online phd programs mit

Ph.D./Sc.D. Program

The Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering are identical; students may choose for themselves the appellation they prefer. This traditional, research-based doctoral degree program provides a thorough grounding in the fundamental principles of chemical engineering, as well as an intensive research experience.

The Doctor of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering are identical degree programs. Degree candidates may choose to be called a “doctor of philosophy” or a “doctor of science”.

The degree requires that you complete:

• the core curriculum in chemical engineering
• one chemical engineering H Level class
• the departmental biology requirement
• a minor program of related subjects outside of chemical engineering
• written and oral doctoral qualifying examinations
• the writing and oral defense of a thesis on original research

The core curriculum is:

• Numerical Methods in Chemical Engineering 10.34
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 10.40
• Analysis of Transport Phenomena 10.50
• Chemical Reactor Engineering 10.65

The departmental biology requirement is fulfilled by completing an undergraduate subject equivalent to MIT 7.01x, either at MIT or at your undergraduate institution. Examples of minor programs for some recent doctoral students include applied mathematics, control theory, physical, organic or analytical chemistry, mechanical structure, power systems, process metallurgy, nuclear engineering, management, economics, music, ancient history and philosophy.

The normal duration of the degree program is five to six years. (Including an intermediate M.S. CEP degree normally has little effect on the duration.) A master’s degree is not required for entrance into the doctoral program, nor is the M.S. CEP required.

For incoming, first-year graduate students, academic advisors are members of the Committee for Graduate Students. When you select a research topic and begin your thesis, the research supervisor becomes your academic advisor. In general, students choose research advisors at the end of their first Fall semester at MIT. Should you wish to choose a research advisor from a department other than Chemical Engineering, you will also need to choose a co-advisor from the Chemical Engineering faculty.

Prior to Registration Day (Fall and Spring semesters), your subject selection must first be approved by your advisor before the Graduate Officer can authorize registration on Registration Day. Advisor approval should also be obtained for any subsequent subject add/drop actions during the term (no additional authorization by the Graduate Officer is required).

Academic Programs

• CSE PhD Overview
• Dept-CSE PhD Overview
• CSE Doctoral Theses
• Program Overview and Curriculum
• For New CCSE Students
• Terms of Reference

MIT Doctoral Programs in Computational Science and Engineering

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 intend 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 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.

For more information about CCSE’s doctoral programs, please explore the links on the left. Information about our application and admission process is available via the ‘ Admissions ‘ tab in our menu. MIT Registrar’s Office provides graduate tuition and fee rates as set by the MIT Corporation and the Graduate Admissions section of MIT’s Office of Graduate Education (OGE) website contains additional information about costs of attendance and funding .

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Graduate study is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards match the risks. When it is your job to generate knowledge, you need to go where no one has gone before. And, we’ll give you what you need to get there.

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Department of Linguistics and Philosophy

Ph.d. program.

The program of studies leading to the doctorate in philosophy provides subjects and seminars in such traditional areas as logic, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, aesthetics, social and political philosophy, and history of philosophy. Interest in philosophical problems arising from other disciplines, such as linguistics, psychology, mathematics and physics, is also encouraged.

Before beginning dissertation research, students are required to take two years of coursework, including a proseminar in contemporary philosophy that all students must complete in their first year of graduate study. Students are also required to pass general examinations and demonstrate competence in the following areas: value theory, logic and the history of philosophy.

Interdisciplinary study is encouraged, and candidates for the doctorate may take a minor in a field other than philosophy. There is no general language requirement for the doctorate, except in those cases in which competence in one or more foreign language is needed to carry on research for the dissertation.

Below is a detailed description of the philosophy Ph.D. program. For information about applying, see our admissions page ; we have also compiled data on placement , retention, and average completion times .

1. Your Advisor

When you join the Department you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will supervise your course of study. Your advisor must approve your program at the beginning of each term, and you should keep them abreast of your progress and problems. When forming a Fifth Term Paper committee the chair of your committee becomes your advisor. Similarly, when you form a dissertation committee.

Your teachers will write comments on your performance in subjects which you complete. These comments will be placed in your file in the Department office (your file is open to you), and they will be discussed at a meeting of the faculty at the end of each term. You should see your advisor at the end of each term to review your progress.

You may change your advisor at any time. Similarly you may change the composition of your fifth year paper and dissertation committees, as well as adjust the topics of those projects. To make a change first ask the relevant faculty if they are willing, then notify the Chair of the Committee on Graduate Students (COGS).

The current composition of COGS is: Brad Skow (Chief Cog), Kieran Setiya , and Roger White .

2. Requirements

2.1 overall course requirements.

Students must pass (with a grade of C or higher) at least 10 graduate subjects in philosophy (unless you earn a minor, in which case see section 4 below ). At least 7 must be subjects at MIT.

Students may petition COGS to use undergraduate subjects at MIT to satisfy the overall course requirement (except: in the case of an undergraduate logic subject more advanced than 24.241, no petition is needed).

Students must take at least 2 subjects in philosophy at MIT during each term of their first year, and at least 1 subject in philosophy at MIT during each term of their second year. Normally, students take 4 subjects during their second year.

