Study at the university town of Princeton

Updated on: Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, it moved to Princeton in 1756. In 1896, its expanded programme offerings fetched it the university status. It was then renamed Princeton University. In 1900, the Graduate School was established. Princeton is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. It is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning. It has a tradition of serving as a stimulating haven for study and research for scholars from all parts of the world.

Princeton's location, with its identity as a university town, has attracted a number of major corporations that have located primary research or corporate offices in the area.

The AT&T Research Laboratory, Siemens, Sarnoff, Bristol-Myers Squibb, NEC, the Gallup Organization, and Educational Testing Service are a few of them. This adds to the facilities for study and research in cooperation with industries. As you could imagine, the proximity of scholars, writers, artists, scientists, and business professionals promotes a diverse intellectual climate.

There are nearly 1,100 members of the faculty, 5,000 undergraduate students, and 2,500 graduate students. The university's generous financial aid programme is of immense help to talented students.

Princeton proudly claims that it is the first university to replace loans with grants in aid packages. About 58 per cent of the undergraduate students get financial aid. About 98 per cent of undergraduate students live on the campus. Students from nearly 100 countries are on the rolls.

Princeton has produced 32 Nobel laureates including Woodrow Wilson, Eugene O'Neill, Richard P Feynman, Toni Morrison, and Paul Krugman.

The main schools within the university are the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Undergraduate programmes

Undergraduates have the liberty to choose from a wide variety of elective courses, various departments, and interdisciplinary certificate programmes.

There are 34 academic departments that grant both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Obligatory independent work is a hallmark of undergraduate education at Princeton. Students graduate with either the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.).

Look at some of the areas of study: applications of computing, applied and computational mathematics, architecture and engineering, biophysics, creative writing, engineering and management systems, engineering physics, finance, geological engineering, global health and health policy, linguistics, materials science and engineering, neuroscience, quantitative and computational biology, robotics and intelligent systems, South Asian studies, sustainable energy.

A.B. programme

In their first two years, students explore areas of academic interest completing prerequisites for possible areas of concentration.

In the spring of the sophomore year, students select a concentration from among 29 academic departments. In addition to this, students may earn certificates of proficiency in one or more of 42 certificate programmes such as applied and computational mathematics, creative writing, American studies, and teacher preparation.

B.S.E. programme

The School of Engineering and Applied Science, which grants the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, offers versatile programmes.

Engineering students take courses in computing, mathematics, and the physical sciences, and fulfil general education requirements in the humanities and social sciences.

In the spring of the freshman year, students select a concentration in one of the six departments.

During their junior and senior years, B.S.E. students take advanced courses in their field of concentration and carry out independent research projects.

They are encouraged to pursue multidisciplinary study. Residential college deans and directors of studies provide guidance and support for students throughout their undergraduate careers.

Master's degrees

The professional Master's degrees awarded include Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), Master in Finance (M.Fin.), Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.), Master of Science in Chemistry (M.S.), Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.), Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) and Master in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning (M.P.A.-U.R.P.). Also, there are facilities for Joint degree programs in partnership with certain professional schools.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) is available as a final degree only in Near Eastern studies. In all other fields of study, MA is awarded as an incidental degree for Ph.D. candidates. Each department sets its own requirements for the award of the M.A.

Ph.D.

The doctoral programmes available in all departments emphasise original and independent scholarship. Ph.D. is the highest degree offered by the University. There are interdepartmental research programs as well for the award the Ph.D.

You may visit the web site www.princeton.edu for comprehensive information on all aspects including the departmental offerings, admission procedures and application deadlines.

The requirements of admission by both the Graduate School and the academic departments have been listed.

Mailing Address: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

You can apply for admission to the Princeton University Graduate School through the electronic application format.

Study at the university town of Princeton

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