MIT OpenCourseWare makes the course materials that are used in the teaching of almost all MIT's undergraduate and graduate subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world. Because MIT OCW is not a distance-learning initiative, there is no registration or enrollment process required for users to view course materials. Nor is there a certificate or degree granted upon completion of the materials. MIT OCW is a publication of the course materials that support the dynamic classroom interactions of an MIT education.
Many users contact MIT OCW, asking for information about MIT's curriculum so they can design their own course of self-study. In the interest of improving the user experience with MIT OCW materials, we offer the following guides to MIT's undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Users are again reminded that following these MIT curriculum requirements does not make them eligible to receive a degree or any other sort of certification. This is merely an informational service that MIT OCW is providing for its users.
MIT Curriculum
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
MIT Curriculum, by Department
| Aeronautics and Astronautics |
|
Graduate Program |
| Anthropology |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Anthropology/Course 21A
|
Graduate Program
(see History or Science, Technology, and Society) |
| Architecture |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Art and Design/Course 4
|
Graduate Program |
| Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation. |
No undergraduate program. See General Institute Requirement: Physical Education Requirement. |
No graduate program |
| Biological Engineering |
Overview
|
Graduate Program |
| Biology |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Biology/Course 7
|
Graduate Program |
| Brain and Cognitive Sciences |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences/Course 9
|
Graduate Program |
| Chemical Engineering |
|
Graduate Program |
| Chemistry |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Course 5
|
Graduate Program |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering |
|
Graduate Program |
| Comparative Media Studies |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Comparative Media Studies/Course 21 CMS
|
Graduate Program |
| Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences/Course 12
|
Graduate Program |
| Economics |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Economics/Course 14
|
Graduate Program |
| Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
|
Graduate Program |
| Engineering Systems Division |
No undergraduate program |
Graduate Program |
| Experimental Study Group |
No undergraduate program. See Academic Programs: Freshman Year. |
No graduate program |
| Foreign Languages and Literatures |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Foreign Languages and Literatures/Course 21F
|
No graduate program |
| Health Sciences and Technology |
No undergraduate program |
Graduate Program |
| History |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in History/Course 21H
|
No graduate program |
| Linguistics and Philosophy |
|
Graduate Program |
| Literature |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Literature/Course 21L
|
No graduate program |
| Materials Science and Engineering |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering/Course 3
|
Graduate Program |
| Mathematics |
|
Graduate Program |
| Mechanical Engineering |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering/Course 2
|
Graduate Program |
| Media Arts and Sciences |
Overview |
Graduate Program |
| Music and Theater Arts |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Music/Course 21M
|
No graduate program |
| Nuclear Science and Engineering |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering/Course 22
|
Graduate Program |
| Ocean Engineering |
Ocean Engineering is now part of Mechanical Engineering department.
|
Ocean Engineering is now part of Mechanical Engineering department.
|
| Operations Research Center |
No Undergraduate Program |
Graduate Program |
| Physics |
|
Graduate Program |
| Political Science |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Course 17
|
Graduate Program |
| Science, Technology, and Society |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and Society/Dual Degree/Course STS
|
Graduate Program |
| Sloan School of Management |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Management Science/Course 15
|
Graduate Program |
| Special Programs |
See Women's Studies |
No graduate program |
|
Urban Studies and Planning
|
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Planning/Course 11
|
Graduate Program |
| Women's Studies |
Overview |
No graduate program |
| Writing and Humanistic Studies |
Overview
Bachelor of Science in Writing/Course 21W
|
Graduate Program |
MIT Curriculum
MIT is a coeducational, privately endowed research university, boasting more than 950 faculty and 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is organized into five schools—Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Management, and Science—and the Whitaker College of Health Sciences and Technology. Within these are 33 degree-granting departments, programs, and divisions. In addition, a great deal of research and teaching takes place in interdisciplinary programs, laboratories, and centers whose work extends beyond traditional departmental boundaries.
Undergraduate Education
MIT is committed to providing students with a strong scientific, technical, and humanistic foundation, and to encouraging them to develop creativity in defining problems and seeking solutions. For the Bachelor of Science degree, students must complete a core requirement that is equally divided between science and mathematics, and the humanities, arts, and social sciences. The science/mathematics requirement includes chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus, as well as laboratory and science electives. The humanities, arts, and social sciences requirement must be fulfilled among three of five categories: literary and textual studies; language, thought, and value; the arts; cultures and societies; and historical studies. Students must also complete a four-subject communications requirement.
MIT undergraduate General Institute Requirements include:
- An eight-subject humanities, arts, and social sciences requirement
- A six-subject science requirement
- Two terms of calculus
- Two terms of physics
- One term of chemistry
- One term of biology
- Two restricted electives in science and technology subjects
- One laboratory subject
See the MIT Course Catalog for detailed information about General Institute Requirements and the Communication Requirement. Beyond these requirements, students must meet the standards of their chosen major(s)—see MIT Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements in the table above for specific information about each major (charts outlining course requirements for programs are provided where possible).
A typical course load is four to five courses each term. Freshmen are subject to a credit limit of no more than five courses, as they adjust to the pace and intensity of an MIT education. Upperclassmen are free to take as many courses as they like, with their academic advisor's approval.
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Graduate Education
Traditionally a leader in engineering graduate education, MIT has also attained national prominence for its doctoral programs in mathematics and the physical and life sciences. In addition, top-ranked graduate programs in economics; political science; linguistics; science, technology, and society; architecture; urban studies; and management have broadened the spectrum of graduate education at MIT. Graduate students may pursue any of the following degrees:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Science (ScD)
- Engineer, Master of Science (SM)
- Master of Engineering (MEng)
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master in City Planning (MCP)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The Institute has a single faculty that is responsible for both undergraduate and graduate instruction. Each department exercises a large measure of autonomy for its graduate programs, under general guidelines established for the Institute as a whole. The administration of graduate education rests with the president, the provost, the chancellor, the dean and associate dean for graduate students, and the Committee on Graduate School Programs.
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