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MIT Specifications for Thesis Preparation

Approved November 2022 for use in the 2022-2023 academic year. Updated March 2023 to incorporate changes to MIT Policies and Procedures 13.1.3 Intellectual Property Not Owned by MIT .

View this page as an accessible PDF .

Table of Contents

• Thesis Preparation Checklist

Timeline for submission and publication

• Bachelor’s degree thesis
• Graduate degree thesis

Dual degree theses

Joint theses, what happens to your thesis, title selection, embedded links.

• Special circumstances

Signature page

Abstract page.

• Acknowledgments

Biographical notes

Table of contents, list of figures.

• List of tables
• List of supplemental material

Notes and bibliographic references

Open licensing, labeling copyright in your thesis, use of previously published material in your thesis, digital supplementary material, physical supplementary material, starting with accessible source files, file naming.

• How to submit thesis information to the MIT Libraries

Placing a temporary hold on your thesis

Changes to a thesis after submission, permission to reuse or republish from mit theses, general information.

This guide has been prepared by the MIT Libraries, as prescribed by the Committee on Graduate Programs and the Committee on Undergraduate Program, to assist students and faculty in the preparation of theses. The Institute is committed to the preservation of each student’s thesis because it is both a requirement for the MIT degree and a record of original research that contains information of lasting value.

In this guide, “department” refers to a graduate or undergraduate program within an academic unit, and “thesis” refers to the digital copy of the written thesis. The official thesis version of record, which is submitted to the MIT Libraries, is the digital copy of the written thesis that has been approved by the thesis committee and certified by the department in fulfillment of a student’s graduation requirement.

The requirements in this guide apply to all theses and have been specified both to facilitate the care and dissemination of the thesis and to assure the preservation of the final approved document. Individual departments may dictate more stringent requirements.

Before beginning your thesis research, remember that the final output of this research—your thesis document—should only include research findings that may be shared publicly, in adherence with MIT’s policy on Open Research and Free Interchange of Information . If you anticipate that your thesis will contain content that requires review by an external sponsor or agency, it is critical that you allow sufficient time for this review to take place prior to thesis submission. 

Questions not answered in this guide should be referred to the appropriate department officer or to the MIT Libraries ( [email protected] ).

• Final edited and complete thesis PDF is due to your department on the date specified in the Academic Calendar.
• Hold requests should be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education or TLO concurrent with your thesis submission.
• Thesis information is due to the MIT Libraries before your date of graduation.
• Departments must transfer theses to the MIT Libraries within 30 days from the last day of class (end of term).
• One week later (30 days from the last day of classes + 7 days) or one week after the degree award date (whichever is later) the MIT Libraries may begin publishing theses in DSpace@MIT.
• If you have requested and received a temporary (up to 90-day) hold on the publication of your thesis from the Vice Chancellor, your thesis will be placed on hold as soon as it is received by the Libraries, and the 90-day hold will begin 30 days from the last day of class (end of term).
• If your thesis research is included in a disclosure to the TLO, the TLO may place your thesis on temporary hold with the Libraries, as appropriate.

Submitting your thesis document to your department

Your thesis document will be submitted to your department as a PDF, formatted and including the appropriate rights statement and sections as outlined in these specifications. Your department will provide more specific guidance on submitting your files for certification and acceptance.

Your department will provide information on submitting:

• A PDF/A-1  of your final thesis document (with no signatures)
• Signature page (if required by your department; your department will provide specific guidance)
• Original source files used to create the PDF of your thesis (optional, but encouraged)
• Supplementary materials  (optional and must be approved by your advisor and program)

Degree candidates must submit their thesis to the appropriate office of the department in which they are registered on the dates specified in the Academic Calendar. ( Academic Calendar | MIT Registrar ). September, February, and May/June are the only months in which degrees are awarded.

Bachelor’s degree theses

Graduate degree theses, submitting your thesis information to the libraries.

Information about your thesis must be submitted to the Libraries thesis submission and processing system  prior to your day of graduation. The information you provide must match the title page and abstract of your thesis . See How to submit thesis information to the MIT Libraries section for more details .

The academic department is required to submit the thesis to the MIT Libraries within one month after the last day of the term in which the thesis was submitted ( Faculty Regulation 2.72 ). The thesis document becomes part of the permanent archival collection. All thesis documents that have been approved will be transferred electronically to the MIT Libraries by a department representative via the MIT Libraries thesis submission and processing system .

The full-text PDF of each thesis is made publicly available in DSpace@MIT . A bibliographic record will appear in the MIT Libraries’ catalog, as well as the OCLC database WorldCat, which is accessible to libraries and individuals worldwide. Authors may also opt-in to having their thesis made available in the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database.

Formatting specifications

Your work will be a more valuable research tool for other scholars if it can be located easily. Search engines use the words in the title, and sometimes other descriptive words, to locate works. Therefore,

• Be sure to select a title that is a meaningful description of the content of your manuscript; and
• Do: “The Effects of Ion Implantation and Annealing on the Properties of Titanium Silicide Films on Silicon Substrates”
• Do: “Radiative Decays on the J/Psi to Two Pseudoscalar Final States”

You may include clickable links to online resources within the thesis file. Make the link self-descriptive so that it can stand on its own and is natural language that fits within the surrounding writing of your paragraph. The full URL should be included as a footnote or bibliography citation (dependent on citation style).

• Sentence in thesis: Further information is available on the MIT Writing and Communications Center’s website . The full-text PDF of each thesis is made publicly available in DSpace@MIT .
• Footnote or Bibliography: follow the rules of your chosen citation style and include the full website URL, in this case http://libraries.mit.edu/mit-theses

Sections of your thesis

Required (all information should be on a single page)

The title page should contain the title, name of the author (this can be the author’s preferred name), previous degrees, the degree(s) to be awarded at MIT, the date the degree(s) will be conferred (May/June, September, or February only), copyright notice (and legend, if required), and appropriate names of thesis supervisor(s) and student’s home department or program officer.

The title page should have the following fields in the following order and centered (including spacing) :

Thesis title as submitted to registrar

Author’s preferred name

Previous degree information, if applicable

Submitted to the [department name] in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree(s) of

[degree name]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Month and year degree will be granted (May or June, September, February ONLY)

Copyright statement

This permission legend MUST follow: The author hereby grants to MIT a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to exercise any and all rights under copyright, including to reproduce, preserve, distribute and publicly display copies of the thesis, or release the thesis under an open-access license.

