mit phd degree requirements

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What you need to do

You are responsible for understanding and fulfilling all graduation requirements and must complete the following steps prior to the degree meeting of the Graduate Academic Performance Group (GAP).

1. Submit your degree application.

Your advanced degree is recommended by your department and approved at the GAP degree meeting.

• Go to WebSIS to submit your degree application for your advanced degree.
• Indicate whether you plan to attend Commencement , or pick up your diploma in Room 5-117 beginning the Tuesday after Commencement, or have your diploma mailed to you. You will be allowed to attend Commencement only if you provide this information.
• The name on your diploma must be your legal name, but you may choose whether or not to include your middle name. Include accent marks, if applicable. 
• Limit advanced degree thesis titles to 18 words and try to write out technical terms rather than using special notations (subscripts, Greek letters, etc.).
• Contact us with questions related to advanced degree graduation. 

Key deadlines

Late applications are subject to a fee. We recommend that you submit an application even if you are unsure you will finish. There is no fee for coming off a degree list.

• September graduates — apply by June.
• February graduates — apply by September.
• Spring graduates — apply by February.

2. Confirm and complete academic requirements.

All graduate students must complete the advanced degree requirements .

• Review the degree requirements with your department to confirm that you will have successfully completed them in prior terms or during your final term.
• If you have any outstanding transfer credit , you must file a Request for Additional Credit Form signed by the MIT transfer credit examiner, and have the other school send an official transcript, noting the class and final grade, to [email protected] or MIT Registrar’s Office, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 5-117, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

3. Clear degree holds.

Your degree may be held for unresolved financial obligations or conduct issues. Holds must be resolved before you can graduate.

• Check WebSIS to confirm that there are no outstanding charges or past due balances on your student account.
• Contact your student account counselor immediately if you have any pending departmental awards, unpaid sponsor billing, or outside scholarships.
• If you have been involved in a conduct case, check with the Office of Student Conduct to ensure there are no outstanding sanctions that would prevent you from graduating.
• If you have lived in an FSILG , you should check with the chapter’s treasurer to make sure that you have no unresolved obligations.

4. Complete loan exit counseling.

Graduating students who have borrowed through federal loan programs must complete online exit counseling. If you fail to do so, your degree may be withheld.

• Refer to the instructions in the loan exit counseling email sent by Student Financial Services . For assistance, please email [email protected] .

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Doctoral Degree and Requirements

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The doctoral program in DMSE provides an advanced educational experience that is versatile, intellectually challenging, and of enduring value for high-level careers in materials science and engineering. It develops students’ ability, confidence, and originality to grasp and solve challenging problems involving materials.

Required Subjects

The core courses define the basis of materials science and engineering as a discipline—what every PhD materials scientist or materials engineer from MIT ought to know. The first-year student seminars and core subjects provide a rigorous, unified foundation for subsequent advanced-level subjects and thesis research. Here are the required subjects:

• 3.20 (Materials at Equilibrium) (15 units, Year 1, fall)
• 3.22 (Structure and Mechanics of Materials) (12 units, Year 1, fall)
• 3.201 (Introduction to DMSE) (3 units, Year 1, fall)
• 3.21 (Kinetic Processes in Materials) (15 units, Year 1, spring)
• 3.23 (Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials) (12 units, Year 1, spring)
• 3.202 (Essential Research Skills) (3 units, Year 1, spring)
• 3.995 (First-Year Thesis Research) (18 units, Year 1, spring)

English Evaluation Test

International graduate students may be required to take the MIT English Evaluation Test upon arrival in the fall semester. Results from the test will indicate whether the student will be required to take an English class at MIT. Some students may qualify for a waiver of the English Evaluation Test:

• Students who studied at a US university or an international university whose primary language of instruction is English for at least three years and received a degree from that US/international university.
• Students whose language of instruction was English during primary and secondary school years.

The DMSE Graduate Academic Office informs incoming students by early summer if they qualify for this waiver.

Electives and Concentrations

Doctoral students must take three post-core graduate electives approved by the thesis committee. Refer to the MIT Subjects Listings and Schedule for the subjects offered and their schedules.

Graduate students can use the three electives to create a specialization or concentration in a particular research area of materials science and engineering, or they can choose a broader educational experience by picking subjects in three different areas.

Sample Concentration Areas

Students who choose a concentration area have several options. Below is a list of sample concentrations available.

• Electronic, magnetic, and photonic materials
• High-performance structural materials
• Computational materials science
• Biomaterials
• Polymeric materials
• Materials for energy and the environment
• Nanoscale materials
• Materials processing materials economics and manufacturing, entrepreneurship
• Laboratory/characterization/instrumentation
• Materials design
• Experimental/characterization computational materials application/design

Electives Outside the Department

Students may enroll in one non-DMSE graduate elective that is 9-12 units with the approval of their thesis committee. Students may propose to enroll in two or more non-DMSE graduate electives by submitting a petition to the Departmental Committee on Graduate Studies (DCGS). Submit the petition form in advance of enrolling in the subjects to the DMSE Graduate Academic Office for committee review, including a statement on why you would like to enroll in these subjects, your signature, and your thesis advisor’s signature.

• Download the Graduate Student Petition (pdf) and complete it.
• Send the completed petition to [email protected] .

The minor requirement is designed to encourage the development of intellectual breadth at an advanced level. A program of study must be discussed with and approved by a student’s research supervisor, so it should be proposed early in a student’s doctoral program.

DMSE Doctoral Track Students

There are two minor requirement options for DMSE graduate students on the doctoral track.

Academic Minor

Here are some general guidelines regarding an academic minor.

• The selected subjects may or may not be related to the thesis research area.
• The subjects taken must be at an advanced level. It is recommended that two graduate-level courses be taken (24 units).
• Minor programs composed of one graduate level and one advanced undergraduate-level course (24 units), or three advanced undergraduate courses (33 units) that were not used to obtain a bachelors or master’s degree may also be acceptable. An exception is a minor in a beginning Global Languages sequence in which two 9-unit G subjects would most likely be approved.

Teaching Minor

Only DMSE doctoral track students who have passed their doctoral examinations may submit a teaching minor program proposal. Students generally begin a teaching minor in Year 3 of graduate study. Here are some general guidelines:

• Students must serve as a teaching intern for two semesters. They are designated teaching interns during the semesters in which they are earning academic credit toward the teaching minor requirement.
• Students must earn 24 units of academic credit for 3.691-3.699 (Teaching Materials Science and Engineering).
• Students must take 3.69 (Teaching Fellows Seminar) while serving as a teaching intern. The subject is offered each fall semester and provides instruction on how to teach lectures and recitations; how to prepare a syllabus, writing assignments and examinations; grading; and how to resolve complaints.

