A Guide to the First Year in the B.S.E. Program

A Guide to the First Year

in the B.S.E. Program

Fall 2022

Note: This guide is not a substitute for face-to-face advising. Students should meet with their

academic advisor AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY to discuss their goals, concerns, coursework, and progress

in the B.S.E. program.

You are required to meet with your adviser at the start of the fall term and when choosing courses for

the spring term, and you are strongly encouraged to meet with your adviser at the start of the spring

term to assess your experience in the fall term and discuss your possible choices of majors.

Instead, this handbook complements the advice from your adviser and other members of your advising

team to provide context and to fill in gaps, as well as to provide useful tips for academic success.

Disclaimer: In the event of unintentional discrepancy, the information in this handbook is superseded

by Princeton University documents-of-record such as the Undergraduate Announcement and by the

official guides and webpages of the six engineering departments.

Please send all suggestions for improving this handbook to the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office,

BSEprogram@princeton.edu

Contents

1. Engineering at Princeton ....................................................................................................................... 5

What is Engineering? ................................................................................................................................ 5

Studying Engineering at Princeton ............................................................................................................ 5

How the B.S.E. Program is Structured....................................................................................................... 5

What do B.S.E. Students Do Over the Summers? ..................................................................................... 6

What do B.S.E. Students Do After Graduation? ........................................................................................ 6

2. Basic Information to Get Started .......................................................................................................... 7

Important Terms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 7

Communication ......................................................................................................................................... 7

Accreditation and Licensure ..................................................................................................................... 9

The Unknown Unknowns (or, Questions You Should Ask in the First Year) ........................................... 10

3. B.S.E. First-Year Advising ......................................................................................................................... 11

Who is My Faculty Adviser? .................................................................................................................... 11

Role of the Adviser .................................................................................................................................. 11

What to Expect from Your Adviser ......................................................................................................... 11

Advising Meetings ................................................................................................................................... 12

Preparing for Meeting with Your Adviser ............................................................................................... 12

Engineering Interactors ........................................................................................................................... 12

Other Sources of Authoritative Advice ................................................................................................... 13

4. Choosing Fall Term Courses ................................................................................................................ 14

Procedures .............................................................................................................................................. 14

Advanced Placement .............................................................................................................................. 14

Program of Study .................................................................................................................................... 15

The First Two Weeks of Classes .............................................................................................................. 21

Advanced Standing ................................................................................................................................. 21

5. Succeeding in Your Courses ................................................................................................................ 22

What to Expect in Your Classes ............................................................................................................... 22

Outside the Classroom ............................................................................................................................ 22

Academic Support and Tutoring ............................................................................................................. 25

Academic Integrity .................................................................................................................................. 25

6. Choosing Courses for Spring Term ...................................................................................................... 26

Courseload .............................................................................................................................................. 26

Math ........................................................................................................................................................ 26

Physics ..................................................................................................................................................... 26

Chemistry ................................................................................................................................................ 26

Computer Science ................................................................................................................................... 26

Writing Seminar ...................................................................................................................................... 27

Humanities and Social Sciences .............................................................................................................. 27

Other Considerations .............................................................................................................................. 27

Starting to Think about a Major .............................................................................................................. 27

Summer Courses ..................................................................................................................................... 27

7. Choosing a Major ................................................................................................................................ 28

Sources of Information ........................................................................................................................... 28

Major Maps ............................................................................................................................................. 29

Certificate programs and interdisciplinary work .................................................................................... 33

Changing majors ..................................................................................................................................... 33

Planning for Studying Abroad ................................................................................................................. 33

8. Useful Contacts ................................................................................................................................... 34

SEAS Directors of Undergraduate Studies .............................................................................................. 34

Certificate Program Directors ................................................................................................................. 34

Other Important Offices and People ...................................................................................................... 36

9. How do I …?......................................................................................................................................... 38

1. Engineering at Princeton

Now that you have arrived at Princeton as a candidate for the B.S.E. degree, or have transferred into the

B.S.E. program in your first year, it might be helpful to know what you have signed up to study.

What is Engineering?

There are many definitions of “engineering” but the broadest is that engineering seeks to apply the

principles of math, science, and other relevant disciplines to the solution of the challenges that face

humanity. These solutions may take the form of structures, machines, processes, or networks, or they

could also be computer applications or the optimization of complex systems. “Design” is a word that

separates engineering from the sciences: engineers design things using the tools of math and science,

within the methods that define each engineering discipline.

Studying Engineering at Princeton

At Princeton, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree offers a rigorous education in the principles

of engineering science and math combined with a strong component of the liberal arts. The B.S.E.

degree is offered in six departments: Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), Civil and Environmental

Engineering (CEE), Computer Science (COS), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical and

Aerospace Engineering (MAE), and Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE). The

Computer Science department also offers the A.B. degree. Every student has a single major, but they

are also able to pursue one or more certificate programs, not necessarily connected with engineering.

How the B.S.E. Program is Structured

It is true that the B.S.E. program has more sequential structure and prescribed courses than the A.B.

degree program. This does not mean that it is inflexible, however. Although there are required first-

year courses and departmental core courses, there is considerable room for electives within your major

and outside of engineering requirements. Although each student experiences the program of study in

different ways, the four years follow a clear pattern to provide a vertically-integrated academic

experience. B.S.E. students are able to take more than the minimum of humanities and social science

courses, pursue certificate programs, and study abroad.

The First Year

The first year of the B.S.E. program is common to all six engineering departments. It consists of two

terms of physics, two terms of math, a term of chemistry (or two, if interested in CBE), a term of

computer science, a writing seminar, and humanities and social science electives. During their first

year, B.S.E. students take advantage of opportunities to learn about the different departments so that

they can make an informed choice of major at the end of the spring term.

Sophomore Year

In the sophomore year, students take the foundational courses in their chosen department (usually one

or two per semester) that teach the principles of engineering science, as well as finishing any remaining

math requirements, and taking more humanities and social science electives. Sophomore year is a good

time to think about special tracks in your department, certificate programs, studying abroad, and other

academic opportunities in the junior and senior year.

Junior Year

During the junior year, students take departmental courses, both core requirements and electives. In

most B.S.E. majors, there is a course in design and opportunities for junior independent work. Students

also continue taking humanities and social science electives or pursue certificate programs. Study

Abroad opportunities are available in all engineering disciplines, although departmental requirements

may dictate in which semester it is possible to go away.

Senior Year

In senior year, B.S.E. students take advanced departmental courses and do independent work.

Depending on your department, independent work may take the form of a one-semester exercise but

most commonly it is done as a two-semester thesis or project. You will carry out whatever research,

design, fabrication, prototyping, simulations, statistical analyses, programming, or modeling is necessary

to address your topic and contribute to knowledge. You should also take advantage of your final

opportunity to take humanities and social science courses at Princeton.

What do B.S.E. Students Do Over the Summers?

Summers are the time to obtain experience and to earn some money. Ideally you will learn something

about your interests and about yourself. Do not feel that your summers all have to be devoted to

engineering in some form. Many students pursue multiple activities, including research, employment

in industry, summer courses, and travel (not at the same time, of course). After the first year, you may

find that companies are not yet eager to hire you, although you should explore possibilities nonetheless.

After sophomore year, they start getting more interested, and after junior year, they will be much more

interested, for they hope that you will consider working for them after graduation. If you are attracted

to research, obtaining some experience is important. You also need time to relax and recharge, so make

sure you include that in your summer plans.

What do B.S.E. Students Do After Graduation?

B.S.E. grads head in many directions. About 20% like what they see their professors do, engineering as

a research science, which involves going to graduate school and getting a Ph.D. Another large group

will practice engineering by going to work for a company that makes a product or provides a service.

Others use their engineering education as a basis for careers in finance and consulting. Grads pursue

many other paths. Some start a company. Others play professional sports. Theater, music, and film-

making have all been career paths. Medical school and law school attract some B.S.E. students, as well

as military service. Princeton engineering graduates have even become priests, ministers, and rabbis.

2. Basic Information to Get Started

Important Terms and Abbreviations

SEAS School of Engineering and Applied Science, founded in 1921, comprised of six

departments, pronounced “seas”

B.S.E. Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree

A.B. Bachelor of Arts degree

CBE Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

CEE Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

COS or CS Department of Computer Science, pronounced “kos”

ECE Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (formerly ELE or EE)

MAE Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

ORFE or ORF Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering, pronounced “orf-ee”

ChemE Chemical Engineering, old name of CBE, although still sometimes used conversationally

E-Quad The Engineering Quadrangle (1962), home to CEE, CBE, ECE, MAE, Keller Center, and

deans

CS Building The Computer Science Building (1989), home to Computer Science, of course

Friend The Friend Center for Engineering Education (2001)

Sherrerd Sherrerd Hall (2008), home of ORFE and the Center for Information Technology Policy

ACEE Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment (2015), corner of Olden and Prospect

ABET ABET, Inc., accreditors of engineering programs of study (see below; pronounced “A-

bet”)

FC Friend Center room number prefix (e.g. FC 113, also known as the Convocation Room)

A-B-C-D-E-F When it appears before a room number, the letter refers to the wing of the E-Quad; in

general, the letters map to departments as follows: A – CBE; B – ECE; C – Dean’s Office,

and other shared facilities; D – MAE; E – CEE; the new Robotics Lab is the F-wing; you

will discover where the G and H Wings are in the fullness of time.)