2.2 Teaching Requirement

All graduate students must acquire some teaching experience. This requirement is normally satisfied by serving as a Teaching Assistant in an undergraduate subject in philosophy at MIT.

2.3 Logic Requirement

The Department has a standing committee which is charged with administering the logic requirement; the requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:

(a) by auditing Logic I and completing the work (Logic I may not be taken for graduate credit); (b) by successfully completing a logic assessment set by the committee; (c) by successfully completing an alternative or more advanced subject in logic at MIT (for example, modal logic or Logic II) approved by the committee. (d) by being exempted from the requirement by COGS. Such exemption does not affect the overall course requirements (2.1 above).

The level of knowledge of logic expected for exemption, or tested on the examination, is what is covered in Logic I at MIT: proof procedure and semantics for first-order predicate logic with identity, and some acquaintance with standard metalogical results (for example, those concerning completeness, incompleteness and decidability).

Students are normally expected to satisfy the logic requirement by the beginning of their second year.

2.4 Distribution Requirement

2.4.1 proseminar.

All first-year students are required to complete the two-semester sequence 24.400-24.401, Proseminar in Philosophy. The first semester is an intensive seminar on the foundations of analytic philosophy from Frege to roughly 1960. The second semester is an intensive seminar on highlights of analytic philosophy from roughly 1960 to the present. The two-semester sequence counts as two subjects.

2.4.2 History of Philosophy

Students must complete two graduate subjects in the history of philosophy. For the purposes of this requirement, the history of philosophy means philosophers or philosophical schools that flourished before 1879.

A subject that spends a substantial part of, but not all of, its time on history counts toward this requirement provided the student’s term paper focuses on the history part. If there is doubt about whether a subject qualifies, consult COGS.

History subjects designed for a mixture of graduate and undergraduate students, like 100-level courses at Harvard, also count.

COGS permission is required in order to satisfy this requirement by taking two subjects on the same philosopher. (COGS will likely reject using two subjects on Descartes’ Meditations to fulfill the history requirement; COGS will likely approve using two subjects on Kant, one focused on ethics, the other on metaphysics and epistemology.)

Students wishing to fulfill this requirement by some other means should contact COGS.

2.4.3 Value Theory

Students must complete one graduate subject in ethics or political philosophy or aesthetics.

2.5 Fifth Term Paper Requirement

By the end of a student’s third term (usually fall of the second year) the student should select a paper topic for their Fifth Term Paper and form a committee to advise them on their work. The committee will consist of two faculty members (a supervisor and a second reader). The proposed topic and names of committee members should be submitted to COGS before the end-of-term meeting.

During the student’s fourth term, the student, in consultation with the committee, should assemble a reading list on the chosen topic. As a guideline, the reading list might consist of roughly twenty papers or the equivalent; the faculty recognizes that lengths of lists will vary. The final list must be approved by the committee and submitted to COGS by the end-of-term meeting.

During the fifth term, the student will write a polished paper on the chosen topic, roughly 25 pages long, in consultation with their committee. After submitting a final version of the paper that the committee deems satisfactory, the student will sit for an oral examination with the committee on both the paper and, more generally, the paper’s topic, as defined by the reading list.

The fifth term paper project is graded pass-fail. Students must pass the oral exam by the end-of-term meeting of their fifth term. After a student passes the exam their committee will write a report on the project to be given to the student and placed in the student’s file. Successfully completing this project constitutes passing the written and oral general examination requirements imposed by MIT’s Graduate School.

2.6 Petitions

A student may petition COGS to waive a requirement in light of their special circumstances.

3. Independent Studies

While in the normal case a student’s 10 graduate subjects will be seminars, students may also take an independent study with a faculty member. Students wishing to register for 24.891 or 24.892 must obtain permission from the Chief COG. After talking with the faculty member they wish to supervise their independent study, the student should write a proposal describing how often they will meet, how long the meetings will last, a tentative list of readings, and the amount of writing they will do. The Chief COG will approve an independent study only if the amount of work proposed equals or exceeds the usual amount of work in a seminar.

Students can minor in a field outside philosophy of their choosing (for example, linguistics, psychology, science technology and society, physics, feminist theory…). To earn a minor in field X a student must (i) pass 3 graduate subjects in field X, (ii) pass one graduate philosophy subject on a topic related to field X, and (iii) obtain COGS approval. (It is best to seek approval before all 4 subjects have been taken.) A student may receive no more than two minors; in the case of two minors, a single philosophy subject may (in rare cases) be used to satisfy clause (ii) for both minors.

Students who earn a minor need only pass 8, rather than 10, graduate philosophy subjects (7 must be taken at MIT). The subject used to satisfy (ii) counts as one of these 8.

Our faculty uses pluses and minuses, but the grades on your official transcript will be straight letter grades. Here are the meanings that MIT assigns to the grades:

A Exceptionally good performance, demonstrating a superior understanding of the subject matter, a foundation of extensive knowledge, and a skillful use of concepts and/or materials.

B Good performance, demonstrating capacity to use the appropriate concepts, a good understanding of the subject matter, and an ability to handle the problems and material encountered in the subject.