Students must submit a form outlining the proposed minor program to the DCGS Chair for approval.

• Attach copies of the catalog descriptions of all subjects included in the program proposal form.
• List the subjects to be taken to fulfill the minor requirement.
• Preview the Minor Program Proposal (pdf) and prepare your responses. Then click the button below, add the responses, and submit the proposal via DocuSign.

DMSE Program in Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM) Doctoral Track Students

To complete the minor requirement, PPSM students must do the following:

• Take 3.20 (Materials at Equilibrium) and 3.21 (Kinetic Processes in Materials).
• Take one other graduate subject of at least 9 units that is not related to polymeric materials for academic credit.
• List the subjects to be taken to fulfill the minor requirement and submit the proposal. The written request will need to have the catalogue description of the third subject.
• Preview the Minor Program Proposal (pdf) and prepare your responses. Then click the button below, add your responses, and send the proposal via DocuSign.

Qualifying Exams

MIT requires that all doctoral students successfully complete written and oral evaluations to qualify as a candidate for the doctoral degree. The DMSE qualifying exams consist of two-step procedure.

Core Curriculum Assessment and First-Year Research Progress

In the first two semesters of the graduate program, doctoral track students enroll in the four core subjects:

• 3.20 (Materials at Equilibrium)
• 3.21 (Kinetic Processes in Materials)
• 3.22 (Structure and Mechanical Properties of Materials)
• 3.23 (Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials)
• 3.201 (Introduction to DMSE)
• 3.202 (Essential Research Skills)

Students must also demonstrate satisfactory performance in research, including the selection of a research group in the fall term and receive a “J” grade in 3.995 (First-Year Thesis Research) in spring term.

First-Year Performance Evaluation

DCGS evaluates first-year performance on a Pass/No Pass basis:

The student has successfully completed the first-year requirements and is eligible to register for step two of the qualifying procedure, the Thesis Area Examination.

The student has not fully completed the first-year requirements and is not eligible to register for the Thesis Area Examination without DCGS approval. In situations in which students complete only some of the requirements, DCGS will consult with the student’s advisor and the instructors of the core classes to develop a remediation plan (for example, retaking a course). If a student’s overall GPA is below 3.5 or the student earns more than one grade of C or lower in the core classes, the student will receive an official academic progress warning letter from the Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education, in addition to a DCGS remediation plan.

Thesis Area Examination

After completing the core curriculum and review of first-year research progress, students select a research project for their PhD thesis. Selection of this topic is a decision made in agreement with their advisor. The TAE tests the student’s preparedness to conduct PhD research and provides feedback on the chosen PhD thesis project.

• The TAE consists of a written proposal and an oral presentation of the proposed research to the student’s TAE Committee. The written proposal is due in mid-January before the oral examination.
• TAE oral examinations are administered during the first two weeks in the spring term of Year 2. The DMSE Graduate Academic Office schedules the TAE oral examination after confirmation of the TAE Committee with DCGS.

Preparation for the TAE requires that a student work through aspects of a successful research proposal, including motivation, context, hypothesis, work plans, methods, expected results, and impact. A working understanding of relevant concepts from materials science and engineering core knowledge should be demonstrated throughout.

TAE Committee

The Thesis Area Examination is administered by a TAE Chair and two committee members.

• The chair of the committee is appointed by DCGS: a DMSE faculty member whose principal area of research and intellectual pursuits differ from that of the student’s thesis advisor(s).
• The identities of the other committee members should be discussed between the student and thesis advisor(s). The student is responsible for contacting these potential committee members and requesting their participating as part of the student’s TAE committee. At least one of the other two faculty examiners must also be DMSE faculty. The third member of the committee may be an MIT DMSE senior research associate, lecturer, or senior lecturer. If the student wants a Thesis Committee member from outside of the department, that member can be on the thesis committee but will not be part of the TAE Committee.
• The thesis advisor(s) is not formally a member of the TAE Committee but is a non-voting attendee at the TAE who may make comments to the committee and provide information regarding the student and their research and progress following the examination after the student is excused from the examination room.

TAE Committee assignments are finalized by the end of October in the semester after the completion of the first-year requirements.

TAE Performance Evaluation

The TAE Committee evaluates performance on a Pass/Conditional Pass/No Pass basis:

The student has met all requirements to register in the program as a doctoral candidate starting the following term.

Conditional Pass

The student needs to address areas that require further mastery in the written proposal or oral presentation. The TAE Committee will outline an individualized remedial plan. After completing this requirement, the student will be eligible to register as a doctoral candidate.

The student is required to retake the TAE by scheduling another oral presentation and preparing another written proposal, if recommended, by the TAE Committee.

Doctoral Thesis

Doctoral candidates (who have passed the qualifying examinations) must complete a doctoral thesis that satisfies MIT and departmental requirements to receive the doctoral degree. General Institute Requirements are described in the MIT Bulletin and  MIT Graduate Policies and Procedures .

PhD Thesis Committee

The doctoral thesis committee advises the student on all aspects of the thesis experience, all the way up through the preparation and defense of the final thesis document. The student and thesis advisor will hold progress reviews with the thesis committee at least once a year. Written feedback to the student is required and also must be submitted to DCGS. The thesis advisor holds responsibility for assembling this written feedback and sharing it with the DMSE Graduate Academic Office and the student. After the TAE is completed, the final doctoral thesis committee is constituted of the members of the two (non-chair) Thesis Area Examination (TAE) committee members and the student’s advisor.

• The chair of the oral thesis area examination committee steps down.
• The final PhD Thesis Committee will have at least two members who are not advisors or co-advisors.
• At least half the members of the thesis committee must be DMSE faculty.

Petitions for thesis committee changes, including the addition of new committee members or committee members from outside of DMSE must be submitted the DCGS Chair.

• Download the  Graduate Student Petition (pdf) and complete it.
• Send the completed petition to  [email protected] .

Year 3 Update Meeting

After successful completion of the TAE, this meeting is held in the fall term or spring term of the student’s third year. The purpose of this meeting is to update the thesis committee of the student’s plans and progress and to seek guidance from the thesis committee on advancing toward the doctoral degree. Students must register for 3.998 (Doctoral Thesis Update Meeting). Starting with the thesis proposal as a point of departure, the student presents the revised vision of the path forward including challenges and obstacles. All members of the thesis committee are expected to be physically present at this meeting. This meeting is exclusive to the student and the thesis committee. The 3.998 Doctoral Thesis Update Meeting DocuSign Form must be sent to the DMSE Graduate Academic Office.

• Preview the  3.998 Doctoral Thesis Update Meeting Form (pdf) and prepare your responses. Then click the button below, add the responses, and send the form via DocuSign.