Communication

E-mail is the standard form of communication to and from University offices. It is your responsibility to

check your Princeton e-mail daily and respond to messages that request a response. Don’t expect an

instantaneous response from professors, since they have many competing demands on their time, but

they should respond at the earliest possible moment. If you do not hear back within a reasonable

period of time, say 48-72 hours, you should feel free to send a polite follow-up e-mail. Please note

that most faculty and staff do not check e-mail on weekends and holidays as often as on workdays.

A few hints:

• Always include a subject line that says what you are writing about. “Advice needed” is not

helpful, but “Advice needed about Physics 103” says that it is important and probably

urgent.

• E-mail etiquette makes a good impression. Err on the side of formality in address. Most

faculty members hold the title of Professor, and even if they don’t have that title officially,

there is nothing wrong with using it anyway. You can’t go wrong with “Dear Professor (last

name)” or “Dear Dean (last name)” to start an e-mail. If it feels right, you can say “Hello,

Professor” or even “Hi, Professor”.

• Never write “Hey, Professor” or just “Hey” to start a message. For some reason, “Hi”

doesn’t annoy faculty members and deans the way that “Hey” does.

• Don’t use first names to address faculty unless given a clear signal that it is OK, even if that

was permissible at your high school.

• Keep e-mail short and direct. Any message longer than five sentences or so is really

something you should be discussing in person. If the recipient needs more information,

that can be supplied in a follow-up message.

• Write in full sentences, with proper punctuation and capitalization, without text-message

abbreviations.

The telephone is still a useful means of communication, and some faculty members prefer it to e-mail.

Always leave a voice mail with your name, phone number, and/or e-mail. Don’t just hang up!

You can find the e-mail of faculty members and deans by searching their name on the Princeton

University website by clicking on the search icon in the upper right of the homepage.

Faculty members and deans generally do not live in the world of Instagram, Snapchat, Discord or other

social media unless they let you know otherwise.

The SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office routinely broadcasts e-mail with important information and

upcoming events. Please do not discard this e-mail without first taking at least a cursory look at it, and

in most cases reading it. It is always relevant to some portion of the student population. Please do not

try to send a message to these lists yourself since you will just get an error message. Dean Bogucki is

open to requests to forward information on behalf of student activities and organizations, and he will

broadcast an e-mail with the policies on this early in the fall term.

Accreditation and Licensure

Engineering programs of study are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET,

https://www.abet.org

. Engineering programs of study are the criteria under which the curriculum,

faculty, and other elements of instruction are evaluated, and may not match the titles of Princeton

departments. Accredited programs of study are offered in the following areas:

• Civil Engineering: programs of study offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental

Engineering except for the Engineering and Liberal Arts track and the “architecture focus”

option under the Architecture and Engineering track; if in doubt, consult the director of

undergraduate studies;

• Chemical Engineering: the full undergraduate program of the Department of Chemical and

Biological Engineering;

• Electrical Engineering: the full undergraduate program of the Department of Electrical and

Computer Engineering;

• Aerospace Engineering: offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering;

• Mechanical Engineering: offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

The Department of Computer Science, as is the case with Computer Science departments at many of our

peer institutions, chooses not to pursue ABET accreditation. ABET accreditation criteria do not exist for

Operations Research and Financial Engineering as it is offered at Princeton. Degrees from both these

departments are of course accredited under the University’s overall accreditation by the Middle States

Commission on Higher Education.

Depending on the career they pursue, some B.S.E. graduates eventually seek professional licensure

granted by state (U.S.), provincial (Canada), or national (rest of world) boards. After taking a series of

exams and working for several years, licensed engineers are awarded the title of P.E. (“professional

engineer”) which certifies their competency in engineering practice. Professional licensure is mainly

relevant to graduates of Civil and Environmental Engineering, although graduates from CBE, MAE, and

ECE will occasionally seek it as well. At this early stage in your undergraduate career, licensure should

not be a major concern except to know that this process exists and that graduation from an ABET-

accredited program is necessary.

The Unknown Unknowns (or, Questions You Should Ask in the First Year)

Some B.S.E. students have told us that they wish they had asked more questions earlier in their first

year. One said, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” In order to try to address this, here are some

questions that you should think about and discuss with your advisers, friends, assistant deans in the

colleges, and other helpful people.

• What appeals to me about studying engineering?

• What does majoring in engineering involve?

• How is engineering different from the sciences?

• What sort of engineering do I want to pursue as an undergraduate major?

• What kinds of courses do I take after the first year?

• How do I find out more so I can choose a department wisely?

• What else would I like to study at Princeton?

• Am I eligible for Advanced Standing? Should I be interested in it?

• Are there certificate programs that might interest me?

• Can I play a sport and be an engineering student? (Yes!)

• Do I want to study abroad? Where?

• Am I interested in medicine as a career? In law? In music?

• What would I like to do next summer? Where?

• How do I make connections with other engineering students?

• How can I get involved with engineering student organizations?

• What do engineering students do after they graduate?

This is not an exhaustive list of the questions that should be on your mind, but it is a start. You will find

that the information in this handbook will be helpful in framing answers to them, but they will also

require reflection and consultation on your part.

3. B.S.E. First-Year Advising

Central to the academic experience of B.S.E. first-year students is your faculty adviser. This section will

explain how advising works during the time between when you begin the fall semester and when you

choose an engineering department in the second half of the spring semester.

Who is My Faculty Adviser?

Your adviser is a member of the faculty in one of the six engineering departments. Faculty members

teach several courses a year, advise independent work and senior theses, and do cutting-edge research

in a field of engineering. Your adviser is a fellow of your residential college. Based on information

you have provided, we try to assign you to an adviser with similar interests, although this is not always

possible. Since the B.S.E. first-year program of study is common to all six engineering departments,

whether or not your adviser is in the department in which you eventually intend to concentrate should

not be a problem. You are always welcome to seek specific departmental advice from the director of

undergraduate studies and other faculty members in areas that interest you.

After spring break, you will part ways with your first-year adviser and meet with an adviser in the

department in which you choose to major. Information about this process will be sent immediately

after spring break.

Role of the Adviser

The primary role of the B.S.E. faculty adviser is to advise you on your choice of courses during the first

two semesters and to help you think about your academic goals and direction. Consider your adviser

to be your guide in getting off to a good start in the B.S.E. program. We hope that you develop a

cordial working relationship with your adviser and feel comfortable asking candid questions about your

program of study and how to succeed in your academic pursuits.

A few notes of caution, however: You are ultimately responsible for making choices about courses,

based on degree requirements and your preparation. Although B.S.E. advisers have considerable

experience, they do not possess encyclopedic knowledge of the entire Princeton curriculum. For that

reason, you should seek additional advice from other knowledgeable sources if you find that you have

reached the limit of what your adviser can tell you.

What to Expect from Your Adviser

The advising relationship is a collaborative effort between you and your adviser. In order to accomplish

this, you can expect the following from your adviser:

• A wise perspective on programs of study and long-term plans;

• Respect for different levels of academic preparation and interest;

• Knowledge of B.S.E. first-year curriculum and requirements; working knowledge of

placement criteria; knowledge of other sources of authoritative information;

• Availability during regular posted office hours, additional office hours during key

enrollment periods, and timely e-mail response to questions;

• Familiarity with the academic support services and resources on campus and

knowledge of where to direct an advisee for more information;

• Willingness to be asked for a letter of recommendation for a summer job or research

opportunity and enough knowledge of the advisee to write a letter appropriately

reflecting an advising association;

• Maintenance of confidentiality about the advising relationship.

Your adviser should take a sincere personal interest in your academic goals and aspirations and should

listen to your concerns to refer you to other sources of advice and help. You should help your adviser

get to know you by staying in touch and coming prepared to meetings.

Advising Meetings

You are required to meet with your adviser at least twice, although we hope that you get together more

than that. Before classes start, you will meet with your adviser to select courses for the fall term.

During November-December, you will have another meeting with your adviser that is scheduled at your

mutual convenience to choose courses for the spring term. Outside these mandatory meetings, you

should feel free to contact your adviser whenever you have a question or concern. While advisers are

encouraged to reach out to their advisees, you should also take the initiative to contact your adviser.

It is generally best to send an e-mail with a clear subject line, and if you don’t receive a timely response,

you should write again to arrange a time to meet.

Preparing for Meeting with Your Adviser

If you are meeting with your adviser to discuss courses, please think about your program of study in

advance of your advising appointment and prepare a couple of tentative programs of study based on

the B.S.E. requirements and the various options you have for electives.

