2009

For freshmen interested in exploring Course 6 (EECS) as a potential major, or ready to plunge into the Course 6 curriculum, there are at least three natural options for the spring semester: 6.01 (Introduction to EECS - I), 6.041 (Probabilistic Systems Analysis), or 6.042 (Mathematics for Computer Science). All three Course 6 curricula (EE, CS, and EECS) require 6.01, and all three require either 6.041 or 6.042.*

The broadest entry to the major is provided by 6.01, an integrated 12-unit introduction to electrical engineering and computer science, taught using a substantial interactive laboratory based on mobile robots. (The class also includes 6 units of Institute Lab credit; the remaining 6 units come later with 6.02.) Weekly lectures and the laboratory - with extensive faculty, TA and LA interaction - are used to teach ideas and techniques in modeling and abstraction as applied to computer programs, control systems, intelligent behavior, circuits and transducers.

6.01 makes use of programming both as a tool and as a way to express and explore important ideas. Students taking 6.01 will find it very helpful to have had some programming experience before entering the subject, and we outline below some options (including IAP subjects and online resources) for those who have not previously had such experience. Of more fundamental importance, however, is experience in thinking systematically, algorithmically, logically, and mathematically; this experience, rather than familiarity with the syntax of any particular programming language, is what will be most helpful to you in 6.01 (and beyond!). If you feel that your background has not given you adequate experience in these dimensions, you may be better off starting with 6.041 or 6.042, and deferring 6.01 to next fall (which will also give you enough time to work specifically on accumulating some programming experience).

While a CS class in high school typically provides more than enough programming experience for 6.01, there are several other options available to you: taking 6.00 or 1.00, or taking one or both of a pair of IAP courses, IAP 6.189 for an introduction, and IAP 6.090 for further experience. We also provide a self-paced tutorial for learning programming in Python (which is the language used in 6.01), linked at the top of the subject's website, http://mit.edu/6.01.

If you have further questions, feel free to write to the EECS Education Officer, Prof. Denny Freeman (freeman@mit), or the EECS Undergraduate Administrator, Ms. Anne Hunter (anneh@mit). We look forward to meeting many of you in Course 6 subjects next term!