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PrincetonUniversity |
School of Engineering and Applied ScienceThe diversity of opportunities offered by undergraduate study in the School of Engineering and Applied Science attracts students with an interest and aptitude in mathematics and the fundamental sciences who wish to develop rigorous powers of analysis, whether for engineering and applied science careers in industry, teaching, or research, or for such varied fields as business, law, or medicine. The school's curricula are flexible; indeed, there are many routes to the B.S.E. degree, and each student may design a course of study that meets his or her individual interests, needs, and aspirations. The practice of engineering can have powerful appeal to those who want to apply science to the solution of many critical problems confronting our industrialized society. The complex interdependence of technological, environmental, and sociological factors requires that problems be addressed by those who have been broadly educated. For this reason, engineers must consider the economic, environmental, political, and social implications of their work in technology. Undergraduates in engineering have ample flexibility to develop a broad educational base, and we encourage our students to explore the many fascinating courses offered through the A.B. departments. Engineering disciplines continue to evolve with time, so much of the teaching of engineering and applied science at Princeton is directed toward mastering the fundamentals, that is, the "why" rather than the "how to." Rigorous analysis is emphasized. We make sure that our engineering graduates have the fundamental tools and methodology necessary to pursue a wide variety of specific professions, not just the narrow applications of a particular skill. A sound command of general principles will enable the new engineer to assimilate the design process quickly. This kind of background allows graduates of the engineering school to contribute to the development of unforeseen technologies or to pursue other careers that will benefit from the technical expertise and analytical skills developed as an engineer. Six academic departments offer curricula in engineering fields. In the Department of Chemical Engineering, fundamental training in chemistry, math, kinetics, and transport processes prepares students for the study of fields such as biotechnology, materials science, and reaction engineering. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers five programs of study: architecture and engineering, environmental engineering, geological engineering, structural engineering, and materials science. The curriculum in the Department of Computer Science covers software systems, algorithms, and complexity, machine and network architecture, computer graphics and multimedia, scientific computing, and other core areas of computer science. The Department of Electrical Engineering covers a wide spectrum of interests from circuits and devices to solid state physics, optics, signal processing, communication theory, and computer hardware and algorithms. The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers programs in mechanical engineering (the study of machines, their motion, power sources and efficiency) and aerospace engineering (the transportation of vehicles in air and space.) The Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering combines emerging information technologies with powerful mathematical tools to study problems that arise in the management of complex systems. The B.S.E. degree programs in aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, engineering physics, and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The rigorous engineering and applied science curriculum provides a base from which students can extend their knowledge. The programs in applications of computing, applied and computational mathematics, architecture and engineering, engineering biology, engineering and management systems, engineering physics, geological engineering, materials science and engineering, and robotics and intelligent systems offer engineering students special opportunities to draw together courses and independent work from several departments. In addition, engineering students may pursue any of the other certificate programs offered at Princeton, such as language and culture, environmental studies, and teacher preparation. Each year, several engineering students complete the certificate program offered by the Woodrow Wilson School. Finally, a growing number of engineering students participate in the Study Abroad Program.
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