Plan-to-Finish Meeting

Approximately one year before the expected graduation, but no later than six months before the planned PhD defense, the student will schedule a Plan-to-Finish meeting with the thesis committee. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to determine whether the student will likely be ready for graduation within a year. The student will present the projected outline of the thesis, important data that will become part of the thesis, and what still needs to be done.   The student will prepare a written document for the committee that will include the following:

• Research results
• Graduation timeline
• List of papers published or in preparation
• List of classes the student has taken to satisfy the PhD course requirements

The document must delivered to the committee one week before the presentation. This presentation is exclusive to the student and the thesis committee. At the end of the meeting the committee decides whether the student is likely to proceed toward the PhD defense, or whether another Plan-to-Finish meeting is necessary. The committee will then prepare brief written feedback to the student.

Doctoral Thesis and Oral Defense

DMSE’s long-standing emphasis on original research is a key element in the candidate’s educational development.

• Scheduling of the final PhD defense can take place no earlier than six months after a successful Plan-to-Finish meeting.
• The PhD thesis will be delivered to the committee members one month before the defense. 
• The committee members will respond in two weeks with comments on the written document, giving the student two weeks to modify the thesis.
• At least one week before the defense the candidate will provide copies of the final thesis document to Thesis Committee members and to the DMSE Graduate Academic Office along with the confirmed date, time, and room for the defense.

Defense Process

The DMSE Graduate Academic Office will publicize the defense.

• The defense begins with a formal presentation of the thesis of approximately 45 minutes.
• The floor is then opened to questions from the general audience, which is then excused.
• The Thesis Committee continues the examination of the candidate in private.
• The candidate is finally excused from the room and the committee votes.
• A majority yes vote is required to approve the thesis.

Doctoral Thesis Examination Report Form

Before the thesis defense, the student must prepare the Doctoral Thesis Examination Report Form, filling out the top portion of the form—term, name and email address, dates of Plan-to-Finish Meeting, Thesis Defense, and Thesis Examination Committee Member names. Preview the  Doctoral Thesis Examination Report Form (pdf) and prepare your responses. Then click the button below, add the responses, and send the form via DocuSign.

Scheduling a presentation in May and August may be difficult because of faculty unavailability and availability of presentation rooms. Faculty are not on academic appointments in the summer and are often on travel. This may lead to the need to reschedule your defense, in some cases into the next term. 

Thesis Format

The usual thesis format, a cohesive document, is traditional. Occasionally, the thesis may separate naturally into two or more sections, which are more directly publishable individually.

• The thesis should include a general introduction, abstract, and conclusions.
• The sections should be arranged so that the document reads as a whole.
• Put detailed descriptions of procedures and tables of data in appendices so that the thesis sections may be comparable in length and scope to journal articles

Use of this alternate format does not imply a change in the requirement for original research, in the student/thesis advisor relationship, or in their respective roles in producing the thesis document, all of which still apply.

Communications Resources

Specifications for Thesis Presentation

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PhD Program

Year after year, our top-ranked PhD program sets the standard for graduate economics training across the country. Graduate students work closely with our world-class faculty to develop their own research and prepare to make impactful contributions to the field.

Our doctoral program enrolls 20-24 full-time students each year and students complete their degree in five to six years. Students undertake core coursework in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and are expected to complete two major and two minor fields in economics. Beyond the classroom, doctoral students work in close collaboration with faculty to develop their research capabilities, gaining hands-on experience in both theoretical and empirical projects.

How to apply

Students are admitted to the program once per year for entry in the fall. The online application opens on September 15 and closes on December 15.

Meet our students

Our PhD graduates go on to teach in leading economics departments, business schools, and schools of public policy, or pursue influential careers with organizations and businesses around the world. 

• Current MIT Graduate Students

Doctoral Programs in Computational Science and Engineering

Application & admission information.

The Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) offers two doctoral programs in computational science and engineering (CSE) – one leading to a standalone PhD degree in CSE offered entirely by CCSE ( CSE PhD ) and the other leading to an interdisciplinary PhD degree offered jointly with participating departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science ( Dept-CSE PhD ).

While both programs enable students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field via focused coursework and a thesis, they differ in essential ways. The standalone CSE PhD program is intended for students who plan to pursue research in cross-cutting methodological aspects of computational science. The resulting doctoral degree in Computational Science and Engineering is awarded by CCSE via the the Schwarzman College of Computing. In contrast, the interdisciplinary Dept-CSE PhD program is intended for students who are interested in computation in the context of a specific engineering or science discipline. For this reason, this degree is offered jointly with participating departments across the Institute; the interdisciplinary degree is awarded in a specially crafted thesis field that recognizes the student’s specialization in computation within the chosen engineering or science discipline.

Applicants to the standalone CSE PhD program are expected to have an undergraduate degree in CSE, applied mathematics, or another field that prepares them for an advanced degree in CSE. Applicants to the Dept-CSE PhD program should have an undergraduate degree in a related core disciplinary area as well as a strong foundation in applied mathematics, physics, or related fields. When completing the MIT CSE graduate application , students are expected to declare which of the two programs they are interested in. Admissions decisions will take into account these declared interests, along with each applicant’s academic background, preparation, and fit to the program they have selected.  All applicants are asked to specify MIT CCSE-affiliated faculty that best match their research interests; applicants to the Dept-CSE PhD program also select the home department(s) that best match. At the discretion of the admissions committee, Dept-CSE PhD applications might also be shared with a home department beyond those designated in the application. CSE PhD admissions decisions are at the sole discretion of CCSE; Dept-CSE PhD admission decisions are conducted jointly between CCSE and the home departments.

Please note: These are both doctoral programs in Computational Science and Engineering; applicants interested in Computer Science must apply to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science .

Important Dates

September 15: Application Opens December 1: Deadline to apply for admission* December – March: Application review period January – March: Decisions released on rolling basis

*All supplemental materials (e.g., transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation) must also be received by December 1. Application review begins on that date, and incomplete applications may not be reviewed. Please be sure that your recommenders are aware of this hard deadline, as we do not make exceptions. We also do not allow students to upload/submit material beyond what is required, such as degree certificates, extra recommendations, publications, etc.

A complete electronic CSE application includes the following:

• Three letters of recommendation ;
• Students admitted to the program will be required to supply official transcripts. Discrepancies between unofficial and official transcripts may result in the revocation of the admission offer.
• Statement of objectives (limited to approximately one page) and responses to department-specific prompts for Dept-CSE PhD applicants;
• Official GRE General Test score report , sent to MIT by ETS via institute code 3514 GRE REQUIREMENT WAIVED FOR FALL 2025 ;
• Official IELTS score report sent to MIT by IELTS†  (international applicants from non-English speaking countries only; see below for more information)
• Resume or CV , uploaded in PDF format;
• MIT graduate application fee of $75‡.