C Adequate performance, demonstrating an adequate understandingof the subject matter, an ability to handle relatively simpleproblems, and adequate preparation for moving on to more advanced work in the field.

D Minimally acceptable performance.

When the faculty determines the status of a student in the program, it does so on the basis of a review of the student’s total performance, which includes weighing the strengths and weaknesses of the student’s whole record. Thus it is in principle possible to redeem a weakness in one area by excellence in others.

An Incomplete (a grade of I) indicates that a minor part of the subject requirements has not been fulfilled and that a passing grade is to be expected when the work is completed. The grade I for the term remains permanently on the student’s record even when the subject is completed. In subjects in which the major work is a term paper, students may earn an I for the subject only if they submit a draft to the instructor(s) by midnight on the day before the end of term meeting. If a student does not hand in a draft by midnight on the day before the end of term meeting, the instructor is required to give the student an F. (The end of term meeting is shortly after the beginning of exam week.)

Any uncompleted incompletes on registration day of the following term will be converted to an F.

6. Ph.D. Thesis

A student is normally not allowed to begin work on a Ph.D. thesis until they have completed all of the requirements listed above. Students must complete all of those requirements by the end of their fifth term; exceptions will be made only after petition to COGS.

Once a student has completed the requirements listed above, there is the option of taking a terminal Master’s Degree instead of the Ph.D. This requires completing a Master’s thesis — students should consult COGS for more details.

The Ph.D. thesis is a substantial piece of original and independent research that displays mastery of an area of philosophy. A student may plan to write a sustained piece of work on one topic; they may instead plan to write three or more papers on connected topics. By the second month of the student’s sixth term they will submit to COGS a short (three to five pages) description of the projected thesis.

When the plan is approved, COGS will appoint a thesis committee consisting of a thesis supervisor and two additional readers, who shall be members of the philosophy faculty chosen by the student and willing to undertake the responsibility. The student will then meet with the members of the thesis committee for discussion of the material to be dealt with in the thesis. COGS approval is required if the student wants to include a non-MIT professor, or an MIT professor who is not on the philosophy faculty, on the committee. COGS approval is also required for a committee whose members include fewer than two MIT philosophy faculty (and this will be approved only in exceptional circumstances).

The student will meet regularly with their thesis supervisor throughout the writing of the thesis, and will provide all members of the thesis committee with written work by the end of each term. This requirement holds for nonresident as well as resident students.

The following rules govern completion of the thesis.

6.1 Final Term

The student will meet with their thesis committee during the first week of the term to assess the feasibility of completing the thesis during that term. The student and the committee will agree on a table of contents for the thesis, and on a schedule of dates for meeting the following requirements; a copy of the contents and the schedule should be given to COGS.

6.1.1 MIT Deadline

MIT requires that the completed thesis be delivered to the Department office by a date set by the Registrar for all Departments. (Early in January for February degrees, early in May for June degrees.) The Department regards this requirement as met by delivery to the thesis committee by that date of what the student regards as the final draft of their thesis.

6.1.2 Thesis Defense

The student will meet privately with their thesis committee to defend the thesis and to discuss any needed revisions. This meeting constitutes the official oral examination of the thesis.

The private defense must be scheduled for a date which will leave time for the student to make revisions before the MIT deadline. Once a student has completed the oral examination, and made any requested revisions, the decision whether to recommend award of the PhD is made by unanimous vote of the thesis committee.

6.1.3 Public Defense

The public defense is open to all members of the Department and their guests; it is chaired by the thesis supervisor, and normally runs for an hour, starting with a twenty-minute presentation by the student of the main results of the thesis. The public defense is the one occasion on which the entire Department has an opportunity to learn about and participate in the student’s work, and is a central part of the Ph.D. program.

The public defense is to be held after the student’s committee has voted to recommend awarding the PhD. One week before the public defense, the student should email the revised version to the chief COG, to be made available to members of the Department. A copy of the abstract should be emailed to the Academic Administrator for distribution when announcing the public defense to the Department.

6.1.4 Final Library Copy

The final library copy must be given to the Departmental representative to MIT’s Committee on Graduate School Policy (CGSP) by the day before that committee’s end-of-term meeting at which it approves the final degree list.

6.2 September Degrees

Students who will be unable to complete their theses during the spring term may wish to petition COGS for consideration for award of the degree in September. Such petitions will be granted on condition that an appropriate thesis committee can be constituted to work with the student during the summer. A schedule analogous to that described under 6.1 — including the scheduling of private and public defenses — must be given to COGS by the end of the spring term. The final library copy of the thesis must be given to the Departmental representative to CGSP by the day before that committee’s September meeting at which it approves the September degree list.

7. Policies on Satisfactory Progress and Good Standing

A student is in good standing so long as they have not fallen behind on any deadline mentioned in this document. The most salient of these is the deadline for the 5th term paper.

If a student is not in good standing, they will be unable to use their travel funds. If a student is not in good standing or has received a grade of B or lower in two classes in the previous semester, they are at risk of failing to make satisfactory academic progress.

