MIT EECS - Undergraduate Brief Guide

The Department offers three undergraduate degree programs: Electrical Science and Engineering, VI-1, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VI-2, and Computer Science and Engineering, VI-3. We also offer a Master of Engineering Program, M.Eng., designated VI-P in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, available only to MIT EECS students. The Master of Science degree is available only to graduate students enrolled in our doctoral program who did their undergraduate preparation outside our department.

Available Degrees and Programs

Course VI-1/VI-1A: A four-year accredited program leading to the S.B. degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Science and Engineering.
Course VI-2/VI-2A: A four-year accredited program which permits a broad selection of subjects from electrical engineering and computer science leading to the S.B. degree Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Course VI-3/VI-3A: A four-year accredited program leading to the S.B. degree Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering.

Course VI-P / VI-PA: A five-year program leading to the M.Eng. degree Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and simultaneously to one of the three S.B.'s. This degree is available only to M.I.T. EECS undergraduates. It is an integrated undergraduate/graduate professional degree program with subject requirements ensuring breadth and depth. Students write a single 24-unit thesis, which is to be completed in no more than three terms.
S.M.: A one- or two-year program, beyond the bachelors, leading to the S.M. degree Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This degree is available only to students who were not MIT EECS undergraduates. The entire program, including the thesis, is to be completed in no more than four terms.

The two degrees E.E., Electrical Engineer,and E.C.S., Engineer in Computer Science,recognize additional classroom and research experience beyond the masters degree for students who do not wish the heavy emphasis on original research associated with the doctoral degrees. (Note: They are equivalent to the previous Electrical Engineer degree.)

Entry to EECS Degree Programs

M.I.T. undergraduates may enter the Department's undergraduate programs by designating the desired program (VI-1, VI-2 or VI-3), either at the end of the freshman year or at any time after that during their undergraduate years. Students in other programs may petition to add Course VI as a double major prior to the senior year. They must satisfy all departmental requirements, but can petition the Department to substitute similar subjects. Students in Course VI programs are not permitted to double major within Course VI (e.g., VI-1 and VI-3).

Course VI undergraduates and M.Eng. students may elect to take courses in Bioelectrical Engineering within the VI-1 undergraduate program and the M.Eng. program. Also available is a minor program in Biomedical Engineering administered by the Biological Engineering Division.

The VI-A Program, in which students combine regular academic terms with work assignments at participating companies, augments the M.Eng. and all three S.B. programs by providing valuable company experience and financial support. Course VI undergraduates apply in the fall term of their third year at M.I.T., and are selected by the VI-A companies. VI-A students qualifying for the graduate M.Eng. program complete three work assignments.

The Department's Internship Program is very successful, popular with both students and companies. There are sixteen participating companies and around 40 students in the program.

VI-A provides excellent industrial experience that enhances students' academic success and motivation. VI-A is not just for students planning to work at companies after they graduate; it can be valuable for those planning to complete a Ph.D. and teach, as it provides them with real-world experience and contacts they might otherwise never make. Since students spend their undergraduate academic terms on campus, the company internship assignments do not prevent students from involvement in on-campus academic research.

VI-A salaries can also help to subsidize student expenses, and most companies pay one or more terms of students' graduate tuition. For information about the selection process contact the VI-A Office in 38-409E, 253-4656, 6a@mit.edu.

Course VI undergraduates make informal application to the VI-P M.Eng. program at the end of the junior year by submitting a checklist for the new curriculum or a checklist for the old curriculum. During the summer following, those who have maintained an appropriate grade point average will be informed that they may continue into the M.Eng. program. While there is no sharp cutoff, students with a 4.25 gpa are very likely to be admitted, while those with a 4.0 gpa are very unlikely to be admitted. In borderline cases the admission decision may be delayed for one term. Students who successfully complete the program will receive both the M.Eng. degree and an S.B. degree. Most students complete these degrees in five years. M.Eng. students are expected to maintain at least a 4.0 grade point average while in the program. Course VI undergraduates may be admitted to but cannot enter the EECS doctoral program until they have completed an M.Eng. degree.