‡Application Fee

The MIT graduate application fee of $75.00 is a mandatory requirement set by the Institute payable by credit card. Please visit the MIT Graduate Admission Application Fee Waiver page for information about fee waiver eligibility and instructions.

Please note: CCSE cannot issue fee waivers; email requests for fee waivers sent to [email protected] will not receive a response.

Admissions Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

► Current MIT CSE SM Students: Please see the page for Current MIT Graduate Students .

GRE Requirement

GRE REQUIREMENT WAIVED FOR FALL 2025 All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Aptitude Test. The MIT code for submitting GRE score reports is 3514 (you do not need to list a department code). GRE scores must current; ETS considers scores valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested.

†English Language Proficiency Requirement

The CSE PhD program requires international applicants from non-English speaking countries to take the academic  version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  The IELTS exam measures one’s ability to communicate in English in four major skill areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.  A minimum IELTS score of 7 is required for admission.  For more information about the IELTS, and to find out where and how to take the exam, please visit the IELTS web site .

While we will also accept the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language), we strongly prefer the IELTS. The minimum TOEFL iBT score is 100.

This requirement is waived for those who can demonstrate that one or more of the following are true:

• English is/was the language of instruction in your four-year undergraduate program,
• English is the language of your employer/workplace for at least the last four years,
• English was your language of instruction in both primary and secondary schools.

Degree Requirements for Admission

To be admitted as a regular graduate student, an applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor’s degree is awarded before they enroll at MIT.

Applicants without an SM degree may apply to the CSE PhD program, however, the Departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Mechanical Engineering nominally require the completion of an SM degree before a student is considered a doctoral candidate. As a result, applicants to those departments holding only a bachelor’s degree are asked in the application to indicate whether they prefer to complete the CSE SM program or an SM through the home department.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment.  To read MIT’s most up-to-date nondiscrimination policy, please visit the Reference Publication Office’s nondiscrimination statement page .

Additional Information

For more details, as well as answers to most commonly asked questions regarding the admissions process to individual participating Dept-CSE PhD departments including details on financial support, applicants are referred to the website of the participating department of interest.

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Doctoral Subject Core

A two-subject core is required of all doctoral students.

Biological Engineering Core:

• 20.420J Principles of Molecular Bioengineering
• 20.440 Analysis of Biological Networks

Academic Program Restricted Electives

To enhance depth and breadth, the core subjects are supplemented by electives in science and/or engineering. The student in consultation with the advisor chooses four elective subjects. Elective subjects in three categories are acceptable upon approval by advisor and, for the subjects not listed here, the BE Graduate Program Chair.

• Biological Engineering Restricted Electives — Any Two Graduate Level Course 20 Subjects
• To provide breadth in engineering or science, at least one graduate-level subject approved by the BE Graduate Program Chair must be selected.
• To provide a firm foundation in modern biology, the student will be expected to have biochemistry and cell biology as prerequisites and then select one graduate-level subject in Biology. If biochemistry and/or cell biology have not been previously taken, it/they must be taken as remedial undergraduate subjects (7.05 or 5.07 for biochemistry, 7.06 for cell biology) before taking the graduate-level subject.

For more information on courses, see the course catalog .

The department offers programs covering a broad range of topics leading to the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Science degrees (the student chooses which to receive; they are functionally equivalent). Candidates are admitted to either the Pure or Applied Mathematics programs but are free to pursue interests in both groups. Of the roughly 120 Ph.D. students, about 2/3 are in Pure Mathematics, 1/3 in Applied Mathematics.

The two programs in Pure and Applied Mathematics offer basic and advanced classes in analysis, algebra, geometry, Lie theory, logic, number theory, probability, statistics, topology, astrophysics, combinatorics, fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, mathematics of data, and the theory of computation. In addition, many mathematically-oriented courses are offered by other departments. Students in Applied Mathematics are especially encouraged to take courses in engineering and scientific subjects related to their research.

All students pursue research under the supervision of the faculty , and are encouraged to take advantage of the many seminars and colloquia at MIT and in the Boston area.

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements consist of:

• Oral qualifying exam
• Classroom teaching
• Original thesis and defense

Prospective students are invited to consult the graduate career timeline for more information, and to read about the application procedure .

Graduate Co-Chairs

Graduate Student Issues, math graduate admissions

Jonathan Kelner , Davesh Maulik , and Zhiwei Yun

First-year applicants: Deadlines & requirements

The application.

The first-year application is closed in the MIT application portal .

Please note: You’re only allowed to apply once per entry year.

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Our admissions process is designed to be completed online. Creative portfolios in SlideRoom are available for researchers, performing artists, visual artists, and makers to submit supplemental materials.

If you must mail materials to MIT, please use this address:

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Other dates & deadlines

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• Early Action applicants will receive an admissions decision in mid-December
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• Admitted students must inform MIT of their enrollment decision by May 1

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Graduate study in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics includes graduate-level subjects in Course 16 and others at MIT, and research work culminating in a thesis. Degrees are awarded at the master’s and doctoral levels. The range of subject matter is described under  Graduate Fields of Study . Departmental research centers’ websites offer information on research interests. Detailed information may be obtained from the Department Academic Programs Office or from individual faculty members. For more information about MIT AeroAstro graduate degree programs, email [email protected] .

Master of Science (SM)

The Master of Science (SM) degree is a two-year graduate program with beginning research or design experience represented by the SM thesis. This degree prepares the graduate for an advanced position in the aerospace field, and provides a solid foundation for future doctoral study. The  general requirements for the Master of Science degree  are cited in the section on General Degree Requirements for graduate students. The specific departmental requirements include at least 66 graduate subject units, typically in subjects relevant to the candidate’s area of technical interest. Of the 66 units, at least 21 units must be in departmental subjects. To be credited toward the degree, graduate subjects must carry a grade of B or better. In addition, a 24-unit thesis is required beyond the 66 units of coursework. Full-time students normally must be in residence one full academic year. Special students admitted to the SM program in this department must enroll in and satisfactorily complete at least two graduate subjects while in residence (i.e., after being admitted as a degree candidate) regardless of the number of subjects completed before admission to the program. Students holding research assistantships typically require a longer period of residence. In addition, the department’s SM program requires one graduate-level mathematics subject. The requirement is satisfied only by graduate-level subjects on the list approved by the department graduate committee. The specific choice of math subjects is arranged individually by each student in consultation with their faculty advisor.

SM Requirements

• English evaluation Test (for non-native English-speakers if not previously satisfied at MIT)
• Technical writing requirement if not previously satisfied at MIT
• Math requirem ent
• 66 subject units, not including thesis units, in graduate subjects in the candidate’s area of technical interest
• Within the 66 subject units, a minimum of 21 units from AeroAstro subjects
• Classes taken on a pass/fail basis do not count towards degree requirements
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 4.0
• Term-by-term thesis (16THG) registration and progress evaluation
• Acceptable thesis. View SM Thesis Archive (via DSpace).