If a student is at risk of failing to make satisfactory academic progress, the faculty will discuss the matter at the next end of term of meeting. (If any of the student’s advisors are not present at the meeting, they will be consulted before any action is taken.) The faculty will consider the work the student has produced, or failed to produce, so far, and the progress it represents. If there are serious doubts about the student’s prospects of completing the PhD, which includes writing a thesis that meets the conditions in section 6 , the student’s academic progress will be deemed unsatisfactory, and they will be issued a written notice from the Chief COG. The notice will explain how the student’s progress is unsatisfactory, what the student should accomplish in the following semester in order to avoid an official warning from the Vice Chancellor, and what steps the faculty will take to help the student accomplish these things. If a student fails to meet the conditions of the notice by the end of the following semester, as determined by the faculty, the student will receive an official warning from the Vice Chancellor. This warning will explain why the student’s progress continues to be unsatisfactory, what the student should accomplish in the following semester in order to continue in the program, and what steps the faculty will take to help the student accomplish these things. If the student is in a position to receive a terminal Master’s Degree, the conditions for doing so will be detailed. If the student fails to meet the conditions of the warning by the end of the semester, as determined by the faculty, the student will be denied permission to continue in the program.

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Many PhD students in the MIT Physics Department incorporate probability, statistics, computation, and data analysis into their research. These techniques are becoming increasingly important for both experimental and theoretical Physics research, with ever-growing datasets, more sophisticated physics simulations, and the development of cutting-edge machine learning tools. The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics (IDPS)  is designed to provide students with the highest level of competency in 21st century statistics, enabling doctoral students across MIT to better integrate computation and data analysis into their PhD thesis research.

Admission to this program is restricted to students currently enrolled in the Physics doctoral program or another participating MIT doctoral program. In addition to satisfying all of the requirements of the Physics PhD, students take one subject each in probability, statistics, computation and statistics, and data analysis, as well as the Doctoral Seminar in Statistics, and they write a dissertation in Physics utilizing statistical methods. Graduates of the program will receive their doctoral degree in the field of “Physics, Statistics, and Data Science.”

Doctoral students in Physics may submit an Interdisciplinary PhD in Statistics Form between the end of their second semester and penultimate semester in their Physics program. The application must include an endorsement from the student’s advisor, an up-to-date CV, current transcript, and a 1-2 page statement of interest in Statistics and Data Science.

The statement of interest can be based on the student’s thesis proposal for the Physics Department, but it must demonstrate that statistical methods will be used in a substantial way in the proposed research. In their statement, applicants are encouraged to explain how specific statistical techniques would be applied in their research. Applicants should further highlight ways that their proposed research might advance the use of statistics and data science, both in their physics subfield and potentially in other disciplines. If the work is part of a larger collaborative effort, the applicant should focus on their personal contributions.

For access to the selection form or for further information, please contact the IDSS Academic Office at  [email protected] .

Required Courses

Courses in this list that satisfy the Physics PhD degree requirements can count for both programs. Other similar or more advanced courses can count towards the “Computation & Statistics” and “Data Analysis” requirements, with permission from the program co-chairs. The IDS.190 requirement may be satisfied instead by IDS.955 Practical Experience in Data, Systems, and Society, if that experience exposes the student to a diverse set of topics in statistics and data science. Making this substitution requires permission from the program co-chairs prior to doing the practical experience.

• IDS.190 – Doctoral Seminar in Statistics and Data Science ( may be substituted by IDS.955 Practical Experience in Data, Systems and Society )
• 6.7700[J] Fundamentals of Probability or
• 18.675 – Theory of Probability
• 18.655 – Mathematical Statistics or
• 18.6501 – Fundamentals of Statistics or
• IDS.160[J] – Mathematical Statistics: A Non-Asymptotic Approach
• 6.C01/6.C51 – Modeling with Machine Learning: From Algorithms to Applications or
• 6.7810 Algorithms for Inference or
• 6.8610 (6.864) Advanced Natural Language Processing or
• 6.7900 (6.867) Machine Learning or
• 6.8710 (6.874) Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences or
• 9.520[J] – Statistical Learning Theory and Applications or
• 16.940 – Numerical Methods for Stochastic Modeling and Inference or
• 18.337 – Numerical Computing and Interactive Software
• 8.316 – Data Science in Physics or
• 6.8300 (6.869) Advances in Computer Vision or
• 8.334 – Statistical Mechanics II or
• 8.371[J] – Quantum Information Science or
• 8.591[J] – Systems Biology or
• 8.592[J] – Statistical Physics in Biology or
• 8.942 – Cosmology or
• 9.583 – Functional MRI: Data Acquisition and Analysis or
• 16.456[J] – Biomedical Signal and Image Processing or
• 18.367 – Waves and Imaging or
• IDS.131[J] – Statistics, Computation, and Applications

Grade Policy

C, D, F, and O grades are unacceptable. Students should not earn more B grades than A grades, reflected by a PhysSDS GPA of ≥ 4.5. Students may be required to retake subjects graded B or lower, although generally one B grade will be tolerated.

Unless approved by the PhysSDS co-chairs, a minimum grade of B+ is required in all 12 unit courses, except IDS.190 (3 units) which requires a P grade.

Though not required, it is strongly encouraged for a member of the MIT  Statistics and Data Science Center (SDSC)  to serve on a student’s doctoral committee. This could be an SDSC member from the Physics department or from another field relevant to the proposed thesis research.

