PrincetonUniversity
Class of 2004 Sophomore Academic Handbook

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Special Options

Early Concentration

Those students who are reasonably clear about their academic direction and want to engage in departmental independent work during the sophomore year can generally do so through "early concentration." Early concentrators take four courses and engage in independent work in the spring of the sophomore year. Participation in early concentration will not bind you to a department, and you are free as a junior to enter any other department for which you are qualified. Consult your residential college dean or director of studies for more information.

Independent Concentration

Sometimes students have either broad interdisciplinary interests or interests that cannot be incorporated into an existing department. If you have a clear idea of the area you want to pursue but are unable to find the appropriate departmental "home" for your study, you should investigate the Independent Concentration Program.

An independent concentrator designs his or her own major with the help of at least two Princeton faculty members. Areas of concentration
in the program vary widely. Some bridge two or more departmentspsychology and religion, history and philosophy, molecular biology and psychology, to name a few examples. Others are in areas that are recognized as disciplines but are not departments or programs at Princeton, such as the ancient world, bioethics, statistics, and urban studies. All requirements for graduation, such as the distribution, language, and writing requirements and the number of departmentals, are the same as those for conventional majors.

If you are interested in the independent concentration option, you should begin to formulate your proposal early in the spring of your sophomore year. The application includes a clear statement of purpose, a list of relevant courses, areas for junior and senior independent work, and letters of support from two or more faculty advisers. You should also be prepared to explain why you cannot pursue your study through a traditional major. The proposal is submitted to the Committee on Examinations and Standing for approval.

For more information, contact Dean Hank Dobin, 403 West College, 8-3040.

Interdepartmental Programs

Most students can satisfy interdisciplinary interests by combining departmental work with one of several interdepartmental programs. Such programs allow you to combine different but related disciplines in course work and in at least part of your independent work. Many, but not all, interdepartmental programs are organized around area studies (for example, African, East Asian, European, Latin American, Near Eastern, and Russian studies). Others, such as visual arts, creative writing, and theater and dance, are closely associated with departments that permit courses in an interdepartmental program to count toward departmental credits.

All interdepartmental programs grant certificates at graduation. Every program has a director who is available to answer your questions. For descriptions of individual interdepartmental programs and a list of program directors, see the next sections of this handbook.

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