[Insert 2 blank lines]

Note: The remaining fields are left aligned and not centered

Authored by: [Author name]

[Author’s department name] (align with the beginning of the author’s name from the previous line)

[Date thesis is to be presented to the department] (align with the beginning of the author’s name from the first line)

Certified by: [Advisor’s full name as it appears in the MIT catalog]

   [Advisor’s department as it appears in the MIT catalog] (align with the beginning of the advisor’s name from the previous line), Thesis supervisor

Accepted by: [name]

[title – line 1] (align with the beginning of the name from the previous line)

[title – line 2] (align with the beginning of the name from the first line)

Note: The name and title of this person varies in different degree programs and may vary each term; contact the departmental thesis administrator for specific information

• Students in joint graduate programs (such as Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) should list both their MIT thesis supervisor and the supervisor from the partner academic institution.
• The name and title of the department or the program officer varies in different degree programs and may vary each term. Contact the departmental graduate administrator for specific information.
• For candidates receiving two degrees, both degrees to be awarded should appear on the title page. For candidates in dual degree programs, all degrees and departments or programs should appear on the title page, and the names of both department heads/committee chairs are required. Whenever there are co-supervisors, both names should appear on the title page.

Here are some PDF examples of title pages:

• Bachelor’s Degree – using a Creative Commons license
• PhD candidate – using a Creative Commons license
• Master’s candidate – dual degrees
• Masters’ candidates – multiple authors
• Masters’ candidates – multiple authors with dual degrees and extra committee members
• Bachelor’s Degree – change of thesis supervisor

Title page: Special circumstances – change of thesis supervisor

If your supervisor has recently died or is no longer affiliated with the Institute:

• Both this person and your new supervisor should be listed on your title page
• Under the new supervisor’s name, state that they are approving the thesis on behalf of the previous supervisor
• An additional page should be added to the thesis, before the acknowledgments page, with an explanation about why a new supervisor is approving your thesis on behalf of your previous supervisor. You may also thank the new supervisor for acting in this capacity
• Review this PDF example of a title page with a change in supervisor

If your supervisor is external to the Institute (such as an industrial supervisor):

• You should acknowledge this individual on the Acknowledgements page as appropriate, but should not list this person on the thesis title page
• The full thesis committee and thesis readers can be acknowledged on the Acknowledgements page, but should not be included on the title page

Not Required

Please consult with your department to determine if they are requiring or requesting an additional signature page.

Each thesis must include an abstract of generally no more than 500 words single-spaced. The abstract should be thought of as a brief descriptive summary, not a lengthy introduction to the thesis. The abstract should immediately follow the title page.

The abstract page should have the following fields in the following order and centered (including spacing):

• Thesis title

Submitted to the [Department] on [date thesis will be submitted] in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of [Name of degree to be received]

[Insert 1 blank line]

Single-spaced summary; approximately 500 words or less; try not to use formulas or special characters

Thesis supervisor: [Supervisor’s name]

Title: [Title of supervisor]

The Abstract page should include the same information as on the title page. With the thesis title, author name, and submitting statement above the abstract, the word “ABSTRACT” typed before the body of the text, and the thesis supervisor’s name and title below the abstract.

Acknowledgements

An acknowledgement page may be included and is the appropriate place to include information such as external supervisor (such as an industrial advisor) or a list of the full thesis committee and thesis readers. Please note that your thesis will be publicly available online at DSpace@MIT , which is regularly crawled and indexed by Google and other search-engine providers.

The thesis may contain a short biography of the candidate, including institutions attended and dates of attendance, degrees and honors, titles of publications, teaching and professional experience, and other matters that may be pertinent. Please note that your thesis will be publicly available online at DSpace@MIT , which is regularly crawled and indexed by Google and other search-engine providers.

List of Tables

List of supplemental material.

Whenever possible, notes should be placed at the bottom of the appropriate page or in the body of the text. Notes should conform to the style appropriate to the discipline. If notes appear at the bottom of the page, they should be single-spaced and included within the specified margins.

It may be appropriate to place bibliographic references either at the end of the chapter in which they occur or at the end of the thesis.

The style of quotations, footnotes, and bibliographic references may be prescribed by your department. If your department does not prescribe a style or specify a style manual, choose one and be consistent. Further information is available on the MIT Writing and Communications Center’s website .

Ownership of copyright

The Institute’s policy concerning ownership of thesis copyright is covered in Rules and Regulations of the Faculty, 2.73 and MIT Policies and Procedures 13.1.3 . Copyright covers the intellectual property in the words and images in the thesis. If the thesis also includes patentable subject matter, students should contact the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) prior to submission of their thesis.

Under these regulations, students retain the copyright to student theses.

The student must, as a condition of a degree award, grant to MIT a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to exercise any and all rights under copyright, including to reproduce, preserve, distribute and publicly display copies of the thesis, or release the thesis under an open-access license. The MIT Libraries publish the thesis on DSpace@MIT , allowing open access to the research output of MIT.

You may also, optionally, apply a Creative Commons License to your thesis. The Creative Commons License allows you to grant permissions and provide guidance on how your work can be reused by others. For more information about CC: https://creativecommons.org/about/cclicenses/ . To determine which CC license is right for you, you can use the CC license chooser .

You must include an appropriate copyright notice on the title page of your thesis. This should include the following:

• the symbol “c” with a circle around it © and/or the word “copyright”
• the year of publication (the year in which the degree is to be awarded)
• the name of the copyright owner
• the words “All rights reserved” or your chosen Creative Commons license
• Also include the following statement below the ©“ The author hereby grants to MIT a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to exercise any and all rights under copyright, including to reproduce, preserve, distribute and publicly display copies of the thesis, or release the thesis under an open-access license.”
• Also include the following statement below the © “The author hereby grants to MIT a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to exercise any and all rights under copyright, including to reproduce, preserve, distribute and publicly display copies of the thesis, or release the thesis under an open-access license.”

You are responsible for obtaining permission, if necessary, to include previously published material in your thesis. This applies to most figures, images, and excerpts of text created and published by someone else; it may also apply to your own previous work. For figures and short excerpts from academic works, permission may already be available through the MIT Libraries (see here for additional information ). Students may also rely on fair use , as appropriate. For assistance with copyright questions about your thesis, Ask Scholarly Communications .

When including your own previously published material in your thesis, you may also need to obtain copyright clearance. If, for example, a student has already published part of the thesis as a journal article and, as a condition of publication, has assigned copyright to the journal’s publisher, the student’s rights are limited by what the publisher allows. More information about publisher policies on reuse in theses is available here.

