Graduate Certificate in Computational Science & Engineering
Q: Is the graduate certificate in Computational Science & Engineering (CSE) strictly restricted to current Princeton graduate students? I would be interested in participating but I have no official affiliation with the university.
A: Yes, only current graduate students enrolled at Princeton University are eligible to participate in the graduate certificate.
Q: Will the graduate certificate appear on my transcript after I have completed it?
A: Yes, the graduate certificate in CSE will be recorded in your official transcript.
Q: Is there a grade or GPA requirement for the required courses/electives?
A: No, there is no grade requirement.
Q: I have met all the requirements except the research seminar. I think the best opportunity for me is the FPO in our department, which is open to the public (all audience from different disciplines) and long enough to meet the time requirement. Since I will graduate soon and there are not a lot of seminar opportunities for us in our department, I'm wondering whether it is ok for me to use this one to meet the requirement?
A: Yes, as long as the FPO involves at least a 30-minute open presentation. Also make sure that you secure a letter from your adviser outlining the role of computation in your thesis. He/she needs to certify that your work represents a significant advance in the field.
Q: How do I go about coordinating with PICSciE and what the specific requirements are for the certificate concerning giving a seminar? I have to date, actually given several presentations at department symposia and meetings (~ 1 hr in length) on my research so I am not sure if anything I have already done qualifies, but if not, I was wondering if you could let me know what I can do to get the ball rolling on this.
A: The seminars you have already given are precisely what we are looking for, however, we would like to advertise them more broadly to others in the certificate program so that others can attend if interested. If you are giving a seminar in the coming year, just let us know the date and time so we can advertise it. If not, then we can make an exception in this case, and if you send us the date, time, place, and title of a presentation you have already given, we can count that as fulfilling the seminar requirement.
Q: I am currently starting my fifth year of graduate school and it will be difficult for me to finish all the requirements of this certificate within a year. So I'm wondering if I apply, will I be able to continue to fulfill the requirements (especially taking courses) when I am in "Degree Completion Enrollment"?
A: As long as students fulfill all the requirements by the time of their FPO, that is OK. They do not have to do it before they go on DCE status. In fact, it would be impossible for them to finish their thesis -- one of the requirements -- before they go on DCE.
Q: For DCE (Degree Completion Enrollment) students, we actually are not allowed to take courses. Will this program grant us permission to take courses when we are in DCE?
A: No, the certificate program does not have the authority to authorize you to take courses outside of your department or graduate student rules. You would have to finish taking the course requirements before you go on DCE status.
Q: Should I apply before or after I complete all the requirements?
A: Either way is fine but better to apply before you complete the requirements so you're in the know if there any important announcements or updates about the certificate program.
Q: I am a 4th year Ph.D. student currently signed up for the graduate certificate in computational and information science. I have taken APC 524 and APC 523. I am currently finishing up COS 424 and was wondering if i can take it pass/fail instead of a grade. In other words, if I do take it pass/fail will the course still count for the certificate?
A: If you have already taken both APC523 and APC524, you do not need COS424 for the certificate (you only have to take 2 of the 3 core courses). Thus, you could take it P/F. Otherwise, our policy is that you need to take the courses for credit for the certificate. But if you are taking COS 424 as the elective for the certificate, it has to be taken for a grade, unless it is a department specialty that is only offered P/F.