
17 Special Fees
17 Payment of Fees and Charges
20 The Undergraduate Honor System
23 Constitution of the Honor System
28 Advising
28 Academic Advising
28 Residential College Advisers
28 Counseling and Psychological Services
29 International Students
29 Career Services
29 Advising for Major Fellowships
30 Preparation for Teaching
30 Preparation for Graduate Study
31 Preparation for Law School
31 Preparation for Business School
31 Preparation for Medical, Dental, and Veterinary School
33 Special Features of the Undergraduate Program
33 Structure of the Program of Study
33 Term-Time Instruction
34 Reading Periods
34 Final Examination Periods
34 Advanced Placement
35 Advanced Standing
36 Community-Based Learning Initiative
36 Early Departmental Concentration
36 Independent Concentration
36 Independent Work
37 Special Course Options
37 Auditing Courses
37 Graduate Courses
37 Study Abroad Program
38 Other Off-Campus Study Opportunities
38 Field Study
38 Rutgers/Princeton Theological Seminary/Westminster Choir College
38 Full-Time Study at Other Colleges and Universities
39 Individual Courses at Other Schools
39 University Scholar Program
40 Graduation and Honors
41 Academic Regulations
41 Registration
41 Selection of a Program of Studies
41 Selecting Courses
41 Normal Course Load
42 Minimum Course Load
42 Minimum Progress Required for Advancement
42 Selection of a Department
43 The Rule of 12
43 Course and Independent Work Requirements for Graduation
44 Dropping and Adding Courses
44 Failed Courses
44 Course Deficiencies
44 Grading
44 General Principles
45 Grading Symbols
45 Pass/D/Fail Option
46 Completion of Academic Work
46 Attendance
47 Tests
47 Term Papers and Projects
47 Final Exams
48 Independent Work
49 Academic Standing
49 Academic Probation and Academic Warning
50 Required Withdrawal
51 Failure to Qualify for Graduation
51 Rights of Rehearing and Appeals
51 Leave of Absence
51 Voluntary Withdrawal
52 Readmission after Time Away
52 Learning Disabilities and Requests for Reasonable Accommodations
53 Other Academic Resources
53 University Library
53 Art Museum
54 Office of Information Technology
55 Survey Research Center
56 General Education Requirements
56 Writing
57 Foreign Language
57 Distribution Areas
61 Program of Study for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (also pages 64–454)
61 General Principles
61 Freshman and Sophomore Years
61 Junior and Senior Years
63 Program of Study for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering (also pages 455–523)
64 African American Studies, Center for
70 African Studies, Program in
75 American Studies, Program in
78 Anthropology, Department of
84 Applications of Computing, Program in
86 Applied and Computational Mathematics, Program in
91 Architecture, School of
99 Art and Archaeology, Department of
113 Astrophysical Sciences, Department of
116 Biophysics, Program in
119 Chemistry, Department of
126 Classics, Department of
139 Comparative Literature, Department of
148 Computer Science, Department of
155 Creative Writing, Program in
158 East Asian Studies, Department of
169 East Asian Studies, Program in
171 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of
179 Economics, Department of
189 English, Department of
200 Environmental Studies, Program in
204 European Cultural Studies, Program in
206 European Politics and Society, Program in Contemporary
209 Film Studies, Committee for
211 Finance, Program in
215 French and Italian, Department of
228 Freshman Seminars in the Residential Colleges, Program of
229 Geosciences, Department of
237 German, Department of
246 Global Health and Health Policy, Program in
250 Hellenic Studies, Program in
256 History, Department of
270 Human Values, University Center for
273 Humanistic Studies, Program in
276 Judaic Studies, Program in
280 Language and Culture, Program in
282 Latin American Studies, Program in
286 Lewis Center for the Arts
289 Linguistics, Program in
292 Materials Science and Engineering, Program in
296 Mathematics, Department of
304 Medieval Studies, Program in
307 Molecular Biology, Department of
316 Music, Department of
323 Musical Performance, Program in
324 Near Eastern Studies, Department of
334 Near Eastern Studies, Program in
336 Neuroscience, Program in
339 Philosophy, Department of
346 Physics, Department of
352 Politics, Department of
363 Psychology, Department of
370 Quantitative and Computational Biology, Program in
374 Religion, Department of
382 Religion, Center for the Study of
387 Renaissance Studies, Committee for
390 Russian and Eurasian Studies, Program in
392 Slavic Languages and Literatures, Department of
398 Sociology, Department of
405 South Asian Studies, Program in
408 Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures, Department of
419 Statistical Studies, Committee for
421 Teacher Preparation, Program in
424 Theater and Dance, Program in
430 Translation and Intercultural Communication, Program in
433 Urban Studies, Program in
436 Visual Arts, Program in
442 Women and Gender, Program in the Study of
445 Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
453 Writing Program, Princeton
455 Program of Study for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering
456 Engineering and Applied Science, School of
460 Chemical Engineering, Department of
468 Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
477 Computer Science, Department of
484 Electrical Engineering, Department of
493 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Department of
503 Operations Research and Financial Engineering, Department of
509 Architecture and Engineering, Program in
510 Engineering and Management Systems, Program in
512 Engineering Biology, Program in
514 Engineering Physics, Program in
516 Geological Engineering, Program in
517 Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Program in
520 Sustainable Energy, Program in
524 Councils and Institutes
524 Council of the Humanities
527 Council on Science and Technology
531 Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
532 Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS)
533 Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM)
534 Special Opportunities and Facilities
534 University Chapel
534 Kathryn W. and Shelby Cullom Davis ’30 International Center
535 Center for Jewish Life
535 Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding
535 Women’s Center
536 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center
536 McCarter Theatre Center
536 Musical Activities
539 Friends of Music at Princeton
539 Princeton University Concerts
539 Program in Continuing Education
540 United States Armed Services ROTC Programs
541 The American Whig-Cliosophic Society
542 Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation
543 Civic Engagement and Public Service
544 Healthier Princeton
Nondiscrimination Statement. In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal, state, and local laws, Princeton University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran in any phase of its employment process, in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. The vice provost for institutional equity and diversity is the individual designated by the University to coordinate its efforts to comply with Title IX, Section 504 and other equal opportunity and affirmative action regulations and laws. Questions or concerns regarding Title IX, Section 504 or other aspects of Princeton’s equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Princeton University, 321 Nassau Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544 or (609) 258-6110.
Notice. Plans of study, course descriptions, mastheads, and assignments of lecturers apply to the academic year 2008–09 to the best of our knowledge as of June 1, 2008. The University reserves the right to change programs of study, academic requirements, assignment of lecturers, teaching staffs, or the announced academic calendar without prior notice, in accordance with established procedures.
Accreditation. Princeton University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Requests to review documentation supporting this accreditation should be directed to the dean of the college. In addition, the School of Architecture is accredited by the National Architecture Accreditation Board. Of the programs of study offered by the departments of chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and operations research and financial engineering of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the following are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700: aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Supporting documentation may be reviewed by contacting the deans of these schools.