Your principal source of information on courses will be the webpage known as Course Offerings, which is

linked from TigerHub, at https://registrar.princeton.edu/course-offerings

. In TigerHub, you can

compose tentative programs of study using Course Planner. Several student-developed schedule-

building apps also exist, and your Interactor or Residential College Adviser can direct you to them.

Come prepared with a list of other questions that you have about your studies at Princeton. Your

adviser can answer them or may refer you to someone who can.

Engineering Interactors

Working with each B.S.E. faculty adviser are one or more juniors and seniors known as Interactors.

You will meet them during Orientation. The role of the Interactor is to provide an opportunity for first-

year students to meet B.S.E. juniors and seniors throughout the year and to provide a connection to the

community of students, staff, and faculty that make up the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Interactors can provide their perspectives in the engineering experience and guidance on how to

manage challenging course loads, balance academics and extracurriculars, and find academic support.

Please regard your Interactors as a valuable resource as you think about your intended department.

Remember, that even if they are not majoring in the department you’re thinking about, they certainly

have friends who are and can direct you to them.

Interactors also arrange informal gatherings of your advising group, for example for pizza or ice cream.

Take advantage of these opportunities to meet fellow B.S.E. students and have fun at the same time.

Other Sources of Authoritative Advice

Many publications and websites list all the sources of advice that complement what you receive from

your faculty adviser and interactors. Many of these can be found on the websites of the residential

colleges. The Class of 2026 Academic Guide has an excellent catalog of advising resources along with

an outstanding Frequently Asked Questions format.

Key sources of additional advice for B.S.E. first-year students:

• Dean Bogucki is happy to answer questions to which your adviser might not know the answer.

Write to BSEprogr[email protected]u

and either he will respond or Ms. Traci Miller will arrange

at time to meet with him.

• The assistant dean in your residential college is knowledgeable about the B.S.E. curriculum as

well as a key resource for discussing general academic concerns and referring to academic

support;

• Peer Academic Advisers in your residential college have received training in the B.S.E. curriculum

or may even be B.S.E. students themselves. Some of the RCAs are also B.S.E. students.

4. Choosing Fall Term Courses

This section provides practical advice about the B.S.E. curriculum, placement, advising.

Procedures

After you have spent the summer thinking about your courses for the fall and reviewing online

information, you should prepare a couple of tentative programs of study for the fall based on the B.S.E.

requirements discussed below. During the weeks of August 8-25, you will have a Zoom meeting with

your adviser. Your adviser will provide dates and times from which you can select an appointment. The

outcome of that meeting is a schedule of courses in which you will start the fall term. On September 2,

you will log on to TigerHub, the Registrar’s enrollment system, and enter your course selections.

Classes begin on September 6.

During the first two weeks of class, you can make changes. Changes of section and time can be worked

out internally within the course. Changes of course (e.g. from Physics 105 to 103) require approval of

your adviser. The Math department requires that you check in with them as well so they can keep

track of how many students are enrolled in each course.

Advanced Placement

Your adviser will have the AP and IB scores that have been reported to Princeton. If your adviser does

not have them, then they haven’t been reported to Princeton, so you need to take steps to get them

reported electronically. We will accept your personal report of scores for choosing courses for the fall

term. Detailed instructions on how to do this is in Path to Princeton at

https://path.princeton.edu/faq/learning

. Students with British A-level scores must bring their

documentation to their residential college office to ask that it be recorded.

Note that if you took Chemistry or Physics exams in 2020 or later (as in most cases), took other exams,

or took a college course, you must take one of the departmental placement exams offered if you want

to try to place out of these subjects. See Path to Princeton for the schedule. Your adviser will have

the results of these placement tests.

Advanced placement is awarded by Princeton departments based on their own criteria. Criteria for AP

are summarized in the document at https://odoc.princeton.edu/advancedplacement

. If you have

taken college-level courses in chemistry and physics, then you must take placement tests to place out of

B.S.E. requirements. Math preparation beyond BC Calculus (e.g. previous study of multivariable

calculus) must be discussed with the Math Placement Officer, who will provide written documentation

of placement beyond the 100-level. The maximum number of terms of AP credit awarded in any

subject is two.

Program of Study

The first-year year program of study is common to all six B.S.E. concentrations. It consists of two terms

of physics (103-104, 105-106, or EGR 151-153), two terms of math (103-104 (or EGR 152), 104-201, 201-

202, or equivalent), one term of chemistry (201 or 207), and one term of computing (COS 126 or ECE

115). Students with AP credit in physics, math, and chemistry can use it to place out of some of these

requirements (again, 2020 and later test results and other qualifications are subject to confirmation by

departmental placement tests.) See Figure 1 for a “standard” first-year program.

B.S.E. students normally take physics, math, and chemistry in the fall along with an elective course or a

writing seminar, while in the spring they take physics, math, and computer science along with two

elective courses or their writing seminar and an elective. Students who need a second semester of

chemistry because they are headed to CBE or are premed will have to replace one of their electives with

Chem 202 or possibly put off computing to sophomore year.

Why do students in ORFE and COS have to take physics and chemistry? First, it’s the Bachelor of

Science in Engineering degree. Second, the discipline of thinking systematically about complex

unstructured problems is directly transferable to other analytical disciplines, even if the subject matter

isn’t a prerequisite.

B.S.E. math, science, and computing requirements may not be taken on a Pass-D-Fail basis.

Physics

The B.S.E. general physics requirement of two terms of general physics is satisfied either through AP in

physics or by taking a two-term sequence of calculus-based first-year physics courses: Physics 103-104,

105-106, or EGR 151-153 (see Table 1 for a guide to options.) Most students take 103-104. There is no

partial AP in physics, so you need two units of AP to satisfy the requirement. Otherwise please plan to

take one of the two-term sequences along with most of the other B.S.E. first-year students. About half

the few B.S.E. students with AP in physics elect to forfeit the AP credit (and thus eligibility for Advanced

Standing) and take one of the two-term sequences anyway, while the other half use the AP credit to free

a space for a different course (and also to retain their eligibility for Advanced Standing). A handful of

students will take the ISC 231-234 sequence to fulfill the general physics requirement. While this is

acceptable, please be aware that these courses are very intense. If you have AP credit (e.g. in

chemistry), consider whether satisfying the general B.S.E. requirement with it will provide greater

curricular flexibility, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.

Physics

103/5

Physics

104/6

Math

103/104/

201

Math 104

201 or 203

202 or 204

Chem 207 (or

201)

Chem 202

for CBE majors

Elective/

Writing

COS126

Elective/

Writing

Elective

Fall

Spring

Student will

be assigned

to fulfill Writing

Requirement

in either Fall

or Spring

alternatively EGR 151 - EGR 153

alternatively EGR 152 - EGR 154

Figure 1. The "standard" B.S.E. First-Year Program

Courses

Placement

Comments

Physics 103, General Physics I, leads

to Physics 104 in spring

High-school physics, calculus

Calculus-based treatment of

mechanics taken by many generations

of B.S.E. students.

Physics 105, Advanced Physics

(Mechanics), leads to Physics 106 or

104 in spring

Strong high school physics and

calculus (many students in the

course have AP credit in physics)

More theoretical treatment of

material of Physics 103 suitable for

students with keen interest in physics,

either by majoring in physics or the

Engineering Physics certificate.

EGR 151, Foundations of

Engineering: Mechanics, Energy, and

Waves (taken in conjunction with

EGR 152, Foundations of

Engineering: Mathematics of Shape

and Motion). Leads to EGR 153 in

the spring.

High-school physics, calculus; open

to first-year B.SE. students only

WITHOUT AP credit in physics and

WITHOUT placement in

multivariable calc

A rigorous foundation in mechanics,

energy, waves, and thermodynamics

motivated by developing engineering

solutions to global challenges.

ISC 231-234, An Integrated,

Quantitative Introduction to the

Natural Sciences (231-232 in fall,

233-234 in spring)

Math placement into multivariable

calculus, very strong high school

science preparation

Mathematically and computationally

sophisticated introduction to physics,

chemistry, computing, and

biosciences in a year-long four course

sequence. Not motivated by

engineering, but completion of the

four-course sequence will satisfy the

B.S.E. general physics, chemistry, and

computing requirements.

Table 1. Guide to First-Term Physics Courses for B.S.E. students

Math

Math is crucial for engineering. The faster you complete the general B.S.E. requirements in math, the

more options you will have in sophomore and junior year among departmental courses. Thus you must

not skip math in the fall of your first year no matter how much AP credit you have. If you ask to defer

math, expect very strong opposition from your faculty adviser. All engineering students complete a

sequence of math courses through linear algebra, usually using a combination of AP credit and taking

courses at Princeton. See the Math department’s excellent page on placement at

https://www.math.princeton.edu/undergraduate/placement

and follow all the relevant links. See

Figure 2 for a schematic outline of math courses relevant to the B.S.E. degree.

