A department entered after arrival
Princeton says students apply to the University, not to departments, and A.B. students choose a major in the spring of the sophomore year.
Undergraduate · Princeton
Princeton Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: evolution, ecology and fieldwork
Princeton admits students to the University, not to a department, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is one of the A.B. majors they can choose once enrolled. The Undergraduate Announcement for 2026-2027 describes environmental biology as the science of nature and its interface with humanity, built on required evolution and ecology courses, quantitative training and independent research. This guide sets out that documented structure for current students. It does not present it as a confirmed requirement for 2028 entrants, and makes no claim of a separate application to the major.
Official information · read 1 November 2026, no entry-year label
What Princeton says about Princeton Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Taken from the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology entry in the Princeton Undergraduate Announcement 2026-2027, Princeton Admission's Academics, Standardized Testing and International Students pages, read on 1 November 2026. The pages carry no entry-year label, so for a 2028-entry application every statement below is evidence for the previous cycle and may change; check Princeton's pages for the 2028-entry details.
Evolution and ecology are required
All EEB majors take EEB 309 and EEB 321, then complete the remaining departmental courses.
Eight upper-level departmental courses
At least six must be EEB courses; up to two may come from an approved list in other departments.
A broad science base first
Prerequisites cover biology, calculus, chemistry, physics and statistics, normally by the end of sophomore year.
A senior thesis or independent project
Princeton says every senior writes a thesis or, in some engineering departments, undertakes a substantial independent project.
The SAT or ACT is required
Princeton says fall 2028 first-year applicants need to submit either SAT or ACT scores.
Official sources
- Princeton Admission: Academicsadmission.princeton.edu
- Princeton Undergraduate Announcement 2026-2027: Ecology and Evolutionary Biologyua.princeton.edu
- Princeton Admission: Standardized Testingadmission.princeton.edu
Read on 1 November 2026 on the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology entry in the Princeton Undergraduate Announcement 2026-2027, Princeton Admission's Academics, Standardized Testing and International Students pages, which describes 2027 entry. The pages carry no entry-year label. Princeton's department website, the full course descriptions, deadlines and financial aid were not read and are not stated.
The department
What the Announcement says the major requires
The Announcement describes EEB as integrating evolution, ecology, behaviour and conservation, approached with quantitative techniques. The plan of study aims to give command of the fundamentals through EEB 309 and EEB 321, followed by six further departmental courses, with hands-on field-based and laboratory-based courses. Prerequisites include introductory biology (EEB 211 and MOL/EEB 214), calculus, introductory chemistry, the first term of introductory physics and a statistics course. Independent work follows: a research methods course, a junior paper and a year-long senior thesis (EEB 498-499). This guide did not read the department website, the approved non-EEB course list or the course descriptions.
Is it the right department?
EEB beside other biological sciences
Princeton describes these separately, so the choice is made after admission. Avandy's comparison is general.
EEB fits if
you want organisms, populations and ecosystems studied in the field as well as the lab, with evolution and ecology at the core.
Neuroscience fits if
your interest is the brain. Avandy's Princeton Neuroscience guide covers that major.
A molecular route fits if
your interest is cells and molecules. this guide did not read Princeton's Molecular Biology pages.
Admission and testing
A Princeton application and the SAT or ACT
Princeton asks for an academic record that includes internal grades and marks from external exams such as A levels or the IB, with predicted or achieved results sent as they become available. It says first-year applicants for fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores. The department is chosen after enrolment, not applied for separately. This guide states no score.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not Princeton's.
Does fieldwork or ecological and evolutionary theory attract you more than molecular detail?
EEB's required courses are evolution and ecology.
Are you comfortable with statistics and calculus as tools?
Both are listed prerequisites.
Can you plan the SAT or ACT with your A levels or IB?
Princeton says fall 2028 first-year applicants need to submit one of them.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Princeton's pages carry no entry-year label, so nothing on them is confirmed for 2028 entry. Use them to understand the structure of the application, then check Princeton's own pages for the 2028-entry details.
The Princeton Undergraduate Announcement 2026-2027 entry for the major, read on 1 November 2026: a documented major structure for current students, not a confirmed requirement for students entering in 2028
Princeton's University-wide admission pages for fall 2028, which set the testing and application rules this guide reports
Anything specific to the major requirements that will apply to 2028 entrants: not published
This guide has not read it. Check the Announcement edition that applies when you enrol.
What to do now
Read the Undergraduate Announcement entry for the major and plan the SAT or ACT alongside your A levels or IB.
Support
Independent support with planning your own application
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with Princeton University or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here is limited to understanding the requirements and planning the applicant's own work; Avandy does not write or edit essays, does not submit any materials and has no partnership with Princeton University. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply directly to Princeton Ecology and Evolutionary Biology?
No. Princeton says students apply to the University, not to individual departments, programs or schools.
Which courses are compulsory?
EEB 309 (evolution) and EEB 321 (ecology) for all majors, in the Announcement's wording.
Is there fieldwork?
The department says it offers field-based courses, locally and internationally, and describes a Panama Student Abroad trip.
Can pass/D/fail courses count?
No. The Announcement says no course taken pass/D/fail counts toward the major.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Princeton says first-year applicants seeking to enrol in fall 2028 will need to submit either SAT or ACT scores.
Do A levels and the IB count?
Princeton asks for marks from external exams such as British A levels or the International Baccalaureate, with predicted or achieved results as they become available.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are Princeton's wording with no entry-year label. Check Princeton's pages again when Princeton publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about Princeton Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their biology, chemistry and statistics, their interest in field research and their SAT or ACT plan, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.