Doctoral Degree (Ph.D. or Sc.D.)

AeroAstro offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) doctoral degrees that emphasize in-depth study, with a significant research project in a focused area. The admission process for the department’s doctoral program is described previously in this section under Admission Requirements. The doctoral degree is awarded after completion of an individual course of study, submission, and defense of a thesis proposal, and submission and defense of a thesis embodying an original research contribution. The general requirements for this degree are given in the section on  General Degree Requirements . Program requirements are outlined in a booklet titled  The Doctoral Program [PDF] . After successful admission to the doctoral program, the doctoral candidate selects a field of study and research in consultation with the thesis supervisor and forms a doctoral thesis committee, which assists in the formulation of the candidate’s research and study programs and monitors his or her progress. Demonstrated competence for original research at the forefront of aerospace engineering is the final and main criterion for granting the doctoral degree. The candidate’s thesis serves in part to demonstrate such competence and, upon completion, is defended orally in a presentation to the faculty of the department, who may then recommend that the degree be awarded.

Doctoral Program Objectives & Outcomes

AeroAstro’s doctoral program objectives are:

• to produce original research and technologies critical to the engineering of aerospace vehicles, information, and systems.
• to educate future leaders in aerospace research and technology.

Upon graduation, our doctoral students will have:

• a strong foundation in analytical skills and reasoning
• the ability to solve challenging, engineering problems
• an understanding of the importance and strategic value of their research
• the ability to communicate their research with context and clarity

These degrees, for which the requirements are identical, are for students who wish to carry out original research in a focused field, and already hold a master’s degree. AeroAstro offers doctoral degrees in 13 fields. A description of general MIT doctoral requirements appears in the MIT Course Catalogue .

Ph.D./Sc.D. Requirements

• Qualifying Field Evaluation, completed within three terms of entering the department. (See below for more information.)
• Completion of Research Process and Communication (RPC) Course
• Formation of a thesis committee and first meeting confirmed by filing a virtual Doctoral Record Card within 2 regular terms of admission to the doctoral program.
• Completion of the major concentration with a minimum of 60 units and completion of the minor concentration with a minimum of 30 units, as approved by the student’s thesis committee
• Math requireme nt
• Minimum cumulative 4.4 grade point average
• Thesis proposal and defense within 3 regular terms of admission into the doctoral program.
• Successful thesis submission and defense within 4 regular terms of passing the thesis proposal defense. View the doctoral thesis archive (via DSpace.)

See the AeroAstro Doctoral Program Guide for additional guidelines and the PhD Quick Guide for a complete overview.

Doctoral Qualifying Field Evaluation

A student seeking entrance to the department’s doctoral program must complete a course-based evaluation in their chosen field of study . Information about the doctoral program and the doctoral qualifying process can be found in the department’s Doctoral Program Guide .

Field Evaluation Process Timeline

Thesis proposal and defense examples

The following are a few examples of successfully written and defended thesis proposals by doctoral candidates within AeroAstro. These may be downloaded and examined as part of your preparation for the Thesis Proposal Defense, a required part of our doctoral program.

• Xun Huan – A Bayesian Approach to Optimal Sequential Experimental Design Using Approximate Dynamic Programming – 2013 – Proposal – Defense
• Ashley Carlton – Scientific Imagers as High-Energy Radiation Sensors – 2017 – Proposal – Defense
• Maria de Soria Santacruz Pich – Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves for RBR Applications – 2013 – Proposal – Defense

Interdisciplinary Programs

The department participates in several interdisciplinary fields at the graduate level, which are of special importance for aeronautics and astronautics in both research and the curriculum.

Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Statistics

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics provides training in statistics, including classical statistics and probability as well as computation and data analysis, to students who wish to integrate these valuable skills into their primary academic program. The program is administered jointly by the departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Economics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Political Science, and the Statistics and Data Science Center within the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. It is open to current doctoral students in participating departments. For more information, including department-specific requirements, see the  full program description  under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Air Transportation

For students interested in a career in flight transportation, a program is available that incorporates a broader graduate education in disciplines such as economics, management, and operations research than is normally pursued by candidates for degrees in engineering. Graduate research emphasizes one of the four areas of flight transportation: airport planning and design, air traffic control, air transportation systems analysis, and airline economics and management, with subjects selected appropriately from those available in the departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Economics, and the interdepartmental Master of Science in Transportation (MST) program. Doctoral students may pursue a Ph.D. with specialization in air transportation in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics or in the interdepartmental Ph.D. program in transportation or in the Ph.D. program of the Operations Research Center (see the section on Graduate Programs in Operations Research under Research and Study).

Biomedical Engineering

The department offers opportunities for students interested in biomedical instrumentation and physiological control systems where the disciplines involved in aeronautics and astronautics are applied to biology and medicine. Graduate study combining aerospace engineering with biomedical engineering may be pursued through the Bioastronautics program offered as part of the Medical Engineering and Medical Physics Ph.D. program in the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) via the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST). Students wishing to pursue a degree through HST must apply to that graduate program. At the master’s degree level, students in the department may specialize in biomedical engineering research, emphasizing space life sciences and life support, instrumentation and control, or in human factors engineering and in instrumentation and statistics. Most biomedical engineering research in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is conducted in the Human Systems Laboratory.

Today, the aerospace sector has returned to its original roots of innovation and entrepreneurship, driven not exclusively by large government or corporate entities, but by small and mid-size firms. These are experimenting with, and launching electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing and electric Short Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL and eSTOL) vehicles, cutting-edge CubeSat missions, and new drone-enabled services that offer data analytics in agriculture, renewable energy and in other sectors. Students in Aerospace Engineering and related fields have expressed a strong desire to hear from and learn about how to launch their own ventures and initiatives in aerospace. Responding to this need, AeroAstro is proud to launch a new Certificate in Aerospace Innovation in collaboration with the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. To learn more, please visit the website for Certificate in Aerospace Innovation .

Computational Science and Engineering (SM or Ph.D.)

