September 2007                                                                                           Memorandum 3807

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Graduate Office, Room 38-444

THE MINOR REQUIREMENT

Each student must complete a minor program, approved by the student’s Doctoral Committee, which consists of two MIT subjects, at least one of which is an advanced graduate subject.  The intent of the minor is to provide a broadening experience and the subject matter may fall well outside of Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

The subjects in the minor program should constitute a coherent study within a single discipline.  One of the subjects may be introductory.  At least one of the subjects must involve study at an advanced level.  Please note that

• subjects graded Pass/Fail,

• subjects transferred from another institution,

• subjects taken before entry into the EECS graduate program, and

• language acquisition subjects

are normally not acceptable for a minor program although special cases may be approved by petition.  Subjects taken at Harvard under cross-registration are acceptable.

The minor program will be completed when

• it has been approved by the Doctoral Committee and

• the minor subjects appear on the MIT transcript with grades of A or B 

The Doctoral Committee is appointed at the time of completion of the RQE and this may occur after the student has spent several years in the doctoral program.  Students who would like to start taking the subjects for the minor program before they have a Doctoral Committee may submit the form attached to this memorandum in order to seek early approval of the minor program.  The form asks for a description of the major area of interest as well since the minor program is expected to be distinct from the major area of interest.  Area II students should submit the minor requirement by using the ‘Area II Graduate Student Website.”

If the Area Chair approves the proposed minor, the Doctoral Committee will accept it unless there are changes in the minor program or in the major area.  If such changes have occurred, the Doctoral Committee will have to determine whether the minor and major are still sufficiently distinct; if not, a new minor program will need to be approved by the Doctoral Committee.

PROPOSED MINOR PROGRAM

(Area II students should use the ‘Area II Graduate Student Website.”)

(printable version)

Name ____________________________________________ MIT  I.D.____________________

e-mail ________________________________ Area: ________ Date submitted: ____________ 

Minor program field: _____________________________________________________________

For the two subjects that constitute your proposed minor program, please enter the MIT or Harvard subject number, subject name, whether it is graduate (H or G) or undergraduate (U).  If you have completed the subject, enter the grade.

Subj. #: ______ Subject Name _____________________________ H, G, or U: ___ Grade ____

Subj. #: ______ Subject Name _____________________________ H, G, or U; ___ Grade ____

Brief description of your minor area of interest: ________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of your major area of interest: ________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Expected doctoral thesis topic: ____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Counselor's approval: ___________________________________________________

Your signature: ________________________________________________________________

Please submit this form to the Graduate Office, 38-444.

Area Chair's approval: _________________________________ Date: _____________________