Students can hold onto sufficient rights to reuse published articles (or excerpts of these) in their thesis if they are covered by MIT’s open access policy. Learn more about MIT’s open access policy and opt-in here . Ask Scholarly Communications for more information.

When including your own previously published articles in your thesis, check with your department for specific requirements, and consider the following:

• Ensure you have any necessary copyright permissions to include previously published material in your thesis.
• Be sure to discuss copyright clearance and embargo options with your co-authors and your advisor well in advance of preparing your thesis for submission.
• Include citations of where portions of the thesis have been previously published.
• When an article included has multiple authors, clearly designate the role you had in the research and production of the published paper that you are including in your thesis.

Supplemental material and research data

Supplemental material that may be submitted with your thesis is the materials that are essential to understanding the research findings of your thesis, but impossible to incorporate or embed into a PDF. Materials submitted to the MIT Libraries may be provided as supplemental digital files or in some cases physical items. All supplementary materials must be approved for submission by your advisor. The MIT Libraries can help answer questions you may have about managing the supplementary material and other research materials associated with your research.

Contact [email protected] early in your thesis writing process to determine the best way to include supplemental materials with your thesis.

You may also have other research data and outputs related to your thesis research that are not considered supplemental material and should not be submitted with your thesis. Research materials include the facts, observations, images, computer program results, recordings, measurements, or experiences on which a research output—an argument, theory, test or hypothesis, or other output—is based. These may also be termed, “research data.” This term relates to data generated, collected, or used during research projects, and in some cases may include the research output itself. Research materials should be deposited in appropriate research data repositories and cited in your thesis . You may consult the MIT Libraries’ Data Management Services website for guidance or reach out to Data Management Services (DMS)( [email protected] ), who can help answer questions you may have about managing your thesis data and choosing suitable solutions for longer term storage and access.

• Supplementary information may be submitted with your thesis to your program after approval from your thesis advisor. 
• Supplemental material should be mentioned and summarized in the written document, for example, using a few key frames from a movie to create a figure.
• A list of supplementary information along with brief descriptions should be included in your thesis document. For digital files, the description should include information about the file types and any software and version needed to open and view the files.
• Issues regarding the format of non-traditional, supplemental content should be resolved with your advisor.
• Appendices and references are not considered supplementary information.
• If your research data has been submitted to a repository, it should not also be submitted with your thesis.
• Follow the required file-naming convention for supplementary files: authorLastName-kerb-degree-dept-year-type_supplemental.ext
• Captioning ( legally required ): text versions of the audio content, synchronized with the video: ways to get your video captioned
• Additional content, not required:
• For video, an audio description: a separate narrative audio track that describes important visual content, making it accessible to people who are unable to see the video
• Transcripts: should capture all the spoken audio, plus on-screen text and descriptions of key visual information that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible without seeing the video

For physical components that are integral to understanding the thesis document, and which cannot be meaningfully conveyed in a digital form, the author may submit the physical items to the MIT Libraries along with their thesis document. When photographs or a video of a physical item (such as a model) would be sufficient, the images should be included in the thesis document, and a video could be submitted as digital supplementary material.

An example of physical materials that would be approved for submission as part of the thesis would be photographs that cannot be shared digitally in our repository due to copyright restrictions. In this case, the photographs could be submitted as a physical volume that is referred to in the thesis document.

As with digital supplementary information and research materials, physical materials must be approved for submission by your advisor. Contact [email protected] early in your thesis writing process to determine if physical materials should accompany your thesis, and if so how to schedule a transfer of materials to the MIT Libraries.

Creating your thesis document/digital format

You are required to submit a PDF/A-1 formatted thesis document to your department. In addition, it is recommended that original files, or source files, (such a .doc or .tex) are submitted alongside the PDF/A-1 to better ensure long-term access to your thesis.

You should create accessible files that support the use of screen readers and make your document more easily readable by assistive technologies. This will expand who is able to access your thesis. By creating an accessible document from the beginning, there will be less work required to remediate the PDF that gets created. Most software offers a guide for creating documents that are accessible to screen readers. Review the guidelines provided by the MIT Libraries .

In general:

• Use styles and other layout features for headings, lists, tables, etc. If you don’t like the default styles associated with the headings, you can customize them.
• Avoid using blank lines to add visual spacing and instead increase the size of the spaces before and/or after the line.
• Avoid using text boxes.
• Embed URLs.
• Anchor images to text when inserting them into a doc.
• Add alt-text to any images or figures that convey meaning (including, math formulas).
• Use a sans serif font.
• Add basic embedded metadata, such as author, title, year of graduation, department, keywords etc. to your thesis via your original author tool.

Creating a PDF/A-1

PDF/A-1 (either a or b) is the more suitable format for long term preservation than a basic PDF. It ensures that the PDF format conforms to certain specifications which make it more likely to open and be viewable in the long term. It is best for static content that will not change in the future, as this is the most preservation-worthy version and does not allow for some complex elements that could corrupt or prevent the file from being viewable in the future. Guidelines on how to convert specific file types to PDF/A .

In general: (should we simplify these bullets)

• Convert to PDF/A directly from your original files (text, Word, InDesign, LaTeX, etc.). It is much easier and better to create valid PDF/A documents from your original files than from a regular PDF. Converting directly will ensure that fonts and hyperlinks are embedded in the document.
• Do not embed multimedia files (audio and video), scripts, executables, lab notebooks, etc. into your PDF. Still images are fine. The other formats mentioned may be able to be submitted as supplemental files.
• Do not password protect or encrypt your PDF file.
• Validate your PDF/A file before submitting it to your department.

All digital files must be named according to this scheme: authorLastName-kerb-degree-dept-year-type_other.ext

• Thesis PDF: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-dusp-2023-thesis.pdf
• Signature page: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-dusp-2023-sig.pdf
• Original source file: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-2023-source.docx
• Supplemental file: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-2023-supplmental_1.mov
• Second supplemental file: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-2023-supplmental_2.mov
• Read Me file about supplemental: macdonald-mssimon-mcp-2023-supplemental-readme.txt

How to submit thesis information to the MIT Libraries

Before your day of graduation, you should submit your thesis title page metadata to the MIT Libraries  prior to your day of graduation. The submission form requires Kerberos login.

Student submitted metadata allows for quicker Libraries processing times. It also provides a note field for you to let Libraries’ staff know about any metadata discrepancies.