Thesis Proposal

All students must submit a thesis proposal using the standard Physics format. Dissertation research must involve the utilization of statistical methods in a substantial way.

PhysSDS Committee

• Jesse Thaler (co-chair)
• Mike Williams (co-chair)
• Isaac Chuang
• Janet Conrad
• William Detmold
• Philip Harris
• Jacqueline Hewitt
• Kiyoshi Masui
• Leonid Mirny
• Christoph Paus
• Phiala Shanahan
• Marin Soljačić
• Washington Taylor
• Max Tegmark

Can I satisfy the requirements with courses taken at Harvard?

Harvard CompSci 181 will count as the equivalent of MIT’s 6.867.  For the status of other courses, please contact the program co-chairs.

Can a course count both for the Physics degree requirements and the PhysSDS requirements?

Yes, this is possible, as long as the courses are already on the approved list of requirements. E.g. 8.592 can count as a breadth requirement for a NUPAX student as well as a Data Analysis requirement for the PhysSDS degree.

If I have previous experience in Probability and/or Statistics, can I test out of these requirements?

These courses are required by all of the IDPS degrees. They are meant to ensure that all students obtaining an IDPS degree share the same solid grounding in these fundamentals, and to help build a community of IDPS students across the various disciplines. Only in exceptional cases might it be possible to substitute more advanced courses in these areas.

Can I substitute a similar or more advanced course for the PhysSDS requirements?

Yes, this is possible for the “computation and statistics” and “data analysis” requirements, with permission of program co-chairs. Substitutions for the “probability” and “statistics” requirements will only be granted in exceptional cases.

For Spring 2021, the following course has been approved as a substitution for the “computation and statistics” requirement:   18.408 (Theoretical Foundations for Deep Learning) .

The following course has been approved as a substitution for the “data analysis” requirement:   6.481 (Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis) .

Can I apply for the PhysSDS degree in my last semester at MIT?

No, you must apply no later than your penultimate semester.

What does it mean to use statistical methods in a “substantial way” in one’s thesis?

The ideal case is that one’s thesis advances statistics research independent of the Physics applications. Advancing the use of statistical methods in one’s subfield of Physics would also qualify. Applying well-established statistical methods in one’s thesis could qualify, if the application is central to the Physics result. In all cases, we expect the student to demonstrate mastery of statistics and data science.

Operations Research Center

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Phd in operations research.

MIT’s doctoral degree (PhD) program in operations research (OR) provides you with thorough understanding of the theory of OR while teaching you to how to develop and apply OR methods in practice.

We offer a general degree track as well as three optional degree tracks in operations management , networked systems , and analytics . All doctoral students must complete the general degree track requirements; those who choose an optional degree track will have additional, specialized requirements to fulfill. 

General Degree Track

In addition to the writing competency requirements, our rigorous curriculum includes challenging coursework, action learning, and innovative research.

You’ll take eight graduate-level classes that have been approved by the ORC co-directors, including at least two courses in optimization, at least three in applied probability and statistics, and at least one in OR modeling.

You’ll put OR theory into practice through valuable, hands-on learning experiences, completing one of the following:

• Option 1: Participate in a summer internship, during which you’ll create OR models that address a real-world problem.
• Option 2: Undertake a project with an ORC faculty member, either as part of a supervised research activity or as an extra part of a regular course offering.
• Option 3: Take part in a class, for which you’ll build and implement OR models that have practical applications.

And, you’ll conduct in-depth research on a topic that complements your academic interests and career goals. You’ll write a thesis based on the independent research you conduct under the guidance of our expert faculty.

Qualifying Process and General Examination

All students enrolled in an ORC doctoral program must complete the Qualifying Process and receive a passing score on the General Examination.

• Students must choose one approved course from the three different categories (Optimization, Probability, and Machine Learning/Statistics). 
• Students must satisfactorily complete these three courses with a minimum of 2 As and 1 B or a combined GPA of 4.6 or higher by the end of their third semester at MIT.
• Students are required to register and take for credit the software tools course 15.S60 offered during IAP (January) led by current ORC students.
• During the student’s first summer at MIT (month of August), doctoral students will engage in a Common Experience project where students will work in teams to address an important problem for an organization.   
• General Examination : Students are required to take the General Examination once they have passed the Qualifying Process.  The General Exam is comprised of a research-oriented (RO) paper and an oral presentation of the RO paper and a discussion on a research paper selected by the General Exam Committee.

Upon completion of our doctoral program, you’ll have the specialized knowledge and technical skills to have a positive impact in a variety of fields, including business, education, and research. Many of our graduates have gone on to careers in academia, in the U.S. and abroad, while others have found success in business and industry as researchers and consultants.

  Analytics Track

In addition to the general PhD degree requirements, you will also:

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to analytics for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in analytics; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes.
• serve as a teaching assistant in courses related to analytics, or an approved equivalent.
• write a thesis on a topic related to analytics; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in analytics.

Networked Systems Track

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to networked systems for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in networked systems; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes.
• serve as a teaching assistant in courses related to networked systems, or an approved equivalent.
• write a thesis on a topic related to networked systems; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in networked systems.