Guidance on which math course to take will be provided by the Fall Math Placement Orientation

workshops (previously referred to as “MATH INFO”) on September 1. Based on this experience, you will

be able to make an informed decision whether to enroll in Math 103, 104, or 201 the following day.

Beforehand, however, you should think about which math course seems to be best given your

background.

If your preparation in calculus is minimal or did not involve taking an AP course, you should begin in

Math 103. That will be the longest route to completion of the math requirement, but it’s better to get

a good foundation rather than to push ahead. Many B.S.E. students who have taken a rigorous high

school calculus course like AB calculus will start in Math 104. If your preparation is adequate for 104, it’s

very much in your interests to start there. EGR 152 can replace Math 104 if you have the preparation

for Calc II.

If you took BC calculus and got a 5, the Math department now recommends Math 104 (in the past, a 5

would be a 201 placement.) You have to decide, with the benefit of the Fall Math Placement

Orientation workshops, whether you have mastered Calc II sufficiently to progress to 201 or if you

should take 104. Although it’s not an absolute benchmark, one indication might be whether you have

covered Taylor series. If not, then you might consider 104. See what you can determine from the

Math placement webpage linked above and from the Fall Math Placement Orientation workshops.

Do not take Math 175; it does not count for the B.S.E. math requirements, since it is mainly for

Economics majors and does not provide the foundation for subsequent engineering courses.

If you have taken a really thorough BC calculus course (or the equivalent A-level or IB-H exams) and

received a 5 (or an A-level A or an IB-H 7), you are potentially prepared to take Math 201 at Princeton.

201 is multivariable calculus. 203 is a more “mathematical” treatment of multivariable calculus,

involving proofs. Either one works fine for all B.S.E. majors. Note: EGR 156 is only open to B.S.E.

sophomores who have completed EGR 152-154 in the first year.

Some students report they have studied multi beyond variable calculus already in high school or have

taken a college course. Placement out of 201 requires written permission from the Math AP Officer, so

contact this discerning individual during course selection. If possible, provide examples of graded tests

and homework from your earlier coursework, as well as the syllabus and name of the textbook. If they

determine that you have covered multivariable calc at a comparable level of breadth, depth, and rigor to

the Princeton course, they will issue a written confirmation that you should take to your adviser. Same

goes for prior study of linear algebra. Otherwise, you need to take the course here.

Math 214 and 215 do not satisfy B.S.E. math requirements, since they are not multivariable calculus or

linear algebra. If you want to explore math as a possible major, we will not prevent you from taking one

of these courses, but you will still have to take multivariable calculus and linear algebra later.

Chemistry

The B.S.E. degree requires one term of general chemistry or its equivalent. It is satisfied with one or

two units of AP credit or by taking Chemistry 201 or 207. Chemistry 207 is the mainstream general

chemistry course for B.S.E. students, but there is no problem with taking 201 if that works better for

your schedule. If your intended program of study does not require further study of chemistry, and if

you have AP credit or have taken 201 or 207, then your chemistry requirement is complete. If you are

headed toward Chemical and Biological Engineering or if you are premed and take 201 or 207 in the fall,

you will also take Chem 202 in the spring. If you have 1 unit of AP credit in Chemistry and need more

chemistry for CBE or premed, then you should plan to take Chemistry 215, which is offered in the spring.

Math Placement Chart and Sequences for BSE students,

Fall 2022

216

EGR 152

(fall)

103

104

201

175

(NO!!)

203

217

202

204

218

214*

NO AP

1 UNIT AP

Mastery of

Calc I+Calc II

per MATH INFO

215*

SPECIAL

PERMISSION

MAE

305

VERY

SPECIAL

PERMISSION

EGR 154

(spring)

EGR 156

(soph fall)

100 (fall)

Figure 2. Math placement chart and sequences for B.S.E. students. B.S.E. students may not take Math

175. Math 214 and 215 do not fulfill B.S.E. requirements.

If you have a passionate interest in Computer Science and fully intend to major in that field, you may ask

your adviser to be allowed to defer Chemistry 201/207 until the fall of sophomore year and take

Computer Science 126 instead. Please understand that if you do this, you are complicating pathways

to other potential majors (especially MAE), so this option is really only for students who have a single-

minded focus on Computer Science as their only interest among the magnificent array of choices in

engineering.

Beginning with the Class of 2026, Molecular Biology 214 will also be accepted for this requirement.

Please discuss with your adviser whether this is a viable option for your program of study. In CBE, if

you do not have AP in chemistry, you must take CHM 201 or 207 in the fall (you will take MOL 214 later

on.) CEE has expressed a strong preference for chemistry over biology for this requirement.

The Fourth Course

About half of the students in an entering class are assigned to take their writing seminar in the fall, and

the other half in the spring. If you are assigned to take it in the fall, then your fourth course will be

your writing seminar. If you are taking the writing seminar in the spring, then your fourth course in

the fall can be almost anything. Take something interesting that you have not had a chance to study

previously. Ideally, it will be in the humanities or social sciences, since another course that involves

problem sets and quantitative analysis will be too much in one way of thinking. It could also be a

freshman seminar. Humanities and social science courses at the 100- and 200-level work best. Some

300-level courses in the humanities and social sciences are open to first-year students with adequate

preparation. Courses at the 400-level and higher are not appropriate for fall term first-year students.

Chem 201

(general chem)

Chem 207

(adv.gen.chem

- materials)

(MSAT >680)

Chem 202

(general chem)

to sophomore year

0 AP

1 unit

Chem 215

(adv.gen.chm

honors)

2 units

CBE 245

Chem 301

(orgo I)

Chem 302/4

(orgo II)

CBE 246

fall

spring

(if necessary)

Note: Beginning with the Class of 2026,

this requirement may also be satisfied with

MOL 214, offered fall or spring. Consult

with your adviser.

CHM 215 is offered Spring 2023.

Figure 3. Chemistry placement chart and sequences

Taking Five Courses

Taking five courses in the fall of your first year is discouraged. The adjustment to the pace of Princeton

courses and their academic expectations is difficult for even the best-prepared students, and you should

get involved in extracurricular activities as well. B.S.E. first-year students normally take four courses in

the fall and five in the spring. Better to get a strong start in four courses than a shaky start in five.

If you have a good reason for wanting to take five courses in the fall term, you may make a case as to

why you should be allowed to do so. Your academic adviser and the associate dean for undergraduate

affairs will consult on the matter and review your course choices and preparation. You should be

prepared to drop a fifth course when the workload starts to build up.

The First Two Weeks of Classes

This fall, classes begin on Tuesday, September 6. Don’t be alarmed if your courses seem hard at first.

They are supposed to be challenging. At the same time, however, use the first couple days of classes to

check your placements, especially in math. If you sign up for Math 201, and after the first classes you

believe you are in over your head, there is no shame in switching to Math 104. Talk with the instructor,

attend the new class to see if it’s more appropriate, and formalize the change.

During the first two weeks of classes, you are allowed to make course changes with little difficulty and at

no cost. Changes of section within a Math course (e.g. between 9 AM and 11AM classes in Math 104)

should be arranged with the Math office in 315 Fine Hall and do not require the approval of an adviser.

Changes between courses (e.g. History 211 to Politics 240) require consultation with your adviser.

By the deadline for free changes, your schedule should be set. After that date, entering a new course is

generally impossible, while dropping a course requires consent of your adviser, and if it brings you

below four courses, only with the permission of Dean Bogucki and your college’s assistant dean. The

dropping of a fourth course should be an emergency measure of last resort and must be done by the

ninth week of classes only after you have determined there is no other course of action. It is not an

option to be chosen casually. Please do everything possible to succeed in the course.

Advanced Standing

Policies for the Advanced Standing program are outlined in the document on advanced placement:

https://odoc.princeton.edu/advancedplacement

. Eligibility for Advanced Standing in the B.S.E.

program depends on advanced placement in Physics. If you take PHY 103, PHY 105, EGR 151, or ISC,

plan on spending the full four years at Princeton because you have forfeited your AP in Physics. While

the word “forfeit” might sound scary, you will find that this is normally the best way to begin a proper

engineering education. If you are eligible for two terms of Advanced Standing and want to graduate in

three years, then you must begin a program of study immediately that follows a sophomore schedule in

your intended department. This requires replacing physics and chemistry requirements with

sophomore-level engineering courses, along with taking 200-level math courses. Direct questions about

advanced placement and the Advanced Standing program to Dean Bogucki,

BSEprogram@princeton.edu.

5. Succeeding in Your Courses

by Peter Bogucki

This section is intended to provide general advice, hints, tips, and accumulated wisdom on getting off to

a good start in the fall term. The advice below is informal and may not apply to everyone, but if you

follow it, you may have a smoother adjustment to the academic rigor and expectations of your courses.

What to Expect in Your Classes

Princeton science and math courses meet in a combination of lectures, classes, and labs. Physics is

usually taught in three classes a week, along with a one-hour demonstration lecture and a three-hour

lab. Math typically has two 80-minute classes a week plus Friday precepts. Chemistry has two or

three lectures a week, one class, and a three-hour lab. Computer Science 126 has two video lectures,

one weekly class meeting, and two weekly precepts. Each class is important. You should not miss a

single one. If you do, then you must arrange to get the notes for that day, although that is a poor

substitute for attendance.