Admitted students normally enter the M.Eng. graduate program, becoming graduate students, after eight undergraduate terms. In cases where graduate student status is needed earlier to obtain graduate financial support, students who have completed the number of units needed for an undergraduate degree (180 beyond the GIRs) may become graduate students, even if they may not have completed all the subject requirements for an S.B. Students continue with their undergraduate advisors throughout the M.Eng. program, which is administered by the Course VI Undergraduate Office.

Course VI undergraduates may choose to break their enrollment after four years to work for a year or two before returning for graduate study. Such students should complete the requirements for and receive the Bachelors degree before leaving. Normally deferrals will be granted for a maximum of two years.

In the academic year 2008-2009, over 160 students were in the graduate VI-P program.

Applications for these programs can be obtained from the Graduate Office, in 38-444, 253-4603. All applicants to the regular graduate program are reviewed for their ability to complete a Ph.D., regardless of their intended final degree.

M.I.T. EECS undergraduates make formal application for regular graduate admission during the fall of their senior year, or the fall of the M.Eng. graduate year, and are informed of their admissibility in the early spring. All students must complete both the S.B. and M.Eng. degrees before actually entering the Ph.D. program.

Non-M.I.T. students and students in other departments at MIT apply to the Ph.D. program while in their final undergraduate year or while they are in a Masters program elsewhere. Such students who are admitted and attend and do not have masters degrees will complete the S.M. requirements; they are not eligible for the M.Eng. degree.

Department Degree Requirements

Two years ago, the Department announced new undergraduate degree programs involving new introductory and foundational subjects along with a new overall structure. The Class of 2010 chose between the new or old curricula; while the Class of 2011 and beyond must complete the new programs.

Students completing the new curriculum will take Advanced Undergraduate Subjects instead of Engineering Concentration electives.

To learn about the Engineering Concentration requirements in the old curriculum for bachelors and M.Eng. students, go to the old checklist.

To learn about the twelve Concentration fields in the new curriculum, go to the new checklist.

Students completing the new curriculum announced in Spring 2007 do not need to complete this requirement. Other students are required to take 48 Engineering Design Points(EDPs). A point is equivalent to an academic unit. Department subjects that have significant design components have been assigned appropriate numbers of EDPs, as shown in the Bulletin subject listings. The numbers of EDPs associated with independent subjects such as UROP and Thesis are determined by the supervisors of those subjects. Students who wish to receive EDPs for other subjects, such as out-of-department subjects, may petition the Undergraduate Office. The following is a list of the EDPs assigned to Department subjects.

Required Subjects: 6.001, 6.002, 6.003, 6.004, 18.03
Advanced Math: 6.041 or 18.440
Department Lab: A 12-unit subject from the list 6.101,..., 6.182
Engineering Concentrations:
- Three EE Headers from 6.011, 6.012, 6.013 or 6.021.
- Electives: 1 elective subject from any of the 3 E.E. Concentrations
- 1 additional header or elective subject from any of the seven Concentrations
Advanced Project: 6.UAT and 6.UAP
Design Points: 48 Engineering Design Points
Units: 180 beyond the GIRs

Students who take both 6.021 and 6.022 may use 6.022 to satisfy the department laboratory requirement; 6.022 cannot then be used as an engineering concentration elective.

Required Subjects: 6.001, 6.002, 6.003, 6.004, 18.03
Advanced Math: 6.041, 18.440 or 6.042J
Department Lab: A 12-unit subject from the list 6.101,..., 6.182
Engineering Concentrations:
- Four Headers: 2 headers from two of the EE Concentrations
  (6.011, 6.012, 6.013, or 6.021); 2 headers from the CS Concentrations (6.033, or 6.034, or 6.046J)
- Elective: 1 additional header or elective from any of the seven Concentrations
Advanced Project: 6.UAT and 6.UAP
Design Points: 48 Engineering Design Points
Units: 180 beyond the GIRs

Students who take both 6.021 and 6.022 may use 6.022 to satisfy the department laboratory requirement; 6.022 cannot then be used as an engineering concentration elective.