Operations Management Track

• complete a summer internship with an organization related to operations management for your hands-on learning experience.
• take two specialized courses in operations management; these classes may count toward your eight required graduate-level classes. 
• serve as a teaching assistant in two MBA courses related to operations management or assist in one and take another one for credit. At least one of the classes for which you’re a teaching assistant must include recitation.
• write a thesis on a topic related to operations management; one member of your thesis committee should be among the ORC faculty who specialize in operations management.

For more information about our PhD program, please see our General Exam Syllabus .

For more information about ORC course offerings, please go here .

What is Operations Research?

Operations research (OR) is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods—such as optimization, statistics, machine learning, and probability — to  make better decisions that impact society and the world positively.

The mission of the PhD program is intimately linked to the mission of the ORC.

Phone:  617-253-3601 Email:   [email protected]

Graduate Program

Pushing the Scholarly Frontier

PhD in Political Science

Our doctoral students are advancing political science as a discipline. They explore the empirical phenomena that produce new scholarly insights—insights that improve the way governments and societies function. As a result, MIT Political Science graduates are sought after for top teaching and research positions in the U.S. and abroad. Read where program alumni are working around the world.

How the PhD program works

The MIT PhD in Political Science requires preparation in two of these major fields:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Models and Methods
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

We recommend that you take a broad array of courses across your two major fields. In some cases, a single course may overlap across the subject matter of both fields. You may not use more than one such course to "double count" for the course distribution requirement. Keep in mind that specific fields may have additional requirements.

You are free to take subjects in other departments across the Institute. Cross-registration arrangements also permit enrollment in subjects taught in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and in some of Harvard's other graduate schools.

Requirements

1. number of subjects.

You will need two full academic years of work to prepare for the general examinations and to meet other pre-dissertation requirements. Typically, a minimum of eight graduate subjects are required for a PhD.

2. Scope and Methods

This required one-semester seminar for first-year students introduces principles of empirical and theoretical analysis in political science.

3. Statistics

You must successfully complete at least one class in statistics.

You must successfully complete at least one class in empirical research methods.

5. Philosophy

You must successfully complete at least one class in political philosophy.

6. Foreign language or advanced statistics

You must demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by successfully completing two semesters of intermediate-level coursework or an exam in that language, or you must demonstrate your knowledge of advanced statistics by successfully completing three semesters of coursework in advanced statistics. International students whose native language is not English are not subject to the language requirement.

7. Field research

We encourage you to conduct field research and to develop close working ties with faculty members engaged in major research activities.

8. Second Year Paper/workshop

You must complete an article-length research paper and related workshop in the spring semester of the second year. The second-year paper often develops into a dissertation project.

9. Two examinations

In each of your two elected fields, you must take a general written and oral examination. To prepare for these examinations, you should take at least three courses in each of the two fields, including the field seminar.

10. Doctoral thesis

As a rule, the doctoral thesis requires at least one year of original research and data collection. Writing the dissertation usually takes a substantially longer time. The thesis process includes a first and second colloquium and an oral defense. Be sure to consult the MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation as well as the MIT Political Science Thesis Guidelines . Consult the MIT academic calendar to learn the due date for final submission of your defended, signed thesis.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

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Below is a list of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing’s graduate degree programs. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is awarded interchangeably with the Doctor of Science (ScD).

Prospective students apply to the department or program under which they want to register. Application instructions can be found on each program’s website as well as on the MIT Graduate Admissions website.

Center for Computational Science and Engineering

The Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) brings together faculty, students, and other researchers across MIT involved in computational science research and education. The center focuses on advancing computational approaches to science and engineering problems, and offers SM and PhD programs in computational science and engineering (CSE).

• Computational Science and Engineering, SM and PhD . Interdisciplinary master’s program emphasizing advanced computational methods and applications. The CSE SM program prepares students with a common core of computational methods that serve all science and engineering disciplines, and an elective component that focuses on particular applications. Doctoral program enables students to specialize in methodological aspects of computational science via focused coursework and a thesis which involves the development and analysis of broadly applicable computational approaches that advance the state of the art.
• Computational Science and Engineering, Interdisciplinary PhD. Doctoral program offered jointly with eight participating departments, focusing on the development of new computational methods relevant to science and engineering disciplines. Students specialize in a computation-related field of their choice through coursework and a doctoral thesis. The specialization in computational science and engineering is highlighted by specially crafted thesis fields. 

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The largest academic department at MIT, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) prepares hundreds of students for leadership roles in academia, industry, government and research. Its world-class faculty have built their careers on pioneering contributions to the field of electrical engineering and computer science — a field which has transformed the world and invented the future within a single lifetime. MIT EECS consistently tops the U.S. News & World Report and other college rankings and is widely recognized for its rigorous and innovative curriculum. A joint venture between the Schwarzman College of Computing and the School of Engineering, EECS (also known as Course 6) is now composed of three overlapping sub-units in electrical engineering (EE), computer science (CS), and artificial intelligence and decision-making (AI+D).