The information you provide must match the title page and abstract of your thesis . Please have a copy of your completed thesis on hand to enter this information directly from your thesis. If any discrepancies are found during processing, Libraries’ staff will publish using the information on the approved thesis document. You will be asked to confirm or provide:

• Preferred name of author(s)as they appear on the title page of the thesis
• ORCID provides a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher. The goal is to support the creation of a permanent, clear, and unambiguous record of scholarly communication by enabling reliable attribution of authors and contributors. Read ORCID FAQs to learn more
• Department(s)
• A license is optional, and very difficult to remove once published. The Creative Commons License allows you to grant permissions and provide guidance on how your work can be reused by others. Read more information about CC .
• Thesis supervisor(s)
• If you would like the full-text of your thesis to be made openly available in the ProQuest Dissertation & Theses Global database (PQDT), you can indicate that in the Libraries submission form.
• Open access inclusion in PQDT is at no cost to you, and increases the visibility and discoverability of your thesis. By opting in you are granting ProQuest a license to distribute your thesis in accordance with ProQuest’s policies. Further information can be found in the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Author FAQ .
• Full-text theses and associated supplemental files will only be sent to ProQuest once any temporary holds have been lifted, and the thesis has been published in DSpace@MIT.
• Regardless of opting-in to inclusion in PQDT, the full text of your thesis will still be made openly available in DSpace@MIT . Doctoral Degrees: Regardless of opting-in the citation and abstract of your thesis will be included in PQDT.

Thesis research should be undertaken in light of MIT’s policy of open research and the free interchange of information . Openness requires that, as a general policy, thesis research should not be undertaken on campus when the results may not be published. From time to time, there may be a good reason for delaying the distribution of a thesis to obtain patent protection, or for reasons of privacy or security. To ensure that only those theses that meet certain criteria are withheld from distribution and that they are withheld for the minimum period, the Institute has established specific review procedures.

Written notification of patent holds and other restrictions must reach the MIT Libraries before the thesis in question is received by the MIT Libraries. Theses will not be available to the public prior to being published by the MIT Libraries. The Libraries may begin publishing theses in DSpace@MIT one month and one week from the last day of classes.

Thesis hold requests should be directed to the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) ( [email protected] ) when related to MIT-initiated patent applications (i.e., MIT holds intellectual property rights; patent application process via TLO). Requests for a thesis hold must be made jointly by the student and advisor directly to the MIT Technology Licensing Office as part of the technology disclosure process.

Thesis hold or restricted access requests should be directed to the Office of the Vice Chancellor ([email protected]) when related to:

• Student-initiated patents (student holds intellectual property rights as previously determined by TLO) [up to 90-day hold]
• Pursuit of business opportunities (student holds intellectual property rights as previously determined by TLO)[up to 90-day hold]
• Government restrictions [up to 90-day hold]
• Privacy and security [up to 90-day hold]
• Scholarly journal articles pending publication [up to 90-day hold]
• Book publication [up to 24-month hold]

In the unusual circumstance that a student wants to request a hold beyond the initial 90-day period, they should contact the Office of Vice President for Research , who may consult with the TLO and/or the Office of the Vice Chancellor, as appropriate to extend the hold. Such requests must be supported by evidence that explains the need for a longer period.

Find information about each type of publication hold, and to learn how to place a hold on your thesis

After publication

Your thesis will be published on DSpace@MIT . Theses are processed by the MIT Libraries and published in the order they are transferred by your department. The Libraries will begin publishing theses in DSpace@MIT one month and one week from the last day of classes.

All changes made to a thesis, after it has been submitted to the MIT Libraries by your department, must have approval from the Vice Chancellor or their designee. Thesis documents should be carefully reviewed prior to submission to ensure they do not contain misspellings or incorrect formatting. Change requests for these types of minor errors will not be approved.

There are two types of change requests that can be made:

• Errata: When the purpose is to correct significant errors in content, the author should create an errata sheet using the form and instructions (PDF)  and obtain approval first from both the thesis supervisor or program chair, before submitting for review by the Vice Chancellor.
• Substitution: If the purpose of the change is to excise classified, proprietary, or confidential information, the author should fill out the  application form (PDF) and have the request approved first by the thesis supervisor or program chair, before submitting for review by the Vice Chancellor.

Students and supervisors should vet thesis content carefully before submission to avoid these scenarios whenever possible.

You are always authorized to post electronic versions of your own thesis, in whole or in part, on a website, without asking permission. If you hold the copyright in the thesis, approving and/or denying requests for permission to use portions of the thesis in third-party publications is your responsibility.

MIT Libraries Thesis Team https://libguides.mit.edu/mit-thesis-faq [email protected] | https://thesis-submit.mit.edu/

Distinctive Collections Room 14N-118 | 617-253-5690 https://libraries.mit.edu/distinctive-collections/

Technology Licensing Office [email protected] | 617-253-6966 http://tlo.mit.edu/

Office of the General Counsel [email protected]  | 617-452-2082 http://ogc.mit.edu/

Office of Graduate Education Room 3-107 | 617-253-4680 http://oge.mit.edu/ [email protected]

MIT Libraries,  Scholarly Communications https://libraries.mit.edu/scholarly/ Ask Scholarly Communications

Office of  the Vice Chancellor Room 7-133 | 617-253-6056 http://ovc.mit.edu [email protected]

Office of the Vice President for Research Room 3-234 | 617-253-8177 [email protected]

MIT Writing and Communications Center Room E18-233 [email protected] | https://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center/

MechE Undergrad

Search form, sb thesis information.

Covid-19 Related Updates from MIT Libraries: https://libraries.mit.edu/distinctive-collections/thesis-specs/#bachelors

Important Thesis Forms, Dates, and Guidelines -- Updated with electronic submission instructions

Thesis Forms

• Fillable Thesis Proposal Form (no instructions)
• Thesis Preparation Guidelines
• Example Title and cover pages - PDF  
• Example Table of Contents and List of Figures - PDF   
• Students can use this  Overleaf Template . Please contact  [email protected]  with any questions about the template.
• Fall 2023: Friday, October 6
• Spring 2024: Friday, March 8
• *It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that students find a thesis project and supervisor prior to Spring term of Senior year.

Add Thesis units (2.ThU) to your Registration. 

Submit your final draft of your thesis to your thesis supervisor.