Required Subjects: 6.001, 6.002, 6.003, 6.004, 18.03
Advanced Math: 6.042J
Department Lab: 6.170
Engineering Concentrations:
- The Three CS Headers: 6.033, 6.034, 6.046J
- Electives: 1 elective subject from any of the 3 CS Concentrations
- 1 additional header or elective subject from any of the seven Concentrations
Advanced Project: 6.UAT and 6.UAP
Design Points: 48 Engineering Design Points
Units: 180 beyond the GIRs

Required subjects: 6.001, 6.002, 6.003, 6.004, 18.03, 6.UAT, 6.UAP
Advanced Math: 3 subjects from either 1 of 6.041 or 18.440 or 6.042; 2 of 18.04, 18.06, 18.075, 18.085, 18.086, 18.100, 18.311, 18.330, 18.353, 18.700, 18.703 or 18.781.
Department Lab: A 12-unit subject from the list 6.101,..., 6.182
Engineering Concentrations:
- 3 subjects, including a header, from one EC
- 4 subjects: a header and elective from each of two other ECs
- 2 additional headers or electives from any of the seven Concentrations
Thesis: 24 units of 6ThG
Design Points: 48 Engineering Design Points
A total of 90 units (66 units including 42 Grad-H units, 36 of which must be in Course VI, plus 24 units of Thesis), and 180 undergraduate units beyond the General Institute Requirements.

Students who take 6.021J and 6.022J may use 6.022 to satisfy the Department Lab requirement; 6.022 cannot then be used as an engineering conentration elective.

The choice of engineering concentrations and electives, such as the Department Lab, must be made so that at least one of the three undergraduate programs is satisfied. In the case that the program satisfies the requirements for more than one undergraduate program, the student must select which undergraduate degree will be awarded.

The requirements for the S.M. degree Master of Science are a total of 66 units, of which at least four subjects, totaling 42 units or more, must be Grad-H subjects, plus a 24-unit thesis. Like the M.Eng. thesis, the S.M. thesis will be limited to 24 units. The S.M. degree program is to be completed within four terms (not counting summers).

The requirements for the E.E. degree Electrical Engineer and the E.C.S. degree Engineer in Computer Science are completion of 162 units, of which 90 must be Grad-H, together with an acceptable thesis. An M.Eng. or S.M. thesis of superior quality will satisfy the Engineer thesis requirement.

The requirements for the two doctoral degrees Doctor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy, consist of a minor program, qualifying and area exams, and completion and defense of a thesis.

Financial Support

Undergraduate financial aid is need-based; MIT Financial Aid provides students with aid packages based on their parents' assets. This support is usually limited to eight terms of undergraduate study. For more information, contact MIT Student Financial Services, 11-120, 258-8600.

When undergraduates enter the M.Eng. graduate program, usually after eight semesters as undergraduates, they are considered to be graduate students and are no longer eligible for undergraduate need-based financial aid. However, there are several kinds of support available to M.Eng. graduate students. There is no guarantee that M.Eng. students will be able to obtain RAs or TAs, as the Department prefers to support students in the Ph.D. program. Some M.Eng. students have been unable to find graduate support.

Those with high GPAs (above 4.7), should consult with Ms. Peggy Carney, 38-444, 253-4605, to learn about applying for fellowships like the NSF Fellowships, early in the Fall of the senior year.
Those interested in Research Assistantships should consult with faculty and senior research staff in their area of interest. RAs are selected by individual faculty. While some faculty do not wish to hire M.Eng. students as RAs, many will do so. At the beginning of the Fall Term each Graduate Area holds an Open House where faculty describe their research and available positions.
Regular graduate students (those admitted to S.M., Engineer, or Doctoral programs) are given preference for Teaching Assistantships. However, M.Eng. students with strong academic records, especially VI-A students returning from graduate company assignments, and those who have experience in our teaching program, will also be considered. Interested students should submit an application to Lisa Bella, 38-475, including a grade report and a note from a faculty member who can assess the applicant's teaching potential. Deadlines are October 31st for Spring Term Assistantships and March 31st for Fall Term Assistantships. If you are interested in teaching a particular subject, you should let the faculty member in charge of the subject know that.
To obtain loans, consult the Student Financial Services (Room 11-120, ext. 8-8600).

