Massachusetts Institute of Technology Degree Programs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology appears in our ranking of The 50 Most Technologically Advanced Universities.
Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can study at all levels across 30 different departments that are organized into five “schools.” Despite the institution’s name, students may even choose to study art, music, and theater at the school.
The degrees are all fairly standard setups, such as 120 credit hours for bachelor’s degrees and 30 – 50 credit hours for master’s degrees. Students pursuing a doctorate must write a dissertation in addition to their classroom work. Many students must also complete laboratory work.
Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology often lead the way in research and breakthroughs. Recently, engineering students at the university have postulated a new kind of aircraft wing that morphs into different shapes rather than relying on mechanical devices. Chemical engineering students are currently worrying the bone that is the lifespan of medical implants. Students who want to merge their musical and engineering interests can delve into the field of music technology, which is a performance-based curriculum.
When it comes to online study, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides students with both current curricula and what is called “Open Coursework.” The Open Coursework online consists of free courses from previous years. Students can peruse these courses at their leisure. These free courses are neither degree-granting or credit-bearing. They are designed to augment the learning experience.
About the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT was founded amid great optimism on April 10, 1861. Two days later, the South fired on Fort Sumter. Needless to say, the plans for the new university were put on hold. Still, the university’s organizers kept up with the necessary fundraising and were ready to open the doors to the first students in 1865.
MIT has always led the way in the field of engineering, but it has diversified its foci over the years. Currently, it is the No. 1 school in the nation for Engineering as shown by U.S. News and World Report. It is also the No. 3 overall school in the nation. One might not expect it, but MIT is the No. 2 business school in the United States, and it has risen to No. 3 among the most innovative schools. The university is either No. 1 or No. 2 in at least a dozen areas of graduate study.
On a whimsical note, students at MIT pulled off what is possibly the greatest prank in the history of college sports. The MIT Beavers play in Division III, but their balloon prank at the Harvard-Yale game in 1982 is in Division I of hacks for its daring and the complexity of the technology needed to create it during a time without smartphones, powerful computers, or other advanced electronics.
The MIT community is small at fewer than 5,000 total students, and the campus is snug and inviting as only 166 acres. The university is extremely selective and only takes one in 12 students who apply. More than two-thirds of the classes have fewer than 20 students.
MIT Accreditation Details
MIT has its regional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education. Every engineering subdepartment at MIT also has the separate blessing of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. The business school at MIT has also earned the recognition of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
MIT Application Requirements
Given its reputation at the top of the world of engineering education in the United States for more than 150 years, the entrance requirements are stringent. Perhaps the toughest part about preparing for admittance at MIT is the realization that the “standard method” of taking every course in sight and doing every club possible is not the best way to get in. MIT wants applicants to do what is best for them in high school and not what is best for MIT. They value sincerity, honesty, and integrity every bit as much as intelligence and academic achievement. They want students to break the mold and “apply sideways.” Applicants should check the website to find out more about what that means.
Graduate students should check the MIT website for the specific requirements for the various graduate school fields before applying. Aside from the obvious qualifications, such as a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited American university or foreign equivalent and providing official transcripts, students might have to achieve particular scores on the Graduate Record Examinations, Graduate Management Admissions Test, or Miller Analogies Test. Some students might even have to take multiple tests.
Tuition and Financial Aid
MIT charges undergraduates a bit less than $75,000 to attend annually. That is broken down into $53,450 for tuition, $10,430 for housing, $5,960 for meals, and assorted other fees and incidentals. MIT even allows students to forego meal plans and shop and cook for themselves, but they still stress to prospective students that doing so will still cost about $6,000 annually.
Undergraduate students may receive need-based aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, but graduate students largely do not. Master’s candidates at MIT may, however, participate in a special work-study program to tutor undergraduates, serve as teaching assistants, or work alongside faculty as research assistants. Doctoral candidates all receive full scholarships for their studies. All graduate students receive a stipend too. The amounts of both tuition and stipend vary from department to department.
All students, regardless of level, may select student loans or other sources of private funding to attend MIT. Most of these private sources of funding are merit-based rather than need-based. They also usually have tough academic standards to meet to keep the awards. Students wishing to know more should contact the Office of Financial Aid at their earliest convenience.
International students who wish to work in any capacity on campus or off campus should make certain that all of their immigration papers are in order prior to applying to the university or for financial aid. The deadlines for international students are different, so they should take extra care to be sure to meet them all.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology always strives to press forward with innovation, impeccable standards, and ultimate integrity.