Note: You must leave time for your thesis supervisor to review and for you to make revisions before submitting the final thesis to the UG Office! Recommended Dates to submit to your supervisor - (January 2024 Due Date) Week of January 8th; (May 2024 Due Date) Week of April 29th

• Submit final thesis : Submit 1 digital copy (title page unsigned)  via email to Christina Spinelli, [email protected] .
• February 2024 Degree List: Friday, January 19th at 5 PM EST
• June 2024 Degree List: Friday, May 10th at 5 PM EST

Patents and Thesis Holds

You must go through the TLO or DUE in order to get a thesis hold.

• If you share ownership of the patent with MIT, then complete a Technology Licensing Office (TLO) disclosure form. For more information: http://web.mit.edu/tlo/www/community/students.html
• If you requesting that MIT waive the right to your patent (the form for this is also on the link above), you can request a thesis hold from the Dean of Undergraduate Education. A request for a thesis hold must be made jointly by the student and advisor, using the DUE Thesis Hold Request Form, which you can download from the DUE website. For more information: http://due.mit.edu/faqs/frequently-asked-questions#Thesis_Hold

General Information

The SB in Mechanical Engineering requires a thesis with a minimum of 6 units credit. The objective of this requirement is to give students an opportunity to learn about a topic in depth through independent study under the guidance of an advisor who is knowledgeable in the field.

The nature of the work may be the review of an engineering topic of interest to the student, an original research project, or a design project. In any case, the work must involve additional learning of a substantive nature. The work must be documented by a thesis document graded by the advisor. With the approval of the advisor, up to 15 units of credit are permitted.

Finding a Thesis Supervisor

Students have the responsibility to find their own thesis supervisor, and it is best that this be done by the beginning of the senior year. Your thesis supervisor should be an MIT faculty member (not necessarily MechE), or an approved MechE lab instructor or researcher. Many students develop theses from UROP projects that they have had during the junior year or summer between junior and senior years. In that case, the UROP supervisor becomes the thesis supervisor. In other cases, students will contact faculty members whose research is of interest to them, and a thesis project can be developed by discussion between the student and the faculty member. In still other cases, students may have their own clear idea of the subject of their thesis, and the task will be to find a faculty member who is interested in working with the student on that topic.

The thesis advisor of record must be an MIT faculty member or select members of the research staff (graduate students and postdocs are ineligible to act as thesis advisors). Students who are looking for an appropriate thesis advisor should consult the Undergraduate Office (Room 1-110). Theses may be done off campus, but students are cautioned that off-campus supervisors usually are not familiar with the thesis requirements which may put the student at risk when seeking approval of the Department. Also, work done at an industrial firm may be considered proprietary by the firm which would prevent the student from submitting the thesis to the Department. In such cases, a representative of the firm must sign a release letter, a sample text of which is available at the MechE Undergraduate Office.

You can search MechE faculty by topic areas. 

Thesis Registration and Grading

Students may elect to start and/or finish the work in the Fall Term, the Spring Term, or IAP, and they may choose to extend the work over several terms. In the latter case, a progress report is required for each term of registration. If the work in progress is judged satisfactory by the advisor, a grade of "J" will be awarded. Unsatisfactory progress will be awarded the grade "U". Students must be registered for subject 2.ThU for the term in which the thesis is submitted.

Before registering for thesis, students must complete the thesis proposal form and attach a brief paragraph summarizing the work planned. (The form is available on the "download forms" page in this web site.) The form must be signed by the thesis advisor and returned to the MechE Undergraduate Office (Room 1-110). In the event of a change of advisor or project, the proposal must be updated in the Undergraduate Office as soon as possible. Students who submit the completed forms on or before Registration Day may register for 2.ThU on the Registration Form for the number of units agreed upon with the thesis advisor. Students who complete the thesis proposal after Registration Day, but before the Add Date, must add 2.ThU by submitting to the Registrar a completed Add/Drop Form signed by both the thesis supervisor and the student's faculty advisor. Drop date is the absolute deadline for adding or dropping 2.ThU. Students may not register for the thesis after the drop date.

At mid-term, the thesis advisor will be asked for an assessment of the student's progress on the thesis. Thus, it is important for the student to maintain contact with the advisor so that an accurate assessment can be made. If the thesis advisor judges progress to be unsatisfactory, a grade of "U" will be submitted and the number of units for 2.ThU registration will be reduced to 1. The grade of "U" will remain on the transcript and the Course 2 degree requirements cannot be completed until another thesis is started and completed with a passing grade. Students who are making satisfactory progress but fail to complete the thesis by the Thesis Due Date will receive the grade "J" indicating that at least one additional unit of registration for 2.ThU will be required to complete the Course 2 degree. Upon satisfactory completion of the thesis, the thesis advisor will assign a grade which will apply to all units of 2.ThU registration from previous terms, up to an absolute limit of 15. For thesis credit during IAP, students should register during the first week of IAP in the Undergraduate Office.

During the semester in which the student expects to graduate , it is the responsibility of the student to maintain contact with the thesis advisor. In the event that thesis progress is reported as unsatisfactory, the student's name will be removed from the Degree List. Students are reminded that graduation also can be delayed by late submission of an acceptable thesis or by submission of a thesis that fails to conform to the current Thesis Specifications. Theses may not be submitted after 5:00 PM on the Thesis Due Date.

Consult the MIT Academic Calendar for Add Date, Drop Date, and Thesis Due Dates for the semester in question .

Thesis Submission

Be sure to submit a draft version of your thesis to your thesis supervisor well before the thesis due date. Your thesis supervisor may have edits for you to incorporate into your final thesis. One copy of the final thesis must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office in 1-110.

1. Be sure that the thesis meets the library’s published thesis specifications, published online here

2. Pay special attention to the title page and abstract page – examples are provided online.

• Sample title page
• The date on the Title Page MUST BE one of the following (this reflects the date of your degree, not the date of your thesis submission): September 2023, February 2024 or May 2024
• The Signature block should contain the following:

Signature of Author:

Department of Mechanical Engineering[Date of thesis submission]

Certified by:[Your thesis advisor’s name]

[Thesis advisor’s title]

Thesis Supervisor Accepted by: Kenneth Kamrin

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Undergraduate Officer

• Sample abstract
• The date on the Abstract Page reflects your thesis submission date

         Latex templates

• The thesis specs website says: If you are writing your thesis on Athena, follow the formatting and typeface instructions under the LATEX or FRAME olc stock answer topics by typing the command "olc_answers" on any Athena workstation.

General Thesis Writing Information

For formatting guidelines, please see the Thesis Specifications . This website has information relating to required pages (title and abstract), as well as suggestions for fonts and formatting figures/graphics. Note: One copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Undergraduate Office in 1-110. (The thesis specs state that 2 copies must be submitted, but that only applies to a graduate student thesis).

