The B.S.E. degree requires the completion of 36 courses over eight semesters. These include basic math, science, and computing requirements; the University writing seminar; humanities and social science electives; departmental core courses; departmental electives; departmental independent work or senior thesis; and free electives. In the B.S.E. degree program, independent work and senior theses count toward the total of 36 courses.
For information on departmental requirements and independent work, please see the undergraduate pages of the individual engineering department websites.
Consult our B.S.E. Basics 2026-27 for a quick overview of degree requirements.
Basic Math and Science Courses
The six engineering departments share a common foundation of study in math, physics, computing, and chemistry or molecular biology.
Mathematics 4 Semesters
Calculus I One Semester
MAT 103 Calculus I
Calculus II One Semester
MAT 104 Calculus II
or
EGR 152 Foundations of Engineering, the Mathematics of Shape and Motion, or equivalent
Calculus III One Semester
MAT 201 Calculus III: Multivariable Calculus
or
EGR 156 Foundations of Engineering: Linear Systems
or
MAT 203 Advanced Multivariable Calculus
or
MAT 216 Multivariable Analysis and Linear Algebra I
Linear Algebra One Semester
MAT 202 Linear Algebra with Applications
or
EGR 154 Foundations of Engineering: Linear Systems
or
MAT 204 Advanced Linear Algebra with Applications
or
MAT 217 Honors Linear Algebra
To satisfy the B.S.E. math requirement, you need to take as many semesters of math as gets you through linear algebra. So if you’re placed into Math 104, then you take 104 or EGR 152 in the fall, then 201 or 203 in the spring, and 202 or 204 next fall. If you’re placed into multivariable calculus, you take 201 or 203 the fall, then 202 or 204 in the spring, and you have it covered. (Do not postpone math if you placed into 200-level math; you’ll have more flexibility in sophomore year if you’ve fulfilled the math requirement as a first year.)
Please note that most SEAS departments have a departmental math requirement beyond linear algebra of one or more 300-level courses (often involving differential equations, MAE 305, or discrete math, COS 340)
Information about placement in mathematics is available from the Department of Mathematics
Physics 2 Semesters
General Physics I (Mechanics) One Semester
PHY 103 General Physics
or
EGR 151 Foundations of Engineering: Mechanics, Energy, and Waves
or
PHY 105 Advanced Physics
General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) One Semester
PHY 104 General Physics
or
EGR 153 Foundations of Engineering: Electricity, Magnetism, and Photonics
or
PHY 106 Advanced Physics
Information about physics courses is available from the Department of Physics
Chemistry or Molecular Biology 1 Semester
hr
CHM 207 General Chemistry: Applications in Modern Technology
or
CHM 201 General Chemistry
or
MOL 214 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
Information about chemistry courses is available from the Department of Chemistry
Information on molecular biology courses is available from the Department of Molecular Biology
Computing and Programming 1 Semester
hr
COS 126 Computer Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach
or
ECE 115 Introduction to Computing: Programming Autonomous Vehicles
Note that students with a significant background in computer science may choose to take the Computer Science Placement test to determine if they may place into COS 217 or COS 226, fulfilling the computing requirement through one of these two classes.
Students may not place out of the computing requirement, which must be fulfilled through COS 126, ECE 115, COS 217, or COS 226
Spotlight on the EGR math and physics courses:
The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers a series of five courses through which students may fulfill the B.S.E. math and physics requirements while gaining exposure to engineering applications. These courses are meant to be taken together by a cohort of B.S.E. students.
In the first-year fall term, B.S.E. students enroll in:
hr
EGR 151 “Foundations of Engineering: Mechanics, Energy, and Waves” as an alternative to PHY 103
hr
EGR 152 “Foundations of Engineering, the Mathematics of Shape and Motion,” as an alternative to MAT 104
hr
In first-year spring term, B.S.E. students enroll:
hr
EGR 153 “Foundations of Engineering: Electricity, Magnetism, and Photonics,” which is equivalent to Physics 104
hr
EGR 154 “Foundations of Engineering: Linear Systems,” as an alternative to MAT 202
hr
In sophomore fall, B.S.E. students complete the sequence with:
hr
EGR 156 “Foundations of Engineering: Multivariable Calculus”, as an alternative tor Math 201
hr
The goal of these courses is to teach fundamental principles in physics and math within the framework of developing engineering solutions to modern technological and scientific challenges. These courses are appropriate for students with placement in math below the level of multivariable calculus.
University Writing Seminar
All Princeton undergraduates are required to take a writing seminar in either the fall or spring of freshman year to fulfill the University writing requirement.
Humanities and Social Science Courses
All students in the B.S.E. program must complete at least seven courses in the humanities and social sciences during their eight terms of study. Humanities and social science courses are defined as courses that fulfill the following University distribution areas: Culture and Difference (CD) Epistemology and Cognition (EC); Ethical Thought and Moral Values (EM); Historical Analysis (HA); Literature and the Arts (LA); and Social Analysis (SA).
Although there is no foreign language requirement for B.S.E. students, intermediate-level language courses (numbered 107 and 108 in the Romance languages, 105 and 107 in all others) and higher may also count towards the seven H/SS courses.
B.S.E. students must distribute four of their seven courses across the areas listed above (CD, EC, EM, HA, LA, SA) or foreign language at the 107/108 level or higher. The remaining three or more courses may be chosen from any area.
Four humanities and Social Science Requirements must be distributed across these areas:
Three additional humanities and social science may be in any of these areas:
(CD, EC, EM, HA, LA, SA) or any foreign language at the 107/108 level or higher
(CD, EC, EM, HA, LA, SA); foreign language in non-Romance languages at the 105 level or higher; any foreign language at the 107/108 level or higher