PhD in Design and Computation Degree Requirements
Design + Computation PhD Degree Requirements
It is the student's responsibility to fill out the appropriate section of the Report of Completed Design and Comptuation/PhD Requirements upon completion of the following:
- Major and minor field coursework
- General exam
- Dissertation proposal
- Dissertation defense
This document is submitted to the degree administrator and kept in the student's official departmental file. The degree administrator informs the MIT registrar that the degree requirements have been fulfilled.
Subject Work
PhD Students are expected to complete at least 144 units of subject work while in residency at MIT. This is usually accomplished over two years by enrolling in an average of 36 units per term-the equivalent of three or four subjects. In those special cases where the student is awarded advanced standing at admission, the unit requirement is lowered accordingly. The only specific subject requirement is 4.581 Proseminar in Computation. All other subjects are selected in consultation with the faculty advisor and may be taken outside of the Department of Architecture. Registration in 4.THG, Graduate Thesis, does not count toward the 144-unit requirement.
PhD students in Design and Computation are expected to enroll in 4.581, Proseminar in Computation, during their first year in residence. The Proseminar is meant to provide a rigorous grounding in the field with a focus on specific research topics related to architecture and design practice.
Major and Minor Fields
Major and minor fields must be approved by the student's advisory committee. Normally, the minor field requirement will be satisfied by outstanding performance in three related subjects (not less than 27 units). The major field requirement is satisfied upon successful completion of the general examination.
General Examination
The general examination is given after required subject work is completed and is taken no later than the third year of residency. The general examination is meant to show broad and detailed competence in the student's major field of concentration and supporting areas of study. The content and format of the general examination are decided by the student's advisory committee in consultation with the student. The committee evaluates the examination upon completion and may 1) accept the examination, 2) ask for further evidence of competence, or 3) determine that the examination has not been passed. In the event that the general examination is not passed, the committee may allow the student to repeat the examination or may recommend that the student withdraw from the PhD program.
Dissertation Proposal
The PhD dissertation is a major work that makes an original scholarly contribution. It is the main focus of the doctoral program in Design and Computation, and it serves as the primary indicator of a PhD student's ability to carry out significant independent research.
A dissertation committee of three or more people approves the dissertation topic, and supervises the research and writing of the dissertation. The student's advisor is always a member of the dissertation committee and typically serves as its chair. The chair must be a member of the Computation faculty. When specialized guidance is necessary, one of the three members of the dissertation committee may be selected from outside the Department of Architecture. Approval of the dissertation topic is gained through a proposal submitted by the student to his or her dissertation committee. An oral examination in which the student meets with the dissertation committee to discuss the proposal should be planned for the third year of residency and marks the formal acceptance of the topic. Students who are preparing their thesis proposals will often register for Preparation for Computation PhD Thesis (4.589) that same term. Once the proposal has been approved, the student may register for Graduate Thesis (4.THG). The student may be asked to present his or her dissertation proposal in the class Research Seminar in Computation (4.582). The student is responsible for arranging meetings with the committee members on a regular basis.
Dissertation Defense
An oral defense of the completed dissertation in front of the student's dissertation committee is required. The committee may accept the dissertation at the oral defense or may ask for revisions.
The PhD is awarded after two copies of the defended, approved, archival-ready dissertation have been submitted to the Department of Architecture at its headquarters. The copies must be submitted by the Institute deadline for doctoral theses as published in the MIT Academic Calendar. Students must adhere to the Specifications for Thesis Preparation published by the Institute Archives.
Nonresident Research Status
Students are expected to carry out thesis research while in residence at MIT. It is rare that a PhD candidate in Design and Computation will need to apply for nonresident status. However, should a student who has completed all requirements except for the dissertation need to continue thesis research in years beyond the awarded funding, he or she may opt to apply for nonresident research status with the permission of the dissertation advisor.
English Requirement
All students whose first language is not English are required to take the English Evaluation Test (EET) prior to registration at MIT. Even students who satisfy the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
requirement for admission may be required to take specialized subjects in English as a Second Language (ESL), depending on their EET results. These subjects do not count toward the required degree credits but will prove valuable in helping students develop the skills necessary to write a dissertation.
Quick Links
Academic Calendar
Degree Administrator
English Evaluation Test (EET)
Nonresident Research Status
PhD in Design and Computation Introduction
PhD in Design and Computation Admissions Information
Report of Completed Design and Comptuation/PhD Requirements
Specifications for Thesis Preparation
Test of English as a Foreign Language
