Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I receive this certificate if I graduate in 2027 or later?
CITP is moving from the Technology and Society certificate, Information Technology Track to a minor program with a different name and different requirements. CITP will no longer sponsor the Technology & Society certificate after spring semester 2026. Information about the requirements for the new minor program should be available sometime during the 2024-25 academic year.
I am not a Princeton undergraduate student. Can I still apply to the Program in Technology and Society, Information Technology Track?
No. You must be a Princeton undergraduate student to receive this certificate.
How does the TS certificate relate to the Program in Applications of Computing?
The T&S certificate is for students from all backgrounds who want to study the intersection of computing and society. Applications of Computing is for non-CS majors who want to study computing—at another university it might be called a “minor in Computer Science”.
Can I substitute another course for one of the required courses?
Substitutions must be consistent with the goals and structure of the program. Any substitution must be approved in advance by the director of the Information Technology Track. Please email the request to the Information Technology Track Program Manager, Laura Cummings-Abdo, .
Can I take any of the courses as PDF?
Yes, you may take one course out of the six required as a PDF course, and this does include the core course. All other courses must be taken for a letter grade.
What else is required to receive this certificate?
Along with the course work, a semester of independent work research along with the requirement of providing a two- to three-page paper about your independent work is also required to receive the T&S, Information Technology Track certificate upon graduation.
Do you need to be in a specific major to apply for the T&S, Information Technology Track certificate?
No, as long as you fulfill all the certificate requirements you will receive the certificate upon graduation.
Can I get a T&S, Information Technology Track certificate and another certificate at the same time?
Yes, as long as you meet the requirements for both.
Can I use courses that count toward my major as T&S, Information Technology Track certificate courses?
Yes, as long as the courses are listed in our current course list. Please note your major may have limitations, so please check with your undergraduate adviser regarding your major requirements.
How do I apply for the T&S, Information Technology Track certificate?
The application for students who will graduate in spring 2025 or 2026 can be found here. You will receive a welcome email from the Program Manager, Laura Cummings-Abdo, and will see the certificate on your TigerHub records shortly thereafter. If you ever decide you no longer want to pursue the certificate, let Laura know and she will remove the certificate from your student records. (The application for the new minor program for students graduating in spring 2027 and beyond will be posted once the minor program is approved.)
Independent Work Requirements
As stated above, beside the course work, one semester of independent work and writing a two-to three page paper about your independent work research is required to earn the T&S certificate. This work may be part of your junior paper or a chapter or two of your senior thesis.
Do I have to get my independent work approved, and if so, is there a deadline date?
Yes, your independent work proposal for the certificate must be approved in advance by the director of the information technology track, and must be approved by December 10 of your senior year. If you are doing your independent work as part of your junior paper, you must make sure you get the work approved in advance of doing the research. All junior work proposals must be approved by March 1 of your junior year.
Can I turn in my thesis paper as the independent work for the T&S certificate?
No, your independent work may be a chapter or two of your thesis, but it is not your thesis in its entirety. There are special criteria for the approval and fulfilling of the independent work for the certificate, and it is only this research that should be included in your presentation at the symposium, and when writing the required paper should not be referred to as your “thesis.”
My independent work advances understanding of society and uses technology, but it was not approved. Why?
Independent work must include research of a technology that relates to society, which then may have possible policy implications that could arise from it. We expect independent work by students from technical disciplines to engage directly with the sociological, humanistic, or policy components of the technology in question. Please note that essentially all of computer science and engineering is ultimately motivated by the betterment of society, but that is not sufficient by itself. Independent work must explore the interface between technology and society.
Is anything else required?
Yes, you are also required to submit a title and short description of your independent work for our Certificate Graduates webpage. The description should include a summary version of your proposal, the research conducted, including technology used, and the conclusions/results attained after completing the research.
What if I have more questions?
Please contact the program manager of the Information Technology Track, Laura Cummings-Abdo, .