About

There has never been a better time to be a mathematician. The combination of mathematics and computer modeling has transformed science and engineering and is changing the nature of research in the biological sciences, data science, and many other areas. Students seeking to pursue an academic program with a strong focus on applied mathematics may concentrate in mathematics with a course of study geared toward applications, or may concentrate in the sciences or engineering and enroll in the certificate Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics(link is external) (PACM).

Requirements for a concentration in the Department of Mathematics are a minimum of eight upper-level courses in mathematics or applied mathematics, including four basic courses on real analysis, complex analysis, algebra, and geometry or topology. It is possible to design a course of undergraduate study aimed more strongly toward applications. Applied and computational mathematics faculty have developed core courses in applied mathematics where the emphasis is on computational methods and mathematical modeling. The latter is central to applied mathematics where it is not only necessary to acquire mathematical techniques and skills, but is also important to learn about the application domain.

The PACM certificate is designed for students from engineering and from the physical, biological, and social sciences who are looking to broaden their mathematical and computational skills. It is also an opportunity for mathematically oriented students to discover the challenges presented by applications from the sciences and engineering. Students interested in the undergraduate certificate must contact the program's undergraduate representative on or before Feb. 1 of their junior year to discuss their interests, and to lay out a plan for their course selection and research component.

Program of Study

The requirements for the certificate in applied and computational mathematics consist of:

A total of five courses normally 300-level or higher (requires letter grade; pass/D/fail not accepted), at least two of which are not included in the usual requirements for the candidate's concentration.
Independent work consisting of a paper in one of the following formats: (a) a project that you are working on with a professor; or (b) a summer research project. However, the independent work may not be used to satisfy any requirements of your concentration or of any other certificate. In particular, you may not use your junior paper or senior thesis to satisfy the independent work requirement for the certificate. A significant extension of the senior thesis or of a course project may however be used to satisfy the requirement, subject to approval of the PACM undergraduate representative.
Students are required to participate during the spring semester of their junior and senior years in a not-for-credit colloquium offered by PACM. This will provide a forum for presentation and discussion of independent work among all certificate students and will introduce them to a broad range of areas within applied mathematics.

The course requirement may be satisfied by a broad range of courses that place a particular emphasis on applied mathematics, which are offered by the mathematics department as well as the science, engineering, and economics departments. The five required courses must be distributed between the following two areas, with at least two from each area:

Mathematical foundations and techniques, including differential equations, real and complex analysis, discrete mathematics, probability, numerical methods, etc.
Mathematical applications in diverse areas offered by the applied and computational mathematics program and by science, engineering, and economics departments.

An extensive list of advanced undergraduate and some graduate courses that meet the certificate requirements can be found on the program website(link is external).

Courses that do not appear on this list may be approved by the PACM undergraduate representative. Specific programs should be tailored in consultation with the PACM undergraduate representative to meet the individual needs and interests of each student.

The independent work requirement is typically done under the supervision of a PACM core or affiliated faculty member, but external advisers are regularly accommodated. In the latter case, a second reader from PACM is asked to verify that the paper contains enough applied mathematics to satisfy the certificate requirements. In any case, plans for independent work must be approved by the undergraduate representative.

Certificate of Proficiency

Students who fulfill all requirements of the program will receive a certificate of proficiency in applied and computational mathematics upon graduation.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Transcript. An official transcript must be sent by a school counselor or school official.
School Report (SR). The SR form is available from the Common Application website. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit the SR form.
Counselor Recommendation. If you are using the Common Application online, please note that the SR and the Counselor Recommendation are separate items. Be sure to “invite” your school counselor or academic adviser to complete both items.
Two (2) Teacher Recommendations. Please ask two of your teachers who have taught you in higher level courses (e.g., AP, IB Higher/Standard Level, A-Levels, etc.) in different academic areas of study to complete and send the teacher recommendation forms, available on the Common Application website. The subjects should be in core academic areas, such as English, language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or math.
Midyear School Report. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit this form when your midyear grades are available.

Fee Information

Application Fee 75

How to Apply

A Completed Application. You must submit your application online through the Common Application. Princeton's CEEB Code: 2672
Princeton's Supplement. In addition to the application provided by the Common Application, all applicants must submit the Princeton Supplement. You should submit the Princeton Supplement online through the Common Application website.
Application Fee or Fee Waiver. You may submit a fee waiver one of two ways: 1) Select the fee waiver option on the Common Application. Your school counselor must approve your fee waiver request online or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax. 2) Select one of the following fee waiver options on the Princeton Supplement: Princeton-specific, ACT, College Board or NACAC. All low-income students are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. In addition, all applicants who are serving or have served in the U.S. military are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. If you use the Princeton-specific fee waiver, you do not need to get approval from your college counselor or academic adviser.
Graded Written Paper. A graded written paper is required, preferably in the subjects of English or history.