A: The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) offers a multidisciplinary liberal arts major for students who are interested in public service and international affairs. The curriculum enables students to acquire the tools, understanding, and habits of mind necessary to investigate and engage with policy questions of their choosing. Students will apply the theory and methods from multiple disciplines to the practice and analysis of a variety of topics under the guidance of our faculty and leading visiting policy practitioners.

A: The multidisciplinary nature of SPIA provides a curriculum structure that allows students to pursue a wide range of interests within public policy. For example, look through our long list of approved electives that students may take to complete their SPIA requirements. Please review the curriculum website for more details about SPIA.

A: There are four prerequisite courses that need to be completed prior to the end of your 2nd year in order to be enrolled into SPIA as a Junior. The list of prerequisite requirements can be found on our curriculum page. 

A: All Princeton A.B. students declare their majors during the Sophomore spring semester at Princeton. Please review the University’s Academic Calendar for specific deadlines.

A: After declaring as a SPIA major, you will be assigned to an advisor by SPIA’s Undergraduate Program Office (UPO). Your advisor will help support you through your time at SPIA and ensure that you have the information and resources you need for an enriching and productive SPIA experience. For more information on how advising is handled at SPIA, please visit our SPIA Advising site.

A: We will be following the Princeton University Academic Calendar, created and updated by the Office of the Registrar, for our major registration dates. Students will need to meet with their advisor at least once per semester before each registration period to review one’s Academic Planning Form and ensure students are making good academic progress and planning properly.

A: SPIA Forms & Resources website includes all the forms you need during your time as a SPIA student. 

A: The major consists of seven core courses and six electives (two courses out of the prerequisites, core and electives should be focused on a certain region to fulfill the regional focus requirement). Students are also required to complete independent work through the Junior Paper and Senior Thesis requirements. SPIA students will also need to complete a Cross-Cultural/Field-Experience requirement before graduation.

A: Many of our electives are seminar-type classes where course enrollment varies from eight to 25 students. Core courses may be larger in size, reaching up to 150 students.

A: This requirement may be satisfied in a number of ways, including but not limited to semester study abroad, Princeton summer study abroad, Princeton summer language study abroad, policy-relevant summer jobs domestic or abroad, ROTC training, senior thesis research in the field, extended service in an underserved community, or an internship involving public policy work in a nonprofit, government, or international agency such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the US Congress, or a state or federal agency. This requirement should be completed prior to the second semester of your senior year and must be completed prior to graduation. Details of this requirement can be found on the linked SPIA curriculum page under Cross-Cultural or Field Experience Requirement. Work at for-profit companies will not fulfill this requirement. We recommend that students check with the Undergraduate Program Office to confirm that your intended activity meets the Cross-Cultural/Field Experience requirement.

A: Yes! Students are eligible to study abroad during their junior fall semester (at any OIP-approved location), junior spring (at the University of Cape Town), or senior fall (at any OIP-approved location). Please be sure to meet with your advisor to discuss your study abroad plans early. For more information about studying abroad as a SPIA student, please visit our International Programs page.

A: Yes: with prior approval, up to three elective courses can be taken at other institutions and transferred in to count toward your SPIA requirements. The full process on how to seek transfer credit approval can be found here. It is important to start this process as early as possible to ensure that there is enough time to go through the approval process.

A: Many departments across Princeton do not allow one to change their major after the start of junior year. If you are considering a major change, please contact your Residential College Dean to discuss your options.

A: Your Research Seminar (SPI 300) must be completed in the spring of your junior year, unless you are studying abroad during the spring semester in which case you will need to take the Research Seminar in your junior fall semester prior to going abroad. A choice form will be sent out to juniors, and on this form you will rank the research seminar options based on your interest. You will be placed into a section based on this ranking, and we try to make every effort to place students within their first or second choice (although this is not guaranteed). Please note that SPI 299 (Introduction to Research Design) is taken in the Fall of your junior year to help orient you with designing a research question and designing a method to address your research question. SPI 299 and SPI 300 are designed to support you in the writing and completion of your junior paper.

A: Your Policy Task Force (SPI 301) must be completed during your junior year in either the Fall or the Spring semester. SPI 298 (Introduction to Public Policy) must be completed before taking the Policy Task Force. A choice form will be sent to all rising juniors after they declare SPIA, and on this form you will rank your top Policy Task Force preferences. Both the fall and spring options will be listed on the form. You will be placed into a section based on this ranking, and we try to make every effort to place students within their first or second choice (although this is not guaranteed).

A: Your Research Seminar (SPI 300) instructor also serves as your JP advisor. Thus, when you note your Research Seminar preferences you are also identifying the general topic of your JP and JP advisor.