The  Master of Science in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE SM)  is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in the development, analysis, and application of computational approaches to science and engineering. The curriculum is designed with a common core serving all science and engineering disciplines and an elective component focusing on specific disciplinary topics. Current MIT graduate students may pursue the CSE SM as a standalone degree or as leading to the CSE Ph.D. program described below. The  Doctoral Program in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE Ph.D.)  allows students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice through focused coursework and a thesis through a number of participating host departments. The CSE Ph.D. program is administered jointly by the Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) and the host departments; the emphasis of thesis research activities is the development of new computational methods and/or the innovative application of computational techniques to important problems in engineering and science. For more information,  see the program descriptions  under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The  Joint Program with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)  is intended for students whose primary career objective is oceanography or oceanographic engineering. Students divide their academic and research efforts between the campuses of MIT and WHOI. Joint Program students are assigned an MIT faculty member as an academic advisor; thesis research may be supervised by MIT or WHOI faculty. While in residence at MIT, students follow a program similar to that of other students in their home department. The  program is described in more detail  under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

Leaders for Global Operations

The 24-month  Leaders for Global Operations (LGO)  program combines graduate degrees in engineering and management for those with previous postgraduate work experience and strong undergraduate degrees in a technical field. During the two-year program, students complete a six-month internship at one of LGO’s partner companies, where they conduct research that forms the basis of a dual-degree thesis. Students finish the program with two MIT degrees: an MBA (or SM in management) and an SM from one of eight engineering programs, some of which have optional or required LGO tracks. After graduation, alumni lead strategic initiatives in high-tech, operations, and manufacturing companies.

System Design and Management

The  System Design and Management (SDM)  program is a partnership among industry, government, and the university for educating technically grounded leaders of 21st-century enterprises. Jointly sponsored by the School of Engineering and the Sloan School of Management, it is MIT’s first degree program to be offered with a distance learning option in addition to a full-time in-residence option.

Technology and Policy

The Master of Science in Technology and Policy is an engineering research degree with a strong focus on the role of technology in policy analysis and formulation. The  Technology and Policy Program (TPP)  curriculum provides a solid grounding in technology and policy by combining advanced subjects in the student’s chosen technical field with courses in economics, politics, quantitative methods, and social science. Many students combine TPP’s curriculum with complementary subjects to obtain dual degrees in TPP and either a specialized branch of engineering or an applied social science such as political science or urban studies and planning. See the  program description  under the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society.

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Doctoral Programs in Computational Science and Engineering

Doctor of philosophy in computational science and engineering, program requirements.

Programs Offered by CCSE in Conjunction with Select Departments in the Schools of Engineering and Science

The interdisciplinary doctoral program in Computational Science and Engineering ( PhD in CSE + Engineering or Science ) offers students the opportunity to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice via computationally-oriented coursework and a doctoral thesis with a disciplinary focus related to one of eight participating host departments, namely, Aeronautics and Astronautics; Chemical Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences; Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; or Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Doctoral thesis fields associated with each department are as follows:

• Aerospace Engineering and Computational Science
• Computational Science and Engineering (available only to students who matriculate in 2023–2024 or earlier)
• Chemical Engineering and Computation
• Civil Engineering and Computation
• Environmental Engineering and Computation
• Computational Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering and Computation
• Computational Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering and Computation
• Computational Earth, Science and Planetary Sciences
• Mathematics and Computational Science

As with the standalone CSE PhD program, the emphasis of thesis research activities is the development of new computational methods and/or the innovative application of state-of-the-art computational techniques to important problems in engineering and science. In contrast to the standalone PhD program, however, this research is expected to have a strong disciplinary component of interest to the host department.

The interdisciplinary CSE PhD program is administered jointly by CCSE and the host departments. Students must submit an application to the CSE PhD program, indicating the department in which they wish to be hosted. To gain admission, CSE program applicants must receive approval from both the host department graduate admission committee and the CSE graduate admission committee. See the website for more information about the application process, requirements, and relevant deadlines .

Once admitted, doctoral degree candidates are expected to complete the host department's degree requirements (including qualifying exam) with some deviations relating to coursework, thesis committee composition, and thesis submission that are specific to the CSE program and are discussed in more detail on the CSE website . The most notable coursework requirement associated with this CSE degree is a course of study comprising five graduate subjects in CSE (below).

Computational Concentration Subjects

Note: Students may not use more than 12 units of credit from a "meets with undergraduate" subject to fulfill the CSE curriculum requirements

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The PDF includes all information on this page and its related tabs. Subject (course) information includes any changes approved for the current academic year.

MIT Department of Biological Engineering

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Doctoral Subject Core A two-subject core is required of all doctoral students.

Biological Engineering Core:

• 20.420J Principles of Molecular Bioengineering
• 20.440 Analysis of Biological Networks

Academic Program Restricted Electives To enhance depth and breadth, the core subjects are supplemented by electives in science and/or engineering. The student in consultation with the advisor chooses four elective subjects. Elective subjects in three categories are acceptable upon approval by advisor and, for the subjects not listed here, the BE Graduate Program Chair.

1- Biological Engineering Electives — Any Two Graduate Level Course 20 Subjects

2- Engineering/Science — One Subject

To provide breadth in engineering or science, at least one graduate-level subject approved by the BE Graduate Program Chair must be selected

3- Biological Science — One Graduate Level Course 7 Subject To provide a firm foundation in modern biology, the student will be expected to have biochemistry and cell biology as prerequisites and then select one graduate-level subject in Biology. 

For more information on courses, see the course catalog .

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Program Requirements (Abridged)

For a full description of Program Requirements, please visit this page . For Thesis Preparation information, please visit this page .

The Chemistry Department offers a flexible program that allows students to select courses tailored to their individual background and research interests. Students also serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters.

The First Year

No specific courses are required for the degree. Each student, with the advice of a graduate advisor or their research supervisor, pursues an individual program of advanced study which is pertinent to their long-range research interests. In general, candidates for the PhD degree in chemistry are expected to have completed at least 48 units of subjects approved for this purpose by the department with a grade of B- or better. Graduate courses in Chemistry are typically 6 or 12 units each. Although it is not a formal departmental requirement to complete all required courses during the first year, many students do complete them by the end of their first year.

Teaching Assistant Requirement

All students are required to serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters in their first year.

Research Group Selection Process

All first-year students will be able to participate in activities to prepare them to select a lab. Some of these activities may include desk rotations, Chemical Biology lab rotations, faculty research talks, meeting with faculty/students individually, and attending group meetings. Students then fill out a form (usually in early November) with their top research advisor preferences. Faculty meet and decide who will be matched to which group.

While all students will have the opportunity to participate in Research Group Selection Process in the Fall, all students are required to join a lab before the summer term following the first academic year. After this, students are supported as Research Assistants or Fellows, subject to availability of funds.

The Second Year

2 nd Year Oral & Written Exams

MIT requires that all Ph.D. candidates pass general oral and written examinations in their field of study. For chemistry students, these exams occur in the spring of the second year. The faculty committee will (i) assess whether the student has progressed sufficiently to be on-track for obtaining a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry and (ii) provide constructive feedback to help the student reach their full potential during the period of study at MIT.