Expect your courses to be challenging. You should not expect to understand everything intuitively.

There will be homework problems that you cannot solve. Knowing the formula isn’t the key to solving

the whole problem. Problems may have multiple stages in which you will need to use the answer in

the first stage to solve the second. Become accustomed to seeking help.

Calculus at Princeton is taught without using calculators. If you’ve come to rely on a graphing calculator

to do calculus, you will have to adjust to doing without it.

Outside the Classroom

In general, you should plan on putting in about twice as many hours studying, working problems, and

writing programs as you do in the classroom in your math, science, and computing courses. If you’re

not, then something isn’t right. If your class hours in physics, math, and chemistry in the fall term add

up to 16, then you should find at least 30 hours in your week to do homework, study, attend office

hours, and work on extra problems. That’s the difference between high school and college. In high

school, you perhaps did little homework. In college, you do a lot outside of class.

Finding classmates with whom to study is a characteristic of successful students. The instructors will set

limits on collaboration on problem sets, but in general, working together is much better than working in

isolation. This may also be a big difference for you from high school.

Attendance and Assignments

Exception of some small courses (e.g. your writing seminar) attendance is not strictly recorded. That

does not mean that you will not be missed! Faculty members can usually tell when someone isn’t

showing up for class or appears sporadically. If you disappear completely, they might assume that you

dropped the class. This is not a good thing.

Never be late with assignments like problem sets and papers. They not only are important learning

aids but they also let the instructor know that you care about the course. From them you can tell

whether or not you are learning the material, and you then know when to go for help (see Office Hours

below.) In many courses, late work is not accepted without permission or after solutions have been

posted. Don’t expect to be allowed to submit late work.

The best thing is to keep a simple, cheap pocket calendar in which you write your class schedule and the

due dates for assignments. Do not trust your memory or your phone to remind you about upcoming

responsibilities.

Studying

Research has shown that there is a strong correlation between studying and academic success.

There

are no shortcuts.

Solve Physics Problems, Don’t Memorize the Textbook

One of the mistakes that first-year engineering students make is trying to study physics as if it is AP

Biology. In other words, they highlight the textbook and try to memorize terms and concepts. This

does not work in physics! College physics is about solving problems so you can formulate new ones.

Get rid of the highlighter, which is useless in any event (and degrades the resale value of your books,

too.) Read the text once, and see how it relates to your lecture notes. Then start working problems.

When you need to understand something about a problem, go back read the relevant passage of text.

Then go back to the problem and work on it some more.

Work lots of problems, so you are comfortable with the discipline of solving them. If the answers are

printed in the back of the book (sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t), don’t look at them under

any circumstances. Many students make a stab at the problem, look at the answer, convince

themselves they know how it was obtained, and go on. Remember, the answers will not be on the

back of the examination booklet.

Your goal is to become comfortable with understanding problems, setting up a plan to solve them, and

working at them systematically. Odds are that the problem you see on the exam won’t look like

anything you’ve seen before, but if you are comfortable with the approach to solving problems, you can

take it apart and plan how to solve it.

Office Hours are Crucial

All instructors are required to set aside time each week to meet with students in their courses. All

students need to get used to going to instructors’ office hours, a key academic resource at Princeton.

Do you have a conflict with your instructor’s scheduled office hours? Speak with your instructor about

other mutually convenient times. Another meeting time can always be arranged.

Stinebrickner, R. and Stinebrickner, T. (2008) The Causal Effect of Studying on Academic Performance. The B.E. Journal of

Economic Analysis & Policy, Vol. 8 (Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.2202/1935-1682.1868

Your instructors will not think less of you for coming to office hours. In fact, quite the opposite: they

will appreciate that you care enough about mastering the difficult material and have made the effort.

Bring homework problems on which you get stuck, or your lecture notes if something didn’t make sense.

Don’t be disappointed if instructors don’t give you the answers to your questions directly. More likely,

they will ask you questions or explain concepts until you see the way to the answer yourself. This is

how college teaching should work.

Extracurriculars, Athletics, Jobs, Businesses

B.S.E. students participate in all forms of extracurricular activity. For the most part, their involvement

does not affect their studies, and they have adequate time to pursue several rewarding activities. As

always, your studies come first, and leadership or success in extracurricular life does not offset failing or

low grades. If you find your grades slipping, it’s time to rebalance your time allocation.

We are very pleased that many B.S.E. students participate in intercollegiate athletics, and we celebrate

their accomplishments. Many engineering faculty members are part of the Athletic-Academic Fellows

program. You may find, however, that balancing academic obligations with your athletic commitments

is more difficult than in high school. At Princeton, academics always take precedence. Your coaches

understand this. If you are having difficulty balancing athletics and academics, please speak with your

coach, who will almost certainly be more accommodating than you might imagine. Usually rebalancing

priorities and time management will enable you to keep up with your studies and continue your athletic

activity. Dean Alec Dun is a tremendous resource for student-athletes, and you can find his contact

information in the directory at the end of this guide.

Many students hold campus jobs. In addition to providing an opportunity to earn money, a campus job

is a good way to make friends and get connected. Usually it’s a fun break from your studies. You

can’t let a campus job take up too much of your time, however. We generally find that 10 hours per

week is the most that a student can devote to a campus job and still have time for class, homework,

studying, socializing, other activities, dining, and sleeping. Academic success at Princeton is not just

about devoting the bare minimum to academic obligations but having the time to learn the material.

If you are planning on starting or running a business while studying engineering at Princeton, please

think carefully. Running a business properly and being a full-time student at Princeton are usually

incompatible. Academics generally lose out and grades plummet, potentially ending your Princeton

career prematurely.

If you find yourself devoting more time to a business than to your studies,

consider taking a leave of absence and resuming your studies after either (a) you have become

fantastically wealthy by selling your business to Alphabet or (b) the idea has run its natural course and

you can step away from it. If you want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, that’s fine, but don’t mess up

your academic record along the way.

These comments also apply to virtual internships during the academic year.

Academic Support and Tutoring

If your instructor’s office hours aren’t sufficient, then there are other avenues of support. The review

sessions and study halls in the McGraw Center provide clarification and on-demand group tutoring. See

https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/group-and-individual-tutoring/group-study-hall

and

follow links. Individual tutoring is also available through your residential college office for students

who are finding the office hours and McGraw programs are still not enough. Tutoring from any other

source is not allowed (see

https://rrr.princeton.edu/students#comp245).

Your residential college office and especially your assistant dean can be very helpful in directing you to

sources of help. As always, we in the Undergraduate Affairs Office of the engineering school are

always happy to talk. Write us at BSEprogram@princeton.edu

to see when would be a good time.

We’ll always ask you first, “Have you spoken with your instructor?”, so you want to be able to say “Yes, I

have.”

Academic Integrity

You have already been told many times that Princeton takes academic integrity seriously. Let us repeat

that one more time: Princeton takes academic integrity very seriously indeed. This means never, ever

pass off the work of someone else as your own. In particular:

• Do not copy even a byte of text or computer code. Plagiarism is very easily discovered.

Software in COS courses flags similar code, which is then closely compared by faculty.

• Do not reuse anything that you or anyone else did in a previous term or another course.

• Never look for answers on online solution sites or post your solutions there.

• Never download something online and pass it off as your own work.

• Cite your sources meticulously using a consistent citation system.

• Acknowledge any help you received such as feedback on drafts and discussions with others.

• Make sure you are fully aware of the Honor Code and of the regulations on academic integrity in

Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities and Academic Integrity at Princeton.

• Read and understand the policies in each course on collaboration. When in doubt, ask the

instructor. It is your responsibility to know where the boundary lies.

• If you are frustrated on an assignment, speak with your instructor. Assignments are hard in

order to challenge you, and instructors are almost always sympathetic when you are being

challenged.

It is better to take a low grade on an assignment than to be sent away from Princeton because you cut a

corner. Leave ample time to complete your assignments so you are not under undue stress. Make

good choices.

6. Choosing Courses for Spring Term

After fall recess, you will meet again with your faculty adviser and select courses for the spring term.

Either your adviser will reach out to you or you will contact your adviser to arrange a time to meet and

have your schedule approved, and then on the specified day, log in to TigerHub to enroll. The following

section provides guidance on that process. Keep in mind the list of questions from the start of this

handbook and see if you have found answers to them.

Courseload

B.S.E. students are expected to take five courses in the spring term of the first year and finish the year

with nine completed courses. Remember that general B.S.E. math-science-computing requirements

may not be taken Pass-D-Fail.