A: The Policy Advocacy Clinic is a unique experiential program that immerses students in the policy-making process through both in-class instruction and hands-on engagement. It teaches students how to find policy solutions for social problems and then engages the cohort in campaigns to advance those policies. This is a full junior year experience with SPI 490 (elective) in the fall semester and SPI 301 (policy task force) in the spring semester. Completing this sequence will also count as your field experience requirement. Interested students will need to apply for this experience at the end of their sophomore year. The UPO hosts an information session each spring to go over the program and answer questions.

Please refer to the Policy Research Seminar page to find the most up-to-date “Guide to Junior Independent Work” manual. This manual is updated every summer and includes further research resources such as the Stokes Library guide, Library Research Tips, and our SPIA research 1-pager.

A: PLEASE NOTE: This is only relevant for those in the Class of 2025. Students majoring in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs must complete at least one foreign language course beyond the current University requirement. This can be done:

1. By taking an additional course (200 or 300 level) in the language used to meet the University requirement. (Note, where upper-level courses are not available, e.g., ASL or Swahili, students will have to take a course at least at the 102 level in another language.) Either a language course or a subject matter course taught in the foreign language may count,
   OR
2. By taking a course up to and through the 102 level in a language other than the one used to fulfill the University foreign language requirement.

This information can also be found on our curriculum page linked here. Please be sure to look at the curriculum requirements for the Class of 2025.

A: The Senior Thesis Advisor Selection Guide, is a great tool to help you explore the many faculty that are available to serve as a thesis advisor. This tool allows you to filter faculty by policy areas. Also consider approaching faculty you’ve worked with in the past and with whom you’ve had a good working relationship. The Undergraduate Program Office advisors are also a great resource to help you find a thesis advisor. 

A: The IRB (Institutional Review Board) mission is to protect the rights, privacy, and welfare of human participants in research conducted by faculty, staff, and students. The linked website provides information on the policies, guidelines, forms, and trainings needed to meet the requirements of the IRB. You can also review the Senior Independent Work manual to review the section on “Principles of Ethical Interviewing”.

Please review the SPIA Senior Thesis page for comprehensive information on the senior thesis. This manual is updated every summer and includes further research resources such as the Stokes Library guide, Library Research Tips, and our SPIA research 1-pager.

Browsing the SPIA Senior Thesis Database is also a useful resource to see what kind of topics/questions have been researched in the past. You can also find which faculty have served as thesis advisors on specific topics. Use the search function to narrow down by keyword.

Students are also encouraged to meet with our faculty chair and program director to discuss any questions or issues related to the senior thesis as early in the process as possible.

A: For students that are interested in becoming a UCA, please read the linked policy set by the Office of the Dean of the College. The Undergraduate Program Office will send out an invitation to apply for this position prior to the start of each semester.

A: Honors in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs are awarded based on a ranking by the weighted average of departmental grades. Note, an individual course may be included only once in the calculation and students may not select a course for which a PDF option was chosen.

• Six graded courses — 50%
  1. Core Microeconomics course
  2. Core Politics course
  3. Core Sociology or Psychology course
  4. Core Science Policy course
  5. Core Ethics course
  6. Research Seminar (SPI 403 if taken in the Fall or SPI 404 if taken in the Spring)
• 1st semester JP — 10%
• 2nd semester JP — 10%
• Senior Thesis — 25%
• Senior Comprehensive Exam — 5%

Please visit the Honors site for the most up-to-date information.

A: SPIA graduates pursue a wide range of careers, including positions in local, state, and federal government agencies (Capitol Hill, State Department, international and multilateral organizations, private, for-profit companies), law school, medical school, and graduate school. As an undergraduate major, students acquire the tools to understand and analyze public policy. 

A: The Princeton Center for Career Development provides many services to students to help find internship opportunities as well as prepare students to be able to take on the entire application process. SPIA also provides career development through advisement, professional development programming and networking events. Internships, fellowships, and other employment opportunities are also posted on our Fresh from the Fountain online bulletin board.

A: Many SPIA students consider postgraduate fellowships such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Marshall, Boren, and Schwarzman Fellowships to name a few. Planning for fellowships should begin in the spring of your junior year as applications require many components such as recommendation letters, personal statements, and more. For more information on fellowships, please review the Fellowship Advising page and connect with a fellowship advisor.

A: The Princeton Center for Career Development provides a pre-law guide and has a dedicated pre-law advisor. Within SPIA, there is also the Program in Law and Public Policy that provides programming and courses for those interested in pursuing a public policy track within law.

A: Please visit studentfunding.princeton.edu. After logging in, you will be able to search for Undergraduate Internships using the ‘Activity’ dropdown box.

A: Actively declared and enrolled rising SPIA Juniors and rising SPIA Seniors are eligible to apply. Students on leave are not eligible for summer funding.