The examination helps evaluate:

• Progress towards the PhD degree (coursework, research) indicating that the student is on track to receive a doctoral degree in Chemistry
• General knowledge and understanding in the broad field of study and specific sub-area
• Critical thinking, including the ability to use core principles to think through unfamiliar topics
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms, think logically and independently, and defend a point of view
• Ability to formulate upcoming research plans and present a feasible timeline for progress towards completion of research goals
• Overall scholarship

Thesis Committees

Thesis Committees are composed of three MIT faculty members: the student’s research advisor, a thesis committee chair, and a thesis committee member. This committee is appointed at the beginning of each graduate students’ second year in the program. The role of the Thesis Committee includes monitoring progress toward the PhD degree, participating in oral examinations, participating in the Plan to Finish Meeting, and conducting the final evaluation of the doctoral thesis.

Annual Meeting with Research Advisor

Starting in their second year all graduate students meet annually with their Research Advisor and are required to submit a written confirmation of that meeting. The following system has been developed to ensure that every graduate student in the Department of Chemistry receives a substantive evaluation of their progress toward the doctoral degree from their research advisor at least once each year. The aim of this system is to improve communication and sharpen goals in a manner that does not increase stress.

Annual Meeting with Thesis Committee Chair

Beginning in the second year of graduate student, each student meets annually with the Chair of their Thesis Committee. At these meetings, students update the Thesis Committee (TC) Chair on their on their research progress and general intellectual development in an informal and relaxed setting.

Beyond the Second Year

Based on which research area you are assigned, there will be different requirements; these requirements are specified in the Graduate Guide that is updated on an annual basis.

Plan to Finish Meeting

By the end of the fourth year, all PhD students will participate in a meeting – the plan to finish (PTF) meeting – with their thesis committee. The purpose of this meeting is for the student to discuss their timeline and plans for finishing a PhD.

In the fifth year and beyond,  the PTF meeting will be repeated annually until the year the student defends their thesis. Thus, a student who graduates in year five will have one PTF meeting, one who graduates in year six will have two, and so forth.

Thesis Preparation

All PhD candidates must have a Thesis Defense and submit a doctoral thesis before they graduate. A general submission process is made available to students here .

Graduate Student Exit Interviews

All exiting students are strongly encouraged to participate in an exit interview. Graduating students will be sent a list of interview questions by the Chemistry Education Office when the student joins the degree list.

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Information on Graduate Course Requirements

Choosing first year graduate subjects.

The Department does not require PhD students to take any subjects other than those needed to satisfy the specialty and breadth requirements described below. However, many students begin by taking some combination of graduate Classical Mechanics ( 8.309 ), graduate Quantum Mechanics ( 8.321 and 8.322 ), graduate Electricity and Magnetism ( 8.311 ), and graduate Statistical Mechanics ( 8.333 ). Not only have these subjects been proven to give students a broad view of basic physics, but each of them (with the exception of 8.322) may be used to satisfy the related part of the Written General Exam.

First-year students concerned with the level of their undergraduate preparation are encouraged to consider taking senior-level undergraduate subjects such as Electricity and Magnetism ( 8.07 ), Statistical Mechanics ( 8.08 ) and Classical Mechanics ( 8.09 ). Some first-year students may wish to sample basic graduate subjects in specialty areas: Atomic and Optical Physics ( 8.421 or 8.422 ), Solid State Physics ( 8.511 ), Systems Biology ( 8.591J ), Plasma Physics ( 8.613J ), Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics ( 8.701 ), and Astrophysics ( 8.901 or 8.902 ). These subjects may later be counted towards one’s specialty or breadth requirements. While planning their first year program, students should keep in mind that the normal subject load for those with full time RAs is two academic subjects, or about 24 units. A student with an RA will also register for Pre-Thesis Research ( 8.391 in the fall; 8.392 in the spring and summer terms), for 12 or more units, depending on the rest of the course load.

NUPAX Graduate Student Classes

Graduate students who belong to the NUPAX division are required to take three specialty classes ( effective Fall 2023 ) and two breadth requirements. The full academic responsibilities for graduate students are discussed in greater detail on the main Physics website ( http://web.mit.edu/physics/current/graduate/doctoral.html ). Students are encouraged to visit the website for more information about these requirements.

NuPAX offers three courses in experimental nuclear and particle physics: 8.701 , 8.811 , and 8.711 . The graduate courses 8.811 and 8.711 assume that students have completed a rigorous introductory course in nuclear and particle physics. The level of undergraduate particle and nuclear physics varies greatly depending on institution and instructor. Students should review the example final for 8.701 to determine placement. The purpose of each of the three courses is summarized, and detailed topics are outlined, below.

Introduction to Particle and Nuclear Physics – 8.701

• Graduate or advanced undergraduate introduction to particle and nuclear physics.
• Satisfies breadth requirement for graduate students not in NuPAT or NuPAX.
• Prepares undergraduates for Physics GRE subject exam.
• NuPAX students should take this course in the fall of their first year.

Nuclear Physics – 8.711

• Graduate overview of topics in nuclear physics.
• Satisfies breadth requirement for NuPAT.
• Undergraduates should have completed 8.701 before taking 8.711.
• NuPAX students should take this course in the spring of their first year.

Particle Physics – 8.811

• Graduate overview of topics in particle physics.
• Undergraduates should have completed 8.701 before taking 8.811.
• NuPAX students should take this course in the fall of their second year or in consultation with the instructor and their graduate advisor.

Subjects and Topics

Course Overview: Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics

• Properties of particles and nuclei
• Development of standard model
• Feynman calculations
• Experimental techniques
• Relativity Review
• Relativistic kinematics
• Lagrangians
• Noether’s Theorem
• Fermi’s Golden Rule
• Decay Rates
• Cross-sections

Electromagnetism

• Dirac Equation
• Feynman diagram calculations

Weak Interactions

• P Violation and Wu Experiment
• Flavor and CKM
• CP Violation and Cronin & Fitch
• Higgs Mechanism

Strong Interaction

• Properties of mesons, baryons, quarkonia
• QCD, color, asymptotic freedom
• Parton distribution functions, sum rules
• PDF connection to experiment

Nuclear Physics

• Nuclei basics
• Shell model
• Alpha Decay, quantum tunnelling
• Beta Decay, Fermi theory
• Solar cycle, binding per nucleon
• Nuclear reactors and weapons
• Accelerators
• Spectroscopy, Partial Wave, Dalitz plots
• electron-proton scattering, GE & GM, structure functions
• Deep in-elastic scattering

Course Overview: Experimentalist’s top down view of nuclei

• Fundamental particles and interactions
• Modern NP (quarks, nucleons, Nuclei, Astro)
• Pions, isospin and NN interaction
• Low energy properties of nuclei and nuclear saturation
• Nuclear Decays

Effective Many Body Methods

• Nuclear properties and observables (excited states, spins, parities, EM moments, …)
• Mean-field approximation and the Shell-Model
• Single particle excited states and EM transitions
• Bohr-Mottelson collective model
• Phonons, nuclear deformations, rotational modes
• Nuclei far from stability, pairing interactions and modification of magic numbers

Nuclear Astrophysics

• History of the universe,
• Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
• Solar Fusion
• Element production via s-process and r-process in neutron stars.