Math

You will continue in the next math course that follows the one you are taking in the fall. If you are in

103, you’ll take 104; if you are in 104, you’ll take 201; if you are in 201, you’ll take 202. If you took EGR

152, you’ll take 154. If you took Math 215 this fall, then you still must take multivariable calculus and

linear algebra, so take one of those courses in the spring (e.g. 217, 203, or 204, etc.; if in doubt, consult

with the Math department about the appropriate next course.) Do not break the sequence of math

courses. The sooner you finish your math requirements, the better background you will have for your

sophomore and junior courses.

Physics

If you are taking 103 this fall, then you’ll continue with Physics 104. If you want to take 106 after 103,

then the Physics department will tell you what to do. If you are taking 105 in the fall, then you can take

either 106 or 104 in the spring. EGR 151 is followed by EGR 153. Occasionally students with 2 units of

AP in physics (based on scores of 5 on BOTH parts of the Physics C exam or equivalent A-level or IB-H

scores and confirmed by placement test) who took 103 anyway but found it repetitive prefer to take an

advanced technical course in place of 104. If you’re in this position, contact Dean Bogucki.

Chemistry

The B.S.E. general chemistry requirement is a one-semester requirement. If you took 201 or 207 this

fall or have one or two units of AP credit you have satisfied the requirement. The open space in your

schedule is generally occupied by COS 126. The only reason to take more chemistry in the spring is if

you are interested in majoring in CBE or are premed, and either took 201 or 207 or have just 1 unit of

AP. If you need a second term of chemistry to follow 201 or 207, then you should take 202 this spring.

If you have one unit of AP in chemistry, you should take CHM 215 if you need a chemistry prerequisite,

but otherwise you satisfied the requirement with AP credit.

Computer Science

The B.S.E. computing requirement is satisfied with 126 (or 217/226 if you persuade the CS department

that you are prepared for them.) If you took 126 (or ECE 115) this fall and are interested in Computer

Science for a major, then you may take 217 or 226 in the spring, although these are often taken in

sophomore year. Most students in this situation tend to take 226 first, leaving 217 to the fall of

sophomore year. If you are taking Chem 202 or 215 in the spring, then you might consider leaving 126

to the fall of sophomore year, unless you plan to major in Computer Science.

Writing Seminar

If you didn’t take the writing seminar in the fall, then you have to take it in the spring. Enroll during

Reading Period.

Humanities and Social Sciences

We hope you’ll have some space in your schedule to take at least one humanities/social science course

this spring. Consider fields of study that you haven’t taken before, like philosophy or art history.

Many B.S.E. students take freshman seminars.

Other Considerations

Students interested in ORFE might consider taking Econ 100. Although most ORFE majors take 245 in

the fall of sophomore year, if you have space in your schedule to take it this spring, you might have

some more flexibility later on. 500-level graduate courses are not open to first-year students.

Starting to Think about a Major

B.S.E. students officially choose a department in late April, after choosing courses for the fall. Almost all

are able to make an informed decision by that point. There are a number of sources of information,

including:

• Explore Engineering, the SEAS majors fair, in November.

• Engineering Departmental Open Houses in late March (watch for advertising!)

• Talking with your adviser, departmental faculty, your Interactors, other upperclass students.

• Several engineering student organizations usually organize study breaks with advice on

departments from juniors and seniors.

• Departmental websites and undergraduate handbooks (all online).

• Information in this guide, below.

Summer Courses

B.S.E. students may count up to four preapproved summer courses at other schools toward the 36

required for the B.S.E. degree. In practice, very few use all four, but occasionally some will take one or

two. Later in the fall term, you will be sent an e-mail with a link to an information page about criteria

for summer courses and how to obtain pre-approval.

7. Choosing a Major

B.S.E. students choose a department at the end of the spring term of their first year. They do so when

they select their courses for the fall of sophomore year by meeting with an adviser in their intended

department, then confirming this choice when requested to do so by the Registrar in late April.

Due to the vertical integration of the engineering program of study (one of its key strengths), we ask

B.S.E. students to join a department earlier than in the A.B. program. This pays off eventually in a

strong foundation in engineering principles, the quality of independent work, opportunities to take

advanced courses, and interactions with faculty members.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science has six departments: Chemical and Biological

Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer

Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Operations Research and Financial

Engineering. Each has its own methods and principles and forms a distinct community of students and

faculty, although there is also overlap among them in topics such as materials, bioengineering, energy,

and robotics.

You should choose a department in which you will have the most rewarding undergraduate experience.

You will have many options after graduation, and with a few exceptions (discussed below) you will

probably find that the actual consequences of your choice of department may fade over time and be

eclipsed by the simple fact of your graduation from Princeton with a B.S.E. degree. Whatever your

major, you will be well-served by having a technically-rigorous liberal education wherever life takes you.

Information about completing the pre-concentration planning form, meeting with a departmental

adviser, choosing courses for the fall term, and declaring a major will be sent to you after spring recess.

Sources of Information

It is important that you become informed about the B.S.E. departments that interest you. Some

students are absolutely certain of their choice already, while others are trying to decide among several

possibilities. Here are some ways to obtain the information you need to make an informed decision:

Attend the Engineering Open Houses in late March. You will receive several e-mails about this event,

and you should clear your schedule to attend. Each department has an informational program that is

repeated several times during the evening, usually including demonstrations of independent work and

tours of department facilities. The information presented at these open houses is invaluable in helping

you learn about the departments you are considering.

Talk with juniors and seniors who are majoring in engineering. You already know at least one: your

engineering Interactor. There are also B.S.E. students who serve as RCAs and peer academic advisers in

your residential college. Get involved with engineering student organizations!

Look closely at the Undergraduate Handbooks and Independent Work Guides on the various

departmental websites, which you can find by following links to “undergraduate” and “handbook” or

“guide”. In particular, look at what students have done recently for independent work. Do any of

these topics intrigue you, even if you do not yet understand the technical jargon?

Approach faculty members. Each department has a faculty member called the “director of

undergraduate studies” who is the head adviser. They will have extended office hours or other

opportunities to talk with students interested in their department. You will meet the director of

undergraduate studies at the Open Houses in late March, and they will surely be willing to answer your

questions.

Major Maps

The diagrams below provide a schematic picture of the course sequence in each engineering

department. Information in each department’s undergraduate handbook or guide takes precedence

over these charts. Courses outlined in bold represent departmental core courses and technical

electives. Course schedule changes from one year to the next may cause variation in these maps, but

they provide a general idea of the key courses.

Chemical and Biological Engineering

(MAT

103)

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

CHM 202

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

MAE 305

CHM 301

CHM 302 or

other advanced

CHM course

COS 126

CBE 245

CBE 246

CBE 341

CBE 250

WRI either

term

MOL 214/5

either term

CBE 346

CBE 441

CBE 442

CBE 454 (senior thesis)

4-5 Program Electives, including at least two drawn from CBE, CEE,

COS, EGR, ELE, MAE, MSE

Advanced

CBE course

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering

4 distribution areas, including one EM

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Course sequences for the Structural and Environmental tracks in CEE are below. Architectural and

Geological tracks are similar; consult the departmental undergraduate guide. The Engineering and

Liberal Arts track permits a flexible program of study.

MAT 103

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

GEO 203

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

MAE 305

ORF 245

CEE 262A

COS 126

CEE 205

CEE 312

CEE 366

CEE361

WRI either

term

Structural

CEE 306

CEE 478 (two-term senior

thesis)

CEE365

3 or more Program Electives

CEE461

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas,

including one EM

CEE 364

CEE 207

MAT 103

PHY 103

MAT 104

Environmental

CHM

201/207

GEO 203

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

MAE 305

ORF 245

CEE 305

COS 126

CEE 205

CEE 302 or

304

CEE 477

CEE 311

WRI either

term

CEE 308

CEE 306

CEE 478 (two-term senior

thesis)

CEE364

3 or more Program Electives

CEE 471

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas,

including one EM

CEE 207

Computer Science BSE (effective beginning with the Class of 2025)

MAT 103

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

One or more semesters of independent work (COS 397/398/497/498)

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

COS 217

either term

COS 226

either term

One course in Theoretical CS: e.g. COS 423, 433, 445, or 487

COS 126

either term

One course in Computer Systems: e.g. COS 316 or 375

One course in AI or ML: e.g.COS 324 (alternatively 424, 429, or 484)

Three 300-level or above COS electives

COS 240

(term 3-6)

WRI either

term

One breadth course: e.g. COS 326, 333, 343, 426, 432, 436, 448

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas

Electrical and Computer Engineering

MAT 103

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

ECE 201

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

ECE 203

ECE 308

COS 126/

ECE 115

ECE 206

ECE 302

upper level

math

ECE 497-498

two-term senior thesis

WRI either

term

Additional departmental courses to fulfill concentration, breadth,

and balance requirements at 300-level or higher; prerequisites

may include 201, 203, 206, and/or 308

non-ECE

eng. science

design

beyond 302

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Students in MAE may choose to pursue either the Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

tracks or they may pursue both. For detailed information, please consult the MAE undergraduate

handbook.

