Academic program in Area V:
Undergraduate Preparation
Students entering Area V should have an undergraduate preparation that includes an undergraduate-level subject in solid-state electronics and physics. MIT students will have gained such experience in 6.012, "Electronic Devices and Circuits," followed by 6.720, "Integrated Microelectronic Devices." Students from other schools might find that the modeling concepts were conveyed in subjects on transistor physics or physical electronics.
In addition, students may have had a class in modern physics - equivalent to MIT subject 6.728, "Applied Quantum and Statistical Physics." A strong background in electromagnetism is also desirable as is some acquaintance with the concepts of statistical thermodynamics. The minimum background in electromagnetism should be that equivalent to 6.013, "Electromagnetics and Applications."
In mathematics, contact with one or more of the following subjects is desirable: Complex Variables, Analysis, Probability, and Linear Algebra. The respective MIT subjects are: 18.04, 18.100, 6.041 (or 18.313), and 18.06. Students lacking major elements in the above background are encouraged to take the appropriate undergraduate subjects as part of their overall plan for graduate school.