The usual structure of a thesis is:

• Abstract Page
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Table of Contents (optional)
• Introduction
• Content, in chapters for a long thesis
• Bibliography/References
• Appendices (optional)

The content of the thesis is to be determined by the student and faculty supervisor. Your thesis will be letter graded.

The WCC at MIT (Writing and Communication Center) offers free one-on-one professional advice from lecturers (who all have advanced degrees and who are all are published writers) about all types of academic, creative, and professional writing and about all aspects of oral presentations (including practicing your presentations). We help you think your way more deeply into your topic, no matter what department or discipline you are in. The WCC is located in E18-233). To register with our online scheduler and to make appointments, go to https://mit.mywconline.com/ . To access the WCC’s many pages of advice about writing and oral presentations, go to http://cmsw.mit.edu/writing-and-communication-center/ . The Center’s core hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; evening hours vary by semester–check the online scheduler for up-to-date hours.

MIT Thesis FAQ: Thesis Checklist

• New Degree Candidates
• Thesis Checklist
• Creating an Accessible Thesis
• Saving Your Thesis as a PDF/A-1
• Student Frequently Asked Questions
• Access and Availability Questions

If these apply to you and your research, plan to do these early in your research and writing process!

Preparing your thesis for submission

At time of submission

Quick links

• Thesis Specifications
• Distinctive Collections
• Scholarly Publishing@MIT
• About DSpace@MIT
• Dissertation/Theses
• Official Overleaf Thesis Template

Have questions?

Contact us at [email protected] .

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• Last Updated: Jun 27, 2024 3:59 PM
• URL: https://libguides.mit.edu/mit-thesis-faq

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Biological Engineering Undergraduate Thesis

Important Documents Thesis Proposal Guidelines Thesis Guidelines 2022 Thesis Resources Thesis Proposal Form

BE Juniors seeking to pursue exceptionally in-depth research and scientific communication will have the opportunity to pursue an Undergraduate Thesis.

Over the course of Senior year, accepted students will write a thesis based on their research, and receive opportunities for public presentation of their work. Support for project management and communication will be provided by both students’ faculty research advisors and the BE Communication Lab.

Consider pursuing a senior thesis if you would like a structured opportunity to...

• engage more deeply with your research,
• strengthen your written and oral communication skills,
• prepare for graduate school,
• and receive support in formalizing your research, potentially enabling publication.

For questions, please contact the BE Academic Office at [email protected] .

What are the eligibility requirements for applying to do a thesis?

• By the end of Junior year, you must have completed at least 1 semester of research in a laboratory of interest,
• and received verbal approval from your faculty advisor to pursue a thesis.

How do I apply to do a thesis?

• You must submit a thesis proposal form and 1 page proposal to your faculty research advisor for approval.  Once approved, send your signed form and proposal to [email protected] the end of spring term junior year and no later than add date of fall term senior year.

What if I have less than 1 semester of research experience in my desired lab in junior year, or decide later than junior year that I want to do a thesis?

• If in doubt of eligibility, you may petition to be considered to still pursue a thesis.

What support would I receive as a thesis student?

• Faculty advisors will be expected to meet with thesis students at least once a month to discuss progress and provide feedback.
• The BE Communication Lab will provide support for all thesis students, potentially including group workshops, group writing and feedback sessions, and individual mentorship by BE Communication Fellows.

What rewards or recognition would I receive as a thesis student?

• You cannot receive both thesis credit and UROP credit/pay in the same term.  The only exception is if you are doing a thesis on project X in one lab and a UROP on project Y in another field.  In order to do this, both projects need to be on diverse topics and in different fields, and the combined number of credits received for UROP and thesis projects cannot exceed 15 credits per semester.
• In the Fall term senior year, students have the option of doing senior thesis work as a UROP for pay or 20.THU for credit.  For the spring term, students will have to register for 20.THU for credit and cannot be paid through UROP funds for this work.
• Grading: The thesis will be graded by the student’s faculty advisor at the end of senior year.
• Recognition: Thesis students will receive at least one opportunity to present their research publicly, and thesis titles and abstracts will be published on the departmental website. Theses receiving an A will receive the title of ”Senior Thesis with Distinction,” which can be listed in students’ resumes/CV’s.
• Printed theses: BE will pay for the printing and binding of thesis copies for both the student and their laboratory.
• Znaty and Merck Prizes: All senior theses will be considered for the Znaty and Merck Research Prizes for Undergraduate Research in BE.

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These students either “joint-majored”, “double/second-majored” or did a second degree in STS, along with a science/engineering field.

AKERA, ATSUSHI “A Social Technology: Ethnography of a Computer Terminal Room” June 1986 (Charlie Weiner, thesis advisor)

ARDHASSERIL, ROSHAN “Nuclear State: Pakistan, Domestic and International” June 2013 (Theodore Postol, thesis advisor)

BARRETT, BERTRAND H. “Theory and Design of an Educational Computing Environment” June 1985 (J.C.R. Licklider, thesis advisor)

BECERRA, JUANA C. “Herman Feshbach: What it Meant to be a Physicist in the Twentieth Century” June 2015 (David Kaiser, thesis advisor)

BELAND, CHRISTOPHER D. “Digital Technology and Copyright Law” February 2002 (David I. Kaiser, thesis advisor)

BESPOLKA, CARL G. “Green Energy Policy in the Federal Republic of Germany” May 1983 (Michael Geisler, thesis advisor)

BEST, WALDO T. “Subjective Confidence in Technology” May 1988 (Thomas Sheridan, thesis advisor) [double S.B. degrees in Humanities and Engineering]

BROWN, DAVID J. “A Framework for Analyzing Residential Electricity Consumption” May 1983 (Ted Greenwood, thesis advisor)

BRYAN, ERIC FAIN “Financing Invention” May 1988 (Robert Rines, thesis advisor)

BYFIELD, LAINI “Modern Medicine vs. Traditional Medicine” June 1999 (Joe Dumit and Hugh Gusterson, thesis advisors)

COWAN, THOMAS “Network Control in a Globalized World: How Visa and Swift’s Founding Structures Serve Their Stakeholders on the International Stage” June 2017 (William Deringer, thesis advisor)

CUNNINGHAM, KEVIN “Contemporary Computer Software and the Writing Process” February 1984 (James Paradis, thesis tutor)

DUBRANSKY, JULIAN “The politicization of science during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States” June 2021 (John Durant, thesis advisor)