MAT 103

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

MAE 223

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

MAE 305

MAE 221

MAE 206

COS 126

MAE 222

MAE 224

three design courses appropriate to program

five engineering science courses in dynamics and control, fluid mechanics,

and materials and structures appropriate to program, and a math elective

WRI either

term

Independent work with design

(1 or 2 terms in senior year)

additional technical electives and independent work

as needed or desired

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas

Operations Research and Financial Engineering

(MAT

103)

PHY 103

MAT 104

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

Term 7

Term 8

CHM

201/207

ORF 309 (term

3, 4 or 5)

PHY 104

MAT

201/203/216

MAT

202/204/217

ORF 307

Two-term senior thesis

(ORF 478 credited 2X in spring)

ORF 335

ORF 245

(term 2 or 3

10 departmental electives (or 11 if ORF 479 one-term IW chosen) including

at least four from ORFE and no more than three from any one other

department)

COS 126

WRI either

term

At least 7 humanities/social science electives covering 4 distribution areas

Certificate programs and interdisciplinary work

Many B.S.E. students find that certificate programs provide with opportunities to explore interests

outside their majors. Programs in Engineering Biology, Engineering Physics, and Applications of

Computing are very popular, and B.S.E. students are heavily represented in the Finance program.

Almost all non-engineering certificates are also open to B.S.E. students. You may find that even without

doing a certificate program you will have opportunities to take courses outside your major for breadth in

another engineering field. Finally, it may be possible to do independent work that spans different

departments and for it to be advised jointly by faculty members from each one. For example, Electrical

and Computer Engineering majors have done independent work with faculty in Neuroscience.

Changing majors

Some students have second thoughts over the summer and decide that they prefer to major in a

different engineering department. At the start of the fall term, changing is simple. It involves getting a

form from the Undergraduate Affairs Office (Ms. Traci Miller) and following the steps on it. As

sophomore year goes on, it is more difficult, and some changes are easier than others (e.g. from ORFE to

COS), but it is often possible to work out changes by the beginning of the spring term of sophomore year

or even later.

Planning for Studying Abroad

The spring of your first year is a good time to start planning for studying abroad. The usual time to

study abroad is the spring of junior year (except for CBE, when it’s spring of sophomore year, and ECE,

when fall of junior year is best.) Early planning is key. First, think about where you might want to study.

Princeton has exchanges with several top engineering programs abroad, but more destinations are

available outside exchanges. Visit the Study Abroad Program in the Simpson International Building and

look at student reviews of destinations. Attend information sessions on Study Abroad for B.S.E.

students that take place every semester, as well as information sessions on specific programs

Dean Bogucki is always happy to discuss studying abroad and how it works with different majors.

Please go away!

8. Useful Contacts

SEAS Directors of Undergraduate Studies

If you have specific questions about a department, don’t hesitate to contact the appropriate director of

undergraduate studies. For 2022-23, the directors of undergraduate studies are:

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Prof. José Avalos 9881 101 Hoyt [email protected]

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Prof. Branko Glišić

8278 E330A E-Quad bglisic@princeton.edu

Computer Science

Prof. Brian Kernighan 2089 311 CS Building bwk@cs.princeton.edu

(Prof. Kernighan is the departmental rep for COS pre-majors, non-majors, and study abroad.)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Prof. Prateek Mittal 0814 B326 E-Quad pmittal@princeton.edu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Prof. Michael Littman 5198 D202A E-Quad [email protected]du

Operations Research and Financial Engineering

Prof. Robert Vanderbei 2345 209 Sherrerd rvdb@princeton.edu

Certificate Program Directors

Besides the six SEAS departments, there are a number of interdisciplinary certificate programs which

may be of interest to B.S.E. students. Students who complete the program requirements are formally

recognized with certificates at graduation and with a notation on their transcript. Advisees with

questions about these programs are best referred to the program directors listed below.

Applications of Computing

Prof. J.P. Singh 5329 324 350 Olden St. jps@princeton.edu

Applied and Computational Mathematics

Prof. Ramon van Handel 0973 207 Fine rvan@princeton.edu

Architecture and Engineering

Prof. Maria Garlock 2728 E307 E-Quad mgarlock@princeton.edu

Engineering Biology

Prof. Celeste Nelson 8851 303 Hoyt celesten@princeton.edu

Engineering Physics

Prof. Stephen Lyon 4635 B428 E-Quad lyon@princeton.edu

Geological Engineering

Prof. Catherine Peters 5645 E417A E-Quad cap@princeton.edu

Materials Science & Engineering

Prof. Alejandro Rodriguez 8962 B318 E-Quad arod@princeton.edu

Optimization and Quantitative Decision Science

Prof. Amir Ali Ahmadi 6416 329 Sherrerd [email protected]

Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Prof. Szymon Rusinkiewicz 7479 222 Computer Sciece smr@princeton.edu

Statistics and Machine Learning

Prof. Ryan Adams

8682 411 Computer Science rpa@princeton.edu

Sustainable Energy

Prof. Yiguang Ju 5644 D330 E-Quad yju@princeton.edu

Technology and Society

Interested students should first consult:

Dr. Victoria Dorman 8676 ACE-24 E-Quad vdorman@princeton.edu

Also of interest to B.S.E. students:

Environmental Studies

Contact Ms. Amber Lee 4998 127 Guyot amberlee@princeton.edu

Language and Culture

Consult director of undergraduate studies in appropriate language department

Teacher Preparation

Dr. Todd Kent 3336 41 William Street twkent@princeton.edu

Other Important Offices and People

SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office

Dean Peter Bogucki C-207, E-Quad 4554 bogucki@princeton.edu

Ms. Traci Miller C-209, E-Quad 4554 [email protected]

The SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office is your main point of contact for all your matters regarding the

undergraduate program of study in engineering. Send general questions to

BSEprogram@princeton.edu

Residential Colleges

BUTLER COLLEGE:

Dean: Dr. Rashidah Andrews 4954 rashidah@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean: Dr. Matthew Lazen 7140 mlazen@princeton.edu

FORBES COLLEGE:

Dean: Dr. Patrick Caddeau 5229 caddeau@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean: Dr. Fang Du 7193 @princeton.edu

MATHEY COLLEGE:

Dean: Dr. Michael Olin 3317 molin@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean: Dr. Natalia Córdova-Sánchez 7223 ncordova@princeton.edu

NEW COLLEGE WEST:

Dean: Dr. Anne Caswell-Klein 6496 [email protected]

Assistant Dean: Dr. Johanna Rossi Wagner 1929 jrwagner@princeton.edu

ROCKEFELLER COLLEGE:

Dean: Dr. Justine Levine 7245 justinel@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean: Dr. Maria Medvedeva 3728 masha@princeton.edu

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Dean: Dr. Jaclyn Schwalm 8525 jschwalm@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean Dr. Matthew Newman 8093 8525

YEH COLLEGE

Dean: Dr. Alexis Andres 2248 aandres@princeton.edu

Assistant Dean Dr. Junhow Wei

Placement Officers

Chemistry Dr. Rob L’Esperance 1307 A87 Frick rpl@princeton.edu

Computer Science Dr. Christopher Moretti 5388 036 Corwin cmoretti@princeton.edu

Mathematics Dr. Ana Menezes 4230 510 Fine Hall amenezes@Princeton.edu

Physics Dr. Katerina Visnjic 2313 219 Jadwin visnjic@princeton.edu

Other Important People and Offices

Academic-Athletic Advising

Dean Alec Dun 9310 408 Morrison jamesdun@princeton.edu

Health Professions Advising

Ms. Kate Fukawa-Connelly 0900 233 36 Univ. Pl. hpa@princeton.edu

Study Abroad Program

Dr. Gisella Gisolo 1010 A55A Simpson ggisolo@princeton.edu

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS)

McCosh Health Center 3141 McCosh Health Center, 3

floor

Princeton Writing Program

Dr. Amanda Irwin Wilkins 2703 205 New South [email protected]

writing@princeton.edu

Director of Davis International Center for international student matters

Mr. Albert Rivera 9403 A53 Simpson Bldg intlctr@princeton.edu

Associate Director of career advising for engineering students

Ms. Pamela Cohen 1090 213 36 Univ. Place pamela.cohen@princeton.edu

9. How do I …?

In this section, many of the most common questions asked by first-year B.S.E. students are answered.

… choose my courses?

After becoming familiar with the requirements for your program of study from all the information you

have received (including this Guide) you should go online through TigerHub and prepare your Academic

Planning Form. Then meet with your adviser, who will approve your course selections.

… change a course?

Dropping and adding a course is done through TigerHub after consultation with your adviser during the

first two weeks of classes. After that, you may drop a fifth course (for a fee) until the end of the ninth

week of classes. You normally can’t add a course after the second week of classes. Dropping a fourth

course should be done only for extreme damage control and must be discussed with Dean Bogucki.

… get an extension?

See your residential college assistant dean before Dean’s Date. Extensions are given only for work that

is due on Dean’s Date, not work that should have been completed earlier in the semester.

… study abroad?