• Computation and Cognition, MEng*. Course 6-9P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computation and Cognition to provide additional depth in the subject areas through advanced coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Computer Science, PhD
• Computer Science and Engineering, PhD
• Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science, MEng*. New in Fall 2022, Course 6-14P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science to provide additional depth in economics and EECS through advanced coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Computer Science and Molecular Biology, MEng*. Course 6-7P builds on the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Molecular Biology to provide additional depth in computational biology through coursework and a substantial thesis.
• Electrical Engineering, PhD
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MEng* , SM* , and PhD . Master of Engineering program (Course 6-P) provides the depth of knowledge and the skills needed for advanced graduate study and for professional work, as well as the breadth and perspective essential for engineering leadership. Master of Science program emphasizes one or more of the theoretical or experimental aspects of electrical engineering or computer science as students progress toward their PhD.
• Electrical Engineer / Engineer in Computer Science.** For PhD students who seek more extensive training and research experiences than are possible within the master’s program.
• Thesis Program with Industry, MEng.* Combines the Master of Engineering academic program with periods of industrial practice at affiliated companies. 

* Available only to qualified EECS undergraduates. ** Available only to students in the EECS PhD program who have not already earned a Master’s and to Leaders for Global Operations students.

Institute for Data, Systems, and Society

The Institute for Data, Systems, and Society advances education and research in analytical methods in statistics and data science, and applies these tools along with domain expertise and social science methods to address complex societal challenges in a diverse set of areas such as finance, energy systems, urbanization, social networks, and health.

• Social and Engineering Systems, PhD. Interdisciplinary PhD program focused on addressing societal challenges by combining the analytical tools of statistics and data science with engineering and social science methods.
• Technology and Policy, SM . Master’s program addresses societal challenges through research and education at the intersection of technology and policy.
• Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Statistics . For students currently enrolled in a participating MIT doctoral program who wish to develop their understanding of 21st-century statistics and apply these concepts within their chosen field of study. Participating departments and programs: Aeronautics and Astronautics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Economics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Political Science, and Social and Engineering Systems.

Operations Research Center

The Operations Research Center (ORC) offers multidisciplinary graduate programs in operations research and analytics. ORC’s community of scholars and researchers work collaboratively to connect data to decisions in order to solve problems effectively — and impact the world positively.

In conjunction with the MIT Sloan School of Management, ORC offers the following degrees:

• Operations Research, SM and PhD . Master’s program teaches important OR techniques — with an emphasis on practical, real-world applications — through a combination of challenging coursework and hands-on research. Doctoral program provides a thorough understanding of the theory of operations research while teaching students to how to develop and apply operations research methods in practice.
• Business Analytics, MBAn. Specialized advanced master’s degree designed to prepare students for careers in data science and business analytics.

MITx MicroMasters Programs: Master Your Future

Mitx micromasters ® programs.

Advance your career or accelerate your Master’s degree with a graduate-level digital credential from MIT.

The MicroMasters program credential from MIT Open Learning is a professional and academic credential for online learners from anywhere in the world who seek focused, accelerated advancement.

Enroll in a program—no admission required—and take a series of graduate-level online courses, taught by MIT instructors, through edX or MITx Online.

Earn a program credential by completing the course and passing one or more proctored exams.

Enjoy the credential benefits: Credential earners can also apply for an accelerated master’s degree program at MIT and other pathway schools ; and include your credential on professional profiles. MicroMasters program credential earners also become affiliates of the MIT Alumni Association .

Supply Chain Management

Gain an end-to-end understanding of supply chain management. Five courses and a final comprehensive exam represent the equivalent of one semester of coursework at MIT. Boost your skills at work or build on the credential by applying to MIT’s #1 world-ranked Supply Chain Management Master’s degree program.

More about Supply Chain Management

Data, Economics, and Design of Policy

Grapple with some of the world’s most pressing problems from a rigorous, data-driven perspective developed by Nobel prize winners Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee. Complete three core courses and two out of three electives plus proctored exams to earn your credential. You may then apply to the Master’s degree offered by MIT’s #1 world-ranked Economics Department.

More about Data, Economics, and Development Policy

Principles of Manufacturing

Develop the fundamental skills needed for global excellence in manufacturing and competitiveness with a program designed and delivered by MIT’s #1-world ranked Mechanical Engineering department. Build your career with the credential or use it as credits toward a Master’s degree by applying to MIT’s Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing and Design.

More about Principles of Manufacturing

Statistics and Data Science

Master the skills needed to solve complex challenges with data, from probability and statistics to data analysis and machine learning. This program consists of three core courses, plus one of two electives developed by faculty at MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). Credential earners may apply and fast-track their Master’s degree at different institutions around the world, or start their path towards a PhD from MIT IDSS.

More about Statistics and Data Science

Meet the complex demands of today’s global finance markets with 5 courses developed and delivered by MIT Sloan faculty. Earn a MicroMasters program credential in finance to accelerate your career or fast-track your MIT Master of Finance degree.

More about Finance

Why Should I Enroll?

Advance Your Career

Learn online, pass digital proctored exams, and earn a program credential. Boost your professional profile with an affordable and valuable credential from MIT.

Accelerate Your Master’s

Fast-track your master’s degree at MIT and many other pathway schools around the world.

Be Part of the MIT Community

Become an affiliate member of the MIT Alumni Association and receive special access to professional journals and publications.