FRANCO, KATHERINE A. “The Idealists and the Pragmatists. A Comparative History of Free Software and Open Source Software” May 2005 (Rosalind Williams, thesis advisor)

GARFINKEL, SIMSON L. “The Context of Funding in the Sociological Research of Paul F. Lazarsfeld” June 1987 (Peter Buck, thesis tutor) [Simson graduated in 1987 with 3 separate S.B. degrees in Chemistry, Political Science, and Humanities]

GILLESPIE, JAMES JUDSON “Going Nowhere: Pittsburg’s Attempt to Build a Subway, 1910-1935” 1990 (Robert Fogelson, thesis advisor)

GLAVIN, MITCHELL “School Attendance for Children with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: An Example of AIDS Policy” June 1987 (Harvey Sapolsky, thesis advisor)

GLENHABER, MEHITABEL “‘Space Became Their Highway’: The L-5 Society and the closing of the Final Frontier” June 2019 (William Deringer, thesis advisor)

GORDON, EDWARD A. “The Impact of Internet Content Regulation on the Freedom of Expression Around the World” June 1999 (David Mindell, thesis advisor)

HANSON, ELIZABETH A. “Scientific Motherhood: American Childrearing, 1890-1915” June 1984 (Merritt Roe Smith, thesis advisor)

HE, YIRAN “Breakout: How Materials Start-Ups Separate from and Stay Connected to Academic Spaces” May 2020 (William Deringer, thesis advisor)

HEIM, STEVEN F. “Sustaining Vermont: Cooperatives in Vermont’s Economic Development” February 1997 (Deborah Fitzgerald and Alice Amsden, thesis advisors)

HONG, HYEONSIL June 1990 [S.B. in Humanities and Engineering]

HORO, UZUKI “Can MIT Tolerate Its Self-criticism? – a Case of David Noble” May 2023 ( John Durant and Robin Scheffler, thesis advisors)

HUANG, TERESA “Between the Real and the Virtual: Development of Complex Relationships and Communities in the Age of the Internet” June 1997 (Sherry Turkle, thesis advisor)

JONES, BRIANNA “Defining ‘Good Science’ in Today’s World: A Video Compilation of Perspectives and Advice for Incoming Graduate Students” June 2015 (Rosalind Williams, thesis advisor)

KEEGAN, BRIAN “Defending New Jerusalem: The Foundation and Transformation of MIT’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society” June 2006 (Rosalind Williams, thesis advisor)

LEE, JENNIFER JUNG-WUK “Engineering a Sanitary Environment: William Thompson Sedgwick and Public Health Work, 1884-1921” May 1994 (Evelynn Hammonds, thesis advisor)

LYNCH, ALISON June 1990 [S.B. in Humanities and Science]

MANOLIU, MIHAI “Synthesis and Transformation: Moving Beyond Doomsday” June 1984 (John R. Ross, thesis advisor)

MARTIN, MARISSA L. “Defining a New Science: Lessons from a Brief History of the Brain Sciences at MIT” May 2000 (Joe Dumit, thesis advisor)

McBATH, BRUCE COURTNEY 1981 [S.B. in Humanities and Science]

NICHOLLS, GINA-MONIQUE R. “The Offensive and Defensive Politics of Deploying Theater Ballistic Missile Defenses in East Asia” June 2000 (Theodore Postol, thesis advisor)

PRATHER, DARCY 1991 [double B.S. degrees in Humanities and Engineering]

RAHL, GARY M. “The Auditorium and the Space Station: The Death of the American Myth” June 1989 (Leon Trilling, thesis advisor)

REUSS, RONALD “Computer-Aided Reading” June 1986 (David Clark, thesis supervisor) [double B.S. degrees in Humanities and Engineering]

REZA, FAISAL “Human Cloning: Science, Ethics, Policy, Society” February 2003 (Hugh Gusterson, thesis advisor) [double S.B. degrees in Humanities and Science]

SAWICKI, ANDRES “The Paradox Theory in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: From Research to Marketing” January 2003 (Joseph Dumit, thesis advisor) [double S.B. degrees in Humanities and Science]

SAYLOR, MICHAEL “A Machiavellian Interpretation of Political Dynamics” June 1987 (John Sterman, thesis advisor) [double S.B. degrees in Humanities and Engineering]

SHAH, SAMEER “Perception of Risk: Disaster Scenarios at Brookhaven” June 2003 (Hugh Gusterson, thesis advisor) [double S.B. degrees in Humanities and Science]

SHAH, VAIBHAVI “The Politics and Perceptibility of Breath During The COVID-19 Pandemic” February 2021 (Robin Scheffler, thesis advisor)

SHARIFI, JAMSHIED 40-minute original music composition in lieu of thesis May 1983 [S.B. in Humanities and Engineering]

SHAWCROSS, PAUL J. “The American Civil Space Program: Preparing for the Next Twenty-Five Years” February 1988 (Kosta Tsipis, thesis advisor)[double major in STS and Aero/Astro]

SKLAR, BRANDON “The Philosophical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics” June 1982

SOLORZANO, RAMON “An Appropriate Technology: Movement Towards a Value-Laden Approach to Technology” September 1984 (Larry Bucciarelli, thesis advisor)

STICKGOLD-SARAH, JESSIE “Form and Usage: The Evolving Identity of the Computerized Medical Record” February 1997 (Deborah Fitzgerald, thesis advisor)

THOMPSON, ELIZABETH “Artificial Skin: Its Path to Adoption” February 1986 (John Sterman, thesis advisor)

WEIGEL, ANNALISA May 1995 [double major in STS and Aero/Astro]

WIENER, MATTHEW CHARLES “Attitudes Towards Computers in the Soviet Union, 1970-1986: An examination of popular-science writing” May 1987 (Paul Josephson, thesis advisor) [double S.B. in Humanities and Science]

XU, SHEILA ZHI “The Emergence of a Deaf Economy” June 2014 (Rosalind Williams, thesis advisor)

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Undergraduate Officer

Professor Dwai Banerjee

E51-171 dwai@mit.edu

Academic Staff

Stephanie Brandão Carvalho

E51-163d 617-253-4085 sbrandao@mit.edu

Undergraduate Thesis

Program of thesis research leading to the writing of an SB thesis. Intended for seniors. Twelve units recommended.

Browse Course Material

Course info, instructors.

• Prof. Michael Short
• Jane Kokernak
• Christine Sherratt

Departments

• Nuclear Science and Engineering

As Taught In

• Nuclear Engineering
• Academic Writing

Learning Resource Types

Undergraduate thesis tutorial, course meeting times.

