Overview

Many Princeton students find their sophomore year to be one of the most challenging of their undergraduate career. If the first year is a time for exploration and discovery, the sophomore year is a time for reflection, consolidation, and decision making. It is a pivotal moment because it is the year in which you choose an area of concentration or major, after which your undergraduate program will take on a new kind of focus.

For many students, the best way to continue to sort out academic options and career goals is simply to talk about them, not only to advisers and faculty members, but also to friends and family. Many of your specific questions can be answered by consulting the Undergraduate Announcement or the brochures and information sheets you can pick up in departmental offices. We hope this handbook, designed specially for sophomores, will provide you with general advice and give you some insights into the departments and programs available to you.

Getting Started

Your Sophomore Adviser

Selecting Courses

Choosing a Major

Advice for Premedical Students on Choosing a Major

Special Options

Early Concentration

Independent Concentration

Interdepartmental Certificate Programs

Department and Program Descriptions

Program in African Studies

Program in African-American Studies

Program in American Studies

Department of Anthropology

Program in Applications of Computing

Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics

School of Architecture

Department of Art and Archaeology

Department of Astrophysical Sciences

Program in Biophysics

Department of Chemistry

Department of Classics

Department of Comparative Literature

Department of Computer Science

University Center for the Creative and Performing Arts

Program in Creative Writing

Department of East Asian Studies and Program in East Asian Studies

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Department of Economics

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Department of English

Program in Environmental Studies

Program in European Cultural Studies

Program in Contemporary European Politics and Society

Program in Finance

Department of French and Italian

Department of Geosciences

Department of German

Program in Hellenic Studies

Department of History

Program in Judaic Studies

Program in Language and Culture

Program in Latin American Studies

Program in Linguistics

Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Department of Mathematics

Program in Medieval Studies

Department of Molecular Biology

Department of Music and Program in Musical Performance

Department of Near Eastern Studies and Program in Near Eastern Studies

Program in Neuroscience

Department of Philosophy

Department of Physics

Department of Politics

Department of Psychology

Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology

Department of Religion

Program in Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Program in Russian and Eurasian Studies

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Department of Sociology

Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures

Program in Teacher Preparation

Program in Theater and Dance

Program in Urban Studies

Program in Visual Arts

Program in the Study of Women and Gender

Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs

Academic Opportunities of Interest to Sophomores

Field Study

Study Abroad

University Scholar

Advising Directory

Centrally Located Advising Services

Preprofessional Advisers

Departmental Representatives and Program Directors

Resources for Academic Support

 

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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.

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Published by the Office of the Dean of the College. Coordinated by the Office of Communications.

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