Community and Regional Affairs

Princeton's Program in Continuing Education admits qualified area residents as well as University employees and their dependents to University undergraduate and graduate courses. The program, founded in 1973, does not grant degrees and principally serves students who are:

• preparing for a career change or entrance into professional or graduate school;

• pursuing advanced training in their fields;

• resuming their education after a break;

• seeking personal enrichment.

Qualified continuing education students may enroll in most Princeton courses, along with Princeton undergraduates and graduate students. Some limited-enrollment courses such as creative writing and studio courses are not open to continuing education students.

This program is distinct from the Community Auditing Program (CAP), which is a not-for-credit program with limited course selection for community residents. For additional information, please visit the CAP website.

Program Features and Benefits

The Program in Continuing Education provides a unique opportunity for area residents as well as University employees and their dependents to participate in the stimulating intellectual environment of a research university committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. Students in the program:

• are completely integrated into regular courses and participate fully in classes, precepts (small discussion groups), laboratories, workshops, and studios;

• meet with faculty members during office hours and receive thoughtful criticism on their work;

• enjoy full library privileges during the term of their enrollment; and

• have their grades recorded on a regular Princeton transcript that can be presented for transfer credit at other colleges and universities.

Admission

Area residents and University employees and their dependents are invited to apply for admission. All applicants must have successfully completed at least two years of formal, post-secondary education. Admission to the program is based on the suitability of the applicant's academic background for the course of study proposed. Relevant nonacademic experience is considered.

The program admits students primarily for undergraduate courses. In exceptional cases, students may be considered for possible enrollment in graduate courses. Applicants should seek advice about proper placement from the director of the program.

Tuition: Please note that there was not a tuition increase for 2007-2008.

Area Residents: $4,125
Princeton University Employees: $688
Princeton University Employees' spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and unmarried dependent children until the end of the calendar year they attain age 23: $2,063
Retired Princeton University employees and their spouses or same-sex domestic partners: $2,063
Princeton University Graduate students' spouses or same-sex domestic partners: $2,063
Full-time K-12 New Jersey Teachers: $688

The $4,125 fee is the same as the per-course tuition charged to undergraduate students at Princeton. Students who register for at least two courses may be eligible to apply for an educational loan through a local bank.

University employees who have worked at least half-time for six months are eligible for the reduced fee. They are encouraged to take one course per term during working hours. Employees must have the permission of their supervisors and must make up the time missed in an approved way. Employees cannot be reimbursed through the Staff Educational Assistance Plan for courses taken at the University.

Employees' spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and unmarried dependent children until the end of the calendar year they attain age 23 (if the employee has worked at least half-time for six months), as well as retired employees and their spouses, or same-sex domestic partners and the spouses or same-sex domestic partners of graduate students are eligible for a 50-percent reduction in tuition.

Full-time K-12 New Jersey Teachers must submit a letter from their principal or superintendent confirming employment.

Program Limitations

Courses taken through the program do not count toward a degree at Princeton University. The program does not admit students currently enrolled in, temporarily withdrawn from, or on leave from any college or university program.

Credit for courses taken through the program might be counted toward future degrees at other institutions, depending on the institution's requirements and regulations. Inquiries about eligibility for credit acceptance at other institutions should be directed to those institutions.

The program does not sponsor its own courses, sections of courses, or noncredit courses for continuing education students. Very few courses are offered in the evening. Course are not offered during the summer.

Students taking courses through the program for premedical purposes should know that the University will not process their medical school applications.

Application Process

The application deadlines for the 2007-2008 academic year are:

Fall Term 2007:

Graduate courses - Friday, June 29, 2007

Undergraduate courses - Friday, July 20, 2007

Spring Term 2008:

Graduate courses - Friday November 16, 2007

Undergraduate courses - Friday November 30, 2007

Application materials include:

• completed application form with biographical and educational information, statement of academic purpose, and proposed course selection
• official transcripts of all college-level and graduate work
• results of any standardized tests taken (SAT, ACH, CLEP, GRE)
• two letters of academic reference that comment in detail on the applicant's academic potential

A brief interview with the director of the Program in Continuing Education may be required for first-time applicants to the program.

If cancellation occurs after the first day of classes, please refer to the "Payment of Fees and Charges" section in the Undergraduate Announcement.

Application Information

An application and a course offerings guide are available in November and April. Course offerings for the upcoming term are available online at http://registrar1.princeton.edu/course/course.cfm

A hard copy of Course Offerings is available at the Continuing Education Office at no charge or will be mailed at a cost of $5.00.

Interested applicants should contact:

Program in Continuing Education

Office of Community and Regional Affairs

Princeton University
22 Chambers Street, Suite 101 Princeton, NJ 08542
Telephone: 609-258-5226
e-mail: Continuing Education

Other course-related publications:

The Undergraduate Announcement is available by mail. Send $4.00 to:

Admission Office
Princeton University

P.O. Box 430
Princeton, NJ 08542-0430

You may pick up a free copy at the Admission Office, Clio Hall, Second Floor, or visit the web site.

The Graduate School Announcement is available by mail. Send $10.00 (within the United States) or $15.00 (international) to:

Office of Graduate Admission
Princeton University

P.O. Box 270
Princeton, NJ 08542-0270

You may pick up a free copy at the Office of Graduate Admission, Clio Hall, Ground Floor, or visit the web site.

Send check or money order, not cash, payable to Princeton University for either catalog.

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