Start planning early. Attend the Study Abroad for B.S.E. Students information sessions offered at the

start of the Fall and Spring terms. Determine which term works best for your intended major and

possible destinations. Visit the Study Abroad office in the Simpson Building and meet with the

counselor responsible for the place you want to go. Read reviews by students who have been abroad.

Dean Bogucki is always happy to talk about studying abroad. Eventually, you need approval for your

program of study from your department as part of the application process. A 3.0 GPA in the academic

year prior to departure is required for studying abroad.

… choose my major?

During your first year in the B.S.E. program, you will familiarize yourself with the six engineering

departments by attending the Explore Engineering majors fair in the fall, all sorts of departmental

programs, visiting the departments’ websites and looking at their undergraduate handbooks, and

eventually attending the Departmental Open Houses in spring. You will then meet with a faculty

adviser in your intended department (not your first-year adviser) and choose courses for the fall.

… declare my major?

In late April, you will receive an e-mail from the Registrar asking you to confirm your choice of major by

selecting it from a drop-down menu.

… change my major (sophomores, within B.S.E.)?

Inform yourself about the program in your new intended major by reading the undergraduate guide at

the department’s website. Note requirements you have missed and devise a plan to make up. Pick up

a sophomore-change-of-department from the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office, C-209 Engineering

Quad. Follow the steps on the form and meet with the director of undergraduate studies of your old

and new department. Return the form to us and the change will be made with the Registrar and your

college.

… change my degree (B.S.E. to A.B., A.B. to B.S.E.)?

You need to see Dean Bogucki for a conversation. If you wish to switch to B.S.E., discuss how you plan

to fulfill the general engineering requirements. If you wish to switch to AB, have a good reason.

… find my adviser?

Ideally you remember your adviser’s last name, and you can go to the Princeton University Homepage

and search on it. Along with contact information, your adviser’s office address will be listed. If you are

lost, please stop at the Undergraduate Affairs Office in C-209 E-Quad and we will direct you.

… find my interactor???

You can also find contact information for your interactor by searching the Princeton directory on the

homepage. If in doubt, please contact the Undergraduate Affairs Office, and we will direct you.

… change sections within a course?

Normally, this should be something that you can handle within the course itself. Large courses will

have a teaching assistant who serves as course administrator and that is the person with whom to

speak. In Math, you will have to visit the Math Undergraduate Office in Fine Hall to arrange to switch

sections. If in doubt, ask the instructor.

… change a course to PDF?

Check Course Offerings whether the course is allowed to be taken PDF. You can make a change in

TigerHub between the beginning of the seventh week and the end of the ninth week of classes. B.S.E.

students may take up to four courses out of the 36 on a PDF basis. Only one course can be elected PDF

in any given term. Courses that are offered PDF-only do not count against these limits. Remember that

B.S.E. general math-physics-chemistry-computing requirements may not be taken on a PDF basis.

… find out about certificate programs?

All certificates have websites. Here is a good link: https://odoc.princeton.edu/curriculum/certificates.

Choosing a major takes priority over certificates. Don’t worry too much about certificates right now.

… get premed advice?

Get your premed advice exclusively from the Health Professions Advising Office, 36 University Place,

Suite 230. Contact them at [email protected] or visit https://hpa.princeton.edu/

… get career advice?

It’s not too early to become familiar with the Center for Career Development. Visit their website at

https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/

. Make an appointment for individual career advising with

Ms. Pam Cohen by visiting https://princeton.joinhandshake.com. Attend the Science and Technology

Job Fair in October.

… take Advanced Standing?

Make sure you’re eligible. For a year of Advanced Standing, you need 8 units of AP credit, including 2

in physics, placement out of Math 103-104, and 1 in chemistry. For a semester of Advanced Sanding,

you need 4 units of AP credit, including 2 in physics, 1 in math, and 1 in chemistry. If you don’t have

AP in physics, math, or chemistry, you’re not eligible as a B.S.E. student. If you are interested in a full

year of Advanced Standing, then you need to take a sophomore program of study from the beginning.

See Chapter 7 above for the right 200-level departmental courses. In November, a letter from your

assistant dean will inform you of eligibility. Discuss with your advisers, Dean Bogucki, and your

assistant dean whether Advanced Standing is for you. If you’re not interested, you don’t have to do

anything. If you are, an application originates with your assistant dean. If you take Advanced

Standing and find things are moving too fast, you can revert to your original class.

… take a summer course?

B.S.E. students may take up to four pre-approved summer courses at other four-year accredited

institutions. See

https://engineering.princeton.edu/undergraduate-studies/sophomore-senior-

advising/summer-course-information for information on current policies and procedures. The

deadline for preapproval is Dean’s Date of the spring term.

… find a summer job?

Start early, by December or January. All experience is useful. Earning money is good. Are there family

members or friends who can employ you? Talk with faculty members about summer research. Watch

e-mail from Dean Bogucki. Explore the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for

Undergraduates (REU) program. Attend the Science and Technology Job Fair and events run by Career

Development. Search the HandShake system (

https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/internships-

jobs/handshake). Investigate the International Internship Program. Be alert and resourceful!

… take a leave of absence (not a gap year!)?

If you want to take a break in your Princeton education and you are in good academic standing, that’s

known as “taking a leave of absence.” A “gap year” is between high school and college. Please don’t

say “I want to take a gap year.” You should discuss your reasons and plans for taking a leave of absence

with your college dean. Have a plan for what you’ll do while you’re away to make the most of the

opportunity. When you return, you usually pick up where you left off. For example, if you take a leave

of absence after finishing the fall term, then you’ll come back for the next available spring term.

… get academic help?

Talk with your instructor. Go to office hours! If you did poorly on a test, bring it to discuss. If office

hours seem intimidating, go with a friend in the course. If the course has teaching assistants, meet with

them, too. Look into services offered by the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning like study halls

(group tutoring) and learning consultations to get more from your courses. The Writing Center offers

help with papers. Talk with your assistant dean about whether individual tutoring is appropriate. But

always start with the course instructors!

… find my instructors' office hours?

These should be listed on the syllabus or on the instructors’ own websites. Posted office hours are not

the only times an instructor is available. If you have a conflict with the scheduled office hours, speak

with the instructor after class and usually another time to meet can be easily found.

… drop a course?

Why? Discuss with your adviser. Are you having difficulty? What have you done to succeed in the

course? Talk with your instructor. Often you’ll find you’re doing better than you thought. Is it a

course you need for your degree (e.g. Physics 103)? In that case, see Dean Bogucki. If it’s a fifth

course, and you don’t need it to stay on track for the B.S.E. degree, then you can drop it in TigerHub. If

it’s a fourth course, that’s a problem. See Dean Bogucki.

… get a transcript?

Your transcript is the official documentation of your Princeton academic record. You can request your

official transcript from the Registrar at https://registrar.princeton.edu/student-and-alumni-services

… obtain accommodation for a disability?

See the Office of Disability Services after reviewing their website: https://ods.princeton.edu/ .

… change my name or home address?

See if you can do it in TigerHub (https://registrar.princeton.edu/tigerhub ) or visit the Registrar’s Office.

… review my Degree Progress?

“Degree Progress” in TigerHub enables you to see how you are fulfilling requirements toward

graduation. You’re responsible for making sure you’re on track. Check your degree progress every

semester and after you change courses. Notify Dean Bogucki if anything isn’t calculating correctly.

… get verification of enrollment?

You may need a document verifying your enrollment at Princeton for a job or scholarship application.

The Registrar’s Office provides verification of enrollment free of charge. Visit

https://registrar.princeton.edu/student-and-alumni-services

, click on “Transcript and enrollment

verification”.

…get a letter of recommendation?

Do you know a Princeton faculty member or administrator? They are often asked to write

recommendations and with advance notice, they usually do not mind doing it. Tell them what you’re

applying for and why it interests you. Provide the name and address to whom they should write. You

know at least one Princeton faculty member: your academic adviser. So get to know your adviser!

… find Dean Bogucki?

Dean Bogucki’s office is in room C-207 of the Engineering Quad, next to the E-Quad Café.

… find Traci Miller?

Ms. Miller’s office is right next to Dean Bogucki’s, C-209 of the Engineering Quad.

… see Dean Bogucki?

Please send Traci Miller e-mail at BSEprogram@princeton.edu to make an appointment. Please don’t

e-mail Dean Bogucki directly to ask when is a good time, since he will just forward your e-mail to Ms.

Miller to make an appointment.

… say Dean Bogucki's name?

Dean Bogucki’s grandparents were born in Poland, and he uses the Polish pronunciation of his name.

Try saying Bow-good-ski (accent on the good) or if you want to get a little closer to the right sound, you

can try Boh-goot-zki. Pro-tip: “Bogucki” does not rhyme with “Kentucky”!

If your question is not answered here, please contact the SEAS Undergraduate Affairs Office at

BSEprogram@princeton.edu

. Dean Bogucki or Traci Miller have years of experience at Princeton and

can direct you to the proper person or office.