A: Please visit the travel registration system: https://enrollmytrip.princeton.edu/login and follow the steps to complete the “Enroll My Trip” function.

A: Once you complete your travel registration, please ensure that your project and travel enrollment are linked. See article for instructions. 

A: Internships must be a minimum of 6 weeks full-time. Most internships will run for 6-12 weeks. SPIA may provide funding for over 12 weeks if the internship does not carry into the academic semester. An updated commitment letter is necessary for any additional funding requests.

A: A commitment letter is a document issued by your internship manager, indicating the length of the internship and that it is unpaid. This will need to be uploaded to SAFE as part of your application.

A: SPIA will fund students $700 per week depending on location. If the location of the internship is in a high cost of living location, students may be eligible for up to $800 per week.

A: SPIA does not provide “top-up funding”. Students who are already being funded through a Princeton funding source are ineligible for SPIA internship funding.

A: After submitting your application, a faculty committee conducts a review to evaluate the application and determine the awarded amount. Once the funding is awarded, you must log into the SAFE system to accept this award and fulfill all outstanding requirements. Once all requirements are met, the funds will then be disbursed to you.

A: Your funds will be sent to your bank account on file. This process usually takes 2 business days after the award has been disbursed.

A: Students will be asked to submit a short evaluation of their internship to the SPIA Undergraduate Program office.

A: Please consult the university's international travel guidelines to confirm your travel location is permissible: https://international.princeton.edu/GSS-travel-policy.

A: Yes, you will have to pay taxes as this is considered income. For more information, please visit https://finance.princeton.edu/risk-management-tax-rents-mortgages/tax-compliance/student-tax-information/scholarships-and.

A: No, grants are for substantive internships in governmental or non-profit organizations doing policy work in public and international affairs in the U.S. or abroad. Internships must be unpaid, full-time, and last a minimum of six weeks in order to be eligible for summer internship funding.

A. Please visit studentfunding.princeton.edu. After logging in, you will be able to search for Undergraduate Senior Thesis Research using the ‘Activity’ dropdown box.

The “Activity” is entitled “Undergraduate Senior Thesis”. The “Location” should be marked “Off Campus (Domestic)” even if you are traveling internationally.

A: Fall Break 2024:  Application dates: 8/26/2024 - 9/26/2024; Decision period: 9/30/2024 - 10/11/2024       

    Winter Break 2025:  Application dates: 8/26/2024 - 11/17/2024; Decision period: 12/2/2024 - 12/6/2024

    Summer 2025: Application dates: 3/26/2025 - 4/20/2025; Decision period: 5/12/2025 - 5/16/2025

A: Actively declared and enrolled SPIA Seniors are eligible to apply. Students on leave are not eligible.

A: Yes, students should identify thesis advisors who match their interests and possible thesis topics. Please use this tool to help in your search: The Senior Thesis Advisor Selection Guide.

Your thesis advisor will have to fill out an advisor evaluation form based on your funding application. The advisor evaluation is used to determine your eligibility for funding.

A: Please visit the travel registration system: https://enrollmytrip.princeton.edu/login and follow the steps to complete the “Enroll My Trip” function.

A: Once you complete your travel registration, please ensure that your project and travel enrollment are linked. See article for instructions. 

A: Please consult the university's international travel guidelines to confirm your travel location is permissible: https://international.princeton.edu/GSS-travel-policy.

A: Please read the IRB requirements and contact them if necessary in order to make this determination before submitting your application.

A: A strong funding application will prove the necessity for research in the field. For example, observing constituents in their environment, visiting archives that cannot be accessed electronically, or interviewing officials in person so that nothing gets lost in translation or via Zoom/phone. Research into reasonable prices (for lodging, transportation, etc.) should be presented in your proposed budget, and a strong endorsement by your faculty advisor is also key.

It is also best practice to apply for multiple funding sources as there may be departments that are aligned with your research question. Be sure to browse all opportunities in SAFE and apply to any/all relevant departments when completing your application.

A: After submitting your application, it undergoes a review to determine the award amount. If you accept this award and fulfill all outstanding requirements, the funds will then be disbursed to you.

A: Your funds will be sent to your account on file. This process usually takes 2 business days after the award has been disbursed.

A: Yes, you will have to pay taxes as this is considered income. For more information, please visit the Office of Finance & Treasury’s Scholarship and Fellowships page.

A: Travel to/from the research site, local lodging, and local transportation are covered through research funding. If you will be renting a car as part of your research project, you must have completed the University's driver certification program. Rental cars will only be considered for locations where local transportation is limited.

Conference funding, computer hardware, and personal items are not covered through thesis research funding. You may, however, apply for conference funding through the Office of Undergraduate Research.