How to Find Undergraduate and Graduate Program Information on the Princeton CS Website

Updated

The Princeton Department of Computer Science website (cs.princeton.edu) organizes its academic program information under two top-level navigation headings: Undergraduate and Graduate. These are the primary entry points for prospective students, current students, and anyone looking for degree requirements, application procedures, or program structure. A third heading, Courses, provides the course catalog that complements both programs.

Where the Program Links Live

The site's main navigation includes these headings:

  • Undergraduate — degree requirements, major and minor information, advising, and research opportunities for undergraduates
  • Graduate — PhD program details, admissions information, and graduate student resources
  • Courses — course listings and scheduling
  • Research — faculty research areas and labs
  • Recent News and Upcoming Events — department announcements and talks

The Undergraduate and Graduate headings are the correct starting points depending on which program you are asking about. Each leads to a dedicated section rather than a single page, so expect to navigate a few levels deep.

What to Expect in Each Section

Undergraduate

This section covers the CS major and minor at Princeton. Typical content includes:

  • Degree requirements and the structure of the AB program
  • How to declare the major and find an adviser
  • Independent work and senior thesis expectations
  • Opportunities to get involved in research as an undergraduate

If you are a prospective applicant rather than a current Princeton student, note that undergraduate admissions are handled by Princeton's central Office of Admission, not by the CS department itself. The department pages describe the program; the admissions office handles applications and deadlines.

Graduate

This section is aimed at PhD applicants and current graduate students. It typically includes:

  • An overview of the graduate program and research areas
  • Admissions information, including how to apply and what materials are required
  • Fellowship and funding information
  • Resources for current students

As with the undergraduate side, distinguish between program information (what the department offers) and application logistics (deadlines, submission portals), which may live on a separate admissions page or a central graduate school site.

Courses

The Courses heading lists CS course offerings. Use it to see what is taught, at what level, and in which term — useful for both prospective students evaluating fit and current students planning a schedule.

A Practical Way to Navigate

  1. Start at cs.princeton.edu.
  2. Click Undergraduate or Graduate in the main navigation, depending on your target program.
  3. Within that section, look for sub-pages on requirements, admissions, and advising.
  4. Cross-check course offerings under Courses.
  5. If you are applying, confirm whether the application itself is handled by the department or by Princeton's central admissions office — the department pages describe the program, but the application process may sit elsewhere.

Common Points of Confusion

  • Prospective vs. current students: Department pages often mix information for applicants and enrolled students. Read page headings carefully to know which audience a page addresses.
  • Department vs. university admissions: The CS site describes the program; formal applications and deadlines are usually managed by a central admissions office.
  • Navigation depth: The Undergraduate and Graduate headings open into multi-page sections, so the specific detail you want (e.g., a deadline or a requirement list) may be one or two clicks further in.

The department also publishes Recent News and Upcoming Events, which are useful for getting a sense of current research activity and faculty interests — helpful context when deciding whether a program matches your goals.