NN Interaction and Ab-Initio Many-Body Methods

• The Deuteron
• Phenomenological potentials (AV18)
• NN scattering and phase shifts
• QCD and chiral EFT
• Many-body methods [MC, CC, SRG, Corr. Operators]
• Beyond the mean-field approximation (long and short-range correlations, clustering)

Electron Scattering

• Elastic scattering
• Continued  …..
• Quasi-Elastic scattering
• Polarization observables
• Deep Inelastic Scattering
• Parity violation

Nucleon Structure

• Form Factors
• Structure functions
• Spin structure
• TMD / GPD etc
• Nuclear medium modification

Nuclear Decay and Fundamental Symmetries

• Beta decay and electron capture (nuclear modeling and standard model tests)
• Neutrino Oscillations
• Double-Beta decay (emphasis on gA quenching and matrix elements)

Heavy Ion Collisions

• Anisotropic flow
• QCD phase diagram

Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear reactors
• Nuclear weapons

Detectors (Integrated as appropriate in the above topics)

• Interactions of particle with matter
• Nuclear detectors

Course Overview: Particle Physics at the Energy, Intensity and Cosmology Frontiers

Standard Model

• Detectors and Accelerators
• Particle Astrophysics
• Advanced Feynman diagrams
• Extending the SM with GUTs

Neutrino Physics

• Sterile Neutrinos
• Matter Effects
• See-saw Models
• Basic formalism
• CMB, Supernova, Lensing, LSS

Dark Matter

• Dark Matter and Structure
• Model building

Cosmic Rays

• Origin of Cosmic Rays
• Propagation and GZK cutoff
• Neutrino Production

Experiment (Some presented with above topics)

• Detectors at colliders
• Specialized detectors

Degree programs

Mit offers a wide range of degrees and programs..

All graduate students, whether or not they are participating in an interdepartmental program, must have a primary affiliation with and be registered in a single department. Every applicant accepted by MIT is admitted through one of the graduate departments. MIT has a number of established interdepartmental programs, and there are many more opportunities for students to arrange interdepartmental programs with interested faculty members.

All MIT graduate degree programs have residency requirements, which reflect academic terms (excluding summer). Some degrees also require completion of an acceptable thesis prepared in residence at MIT, unless special permission is granted for part of the thesis work to be accomplished elsewhere. Other degrees require a pro-seminar or capstone experience.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Below is an alphabetical list of all the available departments and programs that offer a graduate-level degree.

Interested in reading first-hand accounts of MIT graduate students from a variety of programs? Visit the Grad Blog . Prospective students who want to talk with a current student can reach out to their department(s) of interest for connections or, if they are interested in the MIT experience for diverse communities, can reach out to a GradDiversity Ambassador .

Search Programs

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Undergraduate

Shape your mind, then shape markets.

At the intersection of economics, strategy, and accounting, 15-3 Finance looks at how to keep markets and organizations operating efficiently. With the 15-3 Finance major or minor, you’ll be prepared for a career in finance, from managerial finance to corporate finance to algorithmic trading to emerging finance technologies. Learn to apply the tools of finance to industry with lab and communications subjects, and focus on certain areas or explore topics that complement finance with restricted electives. 

Course Requirements & Roadmaps

Deadlines + Important Dates

• 08/26/24 – Fall Registration Opens
• 09/03/24 - Fall Registration Day
• 09/04/24 – First Day of Classes 
• 09/06/24 – Registration Deadline
• 10/04/24 – Add Date: Last day to ADD subjects to registration
• 11/20/24 – Drop Date: Last day to DROP subjects from registration
• 12/02/24 – Pre-Registration for IAP & Spring Term
• 12/11/24 – Last Day of Classes
• 12/116/24 – 12/20/24 – Final Exam Period
• 01/06/24 – Spring Pre-Registration Deadline

For all important Institute dates please refer to the  MIT Academic Calendar .

15-3 Finance FAQs

What are the elective choices for the 15-3 major and minor.

Find the  elective choices for the 15-3 major and minor here . 

Contact the Undergraduate Team

Meet the team.

Scott Alessandro

Senior Director, Undergraduate Programs

Rianna Allen-Charles

Associate Director, Sloan Undergraduate Programs

Karyn E Glemaud-Anis

Assistant Director, Undergraduate Programs

Mechanical Engineering

• Graduate study in Mechanical Engineering
• Ph.D. programs

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering prepares students for careers in research and academia. Our collaborative faculty are investigating a diverse range of research areas like additive manufacturing, air quality, cellular biomechanics, computational design, DNA origami, energy conversion and storage, nanoscale manufacturing, soft robotics, transdermal drug delivery, transport phenomena, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Interested? Visit our research pages for more information, including faculty areas of expertise and research videos.

• Other Ph.D. programs

I’d like more information.

View the  degree requirements  in the handbook.

Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering

Students typically complete the Ph.D. degree requirements in three to five years. Early in the program, students focus on course-work that enhances their knowledge as they prepare to conduct research.

Within one year, students must pass the departmental qualifying exam, an oral exam that tests research skills and knowledge of a core mechanical engineering subject area.

Student research forms the core of the Ph.D. program. Research involves active student-directed inquiry into an engineering problem, culminating in a written thesis and oral defense.

Ph.D. Financial Support

The majority of full-time Ph.D. students accepted through the standard application process receive fellowships that cover full tuition, the technology fee, and a stipend for living expenses for up to five years, as long as sufficient progress is made toward degree completion. These awards are sufficient to cover all expenses for the year (including summers). Students are required to pay for health insurance, the transportation fee, the activity fee, books, and course supplies. Off-campus housing is available within walking distance of campus. At least one year of residency is required for the Ph.D. We offer two ways to enter the Ph.D. program.

Advanced entry Ph.D.

The advanced entry Ph.D. is for students with an M.S. in an engineering discipline or equivalent field.

Direct Ph.D.

The direct Ph.D. is for students entering the program with a B.S. in an engineering discipline or equivalent field.

For a comprehensive overview of the programs, including degree requirements, please consult the most recent handbook

Ph.D. candidate Remesh Shrestha, co-advised by Professors Sheng Shen and Maarten de Boer, explains his research to create polymer nanowires that have high thermal conductivity:

Other Ph.D. programs and partnerships

Apply here (by these deadlines).

For spring 2023

For fall 2022

The application for fall entry opens in October.

More information

Ph.D. employment stats

Ph.D. enrollment and completion stats [pdf]