Grow Your Network

After you earn your MicroMasters® program credential, build connections through a private group of like-minded professionals.

For Organizations and Academic Institutions

Equip your workforce and organization with new applicable skills through the MITx MicroMasters program!

We work closely with organizations globally that wish to integrate our programs into their own education and training portfolios. Flexible pricing options available.

Join Us at Our Free Online Events

Register for one of our upcoming webinars to learn more about the different MicroMasters programs at MIT. Our events are hosted by the course teams, including MIT faculty, and they provide a great opportunity to ask questions about our courses.

“MicroMasters Programs offer unprecedented access points to advanced degrees, as well as to accelerated professional growth in some of the world's most in-demand fields. Through these programs, learners worldwide can gain the experience of a masters-level course of study, but also the confidence of thriving in an MIT-caliber education.”

Eric Grimson, Vice President of Open Learning, MIT

“The Institute’s tradition of looking outward and connecting with talented people around the globe is more important now than ever. MicroMasters programs inspire students everywhere, including those who never considered applying to MIT, to challenge themselves and rise to their potential.”

Sally Kornbluth, MIT President

Smart. Open. Grounded. Inventive. Read our Ideas Made to Matter.

Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

An interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, management, and design, leading to a master’s degree in engineering and management.

Executive Programs

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

This 20-month MBA program equips experienced executives to enhance their impact on their organizations and the world.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management

Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management (TIES) embraces two areas: the organization, development, and commercialization of technology-based innovation in existing firms; and the formation, development, and growth of technology-based new enterprises. Students can integrate these areas in their studies or approach them as distinct elements.

For 40 years, MIT Sloan faculty and their graduate students have distinguished themselves with the breadth and depth of their managerial research and curriculum on all aspects of the management of research, development, technology-based innovation, and technological entrepreneurship. This group also initiated—and now runs—the  MIT Entrepreneurship Center . The E-Center, with its extensive multi-disciplinary curriculum and its wide-ranging program of student activities, also sponsors the nation's premier business plan competition, the  MIT $100K .

TIES Faculty

More Information  

TIES Graduates  

Example Thesis Topics

Graduate Program

The Microbiology Graduate PhD Program is an MIT-wide program that is designed to provide students with broad exposure to modern areas of microbiology and depth in the chosen area of thesis work.

There are more than 50 faculty in 10 different departments and divisions that study microbes. Graduate students admitted to the program will join a vibrant, thriving microbiology community on the MIT campus and will receive training in a broad range of areas in microbiology.

The major components of the training program are described in in this section, along with information on life as a graduate student at MIT.

“Is the MIT Microbiology Graduate Program the right program for me?”

This is a question we often hear, especially if applicants are considering or applying to other departments within MIT.  As you can see from our website, we have over 60 faculty from over 10 different departments participating in the Microbiology Graduate Program.

One way to help you decide where best to apply is for you to determine whether all, or almost all, of the faculty in whose research you are interested are in one department.  If that is the case, applying to that individual department would be more appropriate.  If you are equally interested in faculty and labs from different departments, then a program like MIT Microbiology can provide you the flexibility to bridge different departments and disciplines, both in your coursework and your research.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

77 Massachusetts Avenue Building 38-444 Cambridge MA, 02139

617-253-4603 [email protected]

Website: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Application Opens: September 16

Deadline: December 15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Fee: $75.00

Terms of Enrollment

Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MEng)*

Interdisciplinary Programs

Standardized tests.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• Not required

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Minimum score required: 7
• Electronic scores send to: MIT Graduate Admissions

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Minimum score required: 100 (iBT) 600 (PBT)
• Institute code: 3514
• Department code: 78 or 66

IELTS exam is preferred over the TOEFL. Waiver of TOEFL/IELTS may be available.

Areas of Research

• Artificial Intelligence
• Bioelectrical Engineering
• Circuit Design
• Communications
• Computational Biology
• Computer Architecture
• Computer Graphics and Vision
• Computer Networks
• Control and Decisions Systems
• Electromagnetics, Energy, and Power
• Human Computer Interaction
• Machine Learning
• Materials, Devices, and Photonics
• Natural Language and Speech Processing
• Programming Languages
• Signal Processing
• Theoretical Computer Science

Financial Support

In the EECS PhD program, students are supported with a fellowship, research assistantship or teaching assistantship. The financial support provides full tuition, a monthly living stipend and medical insurance. When needed, additional departmental support is available. 

Decisions on support are made after decisions on admission and are based on the information supplied in the application for admission. Any newly admitted student will automatically be considered for Department fellowships and assistantship support. Newly admitted students are also encouraged to apply to outside government and private agencies for fellowship support. Please see the EECS website for more information.

Application Requirements

• Online application
• Statement of objectives
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• English proficiency exam scores

Special Instructions

*The Master of Engineering degrees are available to MIT undergraduates only.

**The Master of Science degree is required of students pursuing a doctoral degree. If you do not have a master’s degree when you apply, you will receive that degree first before proceeding to the PhD. A terminal master’s degree is not offered.

Applicants should not send published papers or theses. Admitted students will be required to submit official transcript(s) to the EECS Graduate Office.

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