Note: Support, in the form of RAs orTAs will not be provided to M.Eng. students beyond their third regular term (not counting summer) of graduate registration. Students whose Teaching Assistant activities have seriously delayed their theses may petition to be eligible for one additional term of support. For all M.Eng. students, if the M.Eng. thesis is completed and subject requirements remain, an additional term of support eligibility will be granted.

Those with high GPAs (above 4.7), should consult with Ms. Peggy Carney, 38-444, 253-4605, early in the Fall the senior year to learn about applying for fellowships like the NSF Fellowships.
A number of strong students are admitted to the S.M. and Ph.D. program with guaranteed support. Such students receive either Teaching or Research Assistantships or Fellowships.
Other admitted graduate students seeking Research Assistants may consult with faculty in their area of research. At the beginning of the Fall Term each Graduate Area holds an Open House where faculty explain their research and available positions.
Those interested in Teaching Assistantships should complete a TA application. Deadlines are October 31st for each Spring Term and March 31st for each Fall Term.

Note: Department support, in the form of RAs, TAs or Departmentally-administered Fellowships, will not be provided to S.M. students beyond their fourth regular term of registration (summers not counted). Students whose Teaching Assistant activities have seriously delayed their theses may petition to be eligible for one additional term of support.

Variations from Required Curricula for S.B./M.Eng. Students

Substitutions for Institute requirements, primarily the Institute laboratory requirement and HASS requirement, must be petitioned to the Institute Committee on Curricula using an Institute Petition. That committee operates out of the Registrar's Office, 5-119. The Institute takes the General Institute Requirements very seriously and does not grant substitutions lightly.

Undergraduate advisors act with power to approve substitutions-in-kind for department requirements. The advisor should email approval of such substitutions to Vera Sayzew, vera@mit.edu.

More major not-in-kind substitutions of Department requirements will be handled by the Department's designated faculty examiners. Petitions for substitutions involving CS subjects should be sent to Prof. Meyer (meyer@csail.mit.edu) while those involving EE subjects should be sent to Prof. J. Kirtley (kirtley@mit.edu).

First, did you discuss this substitution with your advisor? If so, does your advisor approve?

Next, please tell me your program (6-3, 6-2, SB, MEng, ...), and please make a chart listing, under the assumption your petition is approved, the courses you have or will take to satisfy ALL your course 6 concentration requirements.

The chart should have 4 sections: courses fulfilling your three engineering concentrations and your electives. Include grades of those course you've taken, and mark with an asterisk (*) the ones for which you are seeking approval. Also mark with double asterisk (**) nonstandard courses previously approved for your requirements.

This note contains an outline of the procedures you should follow in asking for a 'not in kind' substitution of one or more subjects within the Engineering Concentrations or other department requirements. Please note that I will not automatically approve any substitution. You must make a sound argument.

1. Talk with your advisor about what you want to do. I will take no action without your advisors approval.

3. Describe which substitutions are here and why they are important to you. How do they fit in with your professional objectives?

4. Putting all of this into an electronic mail message, send it to your advisor with a request that your advisor endorse it and forward it to me. I will expect to get an email from your advisor containing an endorsement and your original message.

If all of this is done correctly and I approve, I will forward to the note to all who need to have it (you, your advisor and EECS).

The Advisor

The person with primary responsibility for a student's academic program is the academic advisor. Almost all official actions require the advisor's approval. Students should work to develop positive relationships with their advisors.

Students continue with their undergraduate advisor through the M.Eng. program, which is administered by the Undergraduate Office. Students in the S.M., Engineer and Ph.D. programs are assigned graduate advisors. These programs are administered by the Graduate Office, 38-444, 3-4603.

EECS Undergraduate Programs

A Brief Guide to MIT's EECS Degree Programs

Contents

Introduction