Lectures: 1 session / week, 1 hour / session

Prerequisites

22.09 Principles of Nuclear Radiation Measurement and Protection

Introduction to the Course

Welcome to 22.THT! This year, we are trying a rather different, more interactive type of seminar course. Instead of just leaving you to figure out what to do about your thesis prospectus and the thesis itself, we will guide you through various aspects of choosing, proposing, and executing your original thesis work. Therefore, this course will have more intermediate assignments compared to past years, in the hopes of lessening your workload near the end of the semester.

Major topics to be covered include:

• Choosing a thesis topic
• Planning out a reasonable amount of work for the spring semester
• Setting concrete goals and milestones
• More efficient tools for writing your thesis than Microsoft Word
• Maintaining good communication with your thesis advisor
• Finding and citing primary resources from literature

The learning goals for this course include:

• How to choose a project topic, considering available time and resources
• How to efficiently find and properly cite scientific resources
• How to efficiently author a scientific document without doing any busy work
• How to present your research in 30 seconds or less, in an impactful elevator pitch
• Outlining a thesis in a detailed manner, to help guide both your research and writing
• Improving the scientific content, richness, structure, and rhetoric of your writing
• Developing your own personal, scientific writing style

All assignments are due at 11:59PM on the day listed in the calendar. Please plan to submit your assignments at least 15 minutes early, in case of computer troubles.

10% of the value of a given assignment will be deducted for each calendar day late. Assignments will not be accepted after the last day of classes.

You are leaving MIT OpenCourseWare

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Important Documents

• Thesis Proposal Guidelines
• Thesis Guidelines 2022
• Thesis Resources
• Thesis Proposal Form

What are the eligibility requirements for applying to do a thesis?

By the end of Junior year, you must have completed at least 1 semester of research in a laboratory of interest, and received verbal approval from your faculty advisor to pursue a thesis.

How do I apply to do a thesis?

You must submit a thesis proposal form and 1 page proposal to your faculty research advisor for approval. Once approved, send your signed form and proposal to [email protected] the end of spring term junior year and no later than add date of fall term senior year.

What if I have less than 1 semester of research experience in my desired lab in junior year, or decide later than junior year that I want to do a thesis?

If in doubt of eligibility, you may petition to be considered to still pursue a thesis.

What support would I receive as a thesis student?

Faculty advisors will be expected to meet with thesis students at least once a month to discuss progress and provide feedback. The BE Communication Lab will provide support for all thesis students, potentially including group workshops, group writing and feedback sessions, and individual mentorship by BE Communication Fellows.

What rewards or recognition would I receive as a thesis student?

Credit: Thesis students can receive up to 15 credits for thesis research per semester of senior year (where thesis credits ≤ 15 credits). Amount should be decided in consultation with thesis advisor and is typically related to the number of hours a student plans to spend in the lab. Most students sign up for 12 units of 20.THU in the Fall and Spring terms of their senior year. You cannot receive both thesis credit and UROP credit/pay in the same term. The only exception is if you are doing a thesis on project X in one lab and a UROP on project Y in another field. In order to do this, both projects need to be on diverse topics and in different fields, and the combined number of credits received for UROP and thesis projects cannot exceed 15 credits per semester. In the Fall term senior year, students have the option of doing senior thesis work as a UROP for pay or 20.THU for credit. For the spring term, students will have to register for 20.THU for credit and cannot be paid through UROP funds for this work. Grading: The thesis will be graded by the student’s faculty advisor at the end of senior year. Recognition: Thesis students will receive at least one opportunity to present their research publicly, and thesis titles and abstracts will be published on the departmental website. Theses receiving an A will receive the title of ”Senior Thesis with Distinction,” which can be listed in students’ resumes/CV’s. Printed theses: BE will pay for the printing and binding of thesis copies for both the student and their laboratory. Znaty and Merck Prizes: All senior theses will be considered for the Znaty and Merck Research Prizes for Undergraduate Research in BE. One Znaty and one Merck Prize winner will be selected. Awardees of each prize will receive $500. To Apply: Submit a 1-2 page thesis summary. You will draw heavily on text from your thesis proposal and thesis for the summary application, as indicated in the Thesis Summary Guidelines. Deadline: Submissions must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 to [email protected] . Questions? Please contact [email protected] .

For questions, please contact the BE Academic Office

Doctoral Dissertation

Mcp/sm thesis, thesis and dissertation.

Public housing, Private priorities: The invisible dynamics in low-income housing allocation in urban Peru, the case of CSP-Techo Propio: Fiorella Belli Ferro & Mora Orensanz

Disordering Capital: The Politics of Business in the Business of Water Provision. Isadora Araujo Cruxên

Bridging the Divide Between Qualitative and Quantitative Methods of Gentrification Research Through the Introduction of a Novel Mixed-method in Four U.S. Gayborhoods. Amelia Seabold

Walking to Transit: Using Big Data to Analyze Bus and Train Ridership in Los Angeles. kloe ng

In addition to the traditional monograph (i.e. a book-length manuscript), doctoral students may opt for a three-paper dissertation. 

The three-paper option is based on three related publishable papers and is designed to be used in situations where the thesis material is better suited to three papers on the same general topic rather than turning the dissertation into a book. A dissertation cannot be comprised of essays on three totally separate topics.

The embedded table below shows recent DUSP doctoral dissertation research. For access to PDF copies, please visit MIT Library's Dspace .

The fourth semester as an MCP student is devoted to completing a thesis and rounding out course work leading to graduation. A thesis in the MCP program may take one of several forms: an independent scholarly research project guided by an advisor and readers; a directed thesis contributing to a larger research effort directed by a faculty member; or a professionally oriented thesis developed in the context of a studio or practicum course. In all cases the thesis must be a piece of original, creative work conceived and developed by the student.

The SM is a non-professional degree intended for professionals with a number of years of distinguished practice in city planning or related fields who: have a clear idea of the courses they want to take at MIT, the thesis they want to write and the DUSP faculty member with whom they wish to work.

The embedded table below shows recent DUSP MCP and SM thesis research. For access to PDF copies, please visit MIT Library's Dspace .

Undergraduate students in course 11 and course 11-6 are required to write a senior thesis or complete a senior project. The thesis/project writing process is accompanied by a required undergraduate thesis preparation seminar. 

The embedded table below shows recent DUSP SB thesis research. For access to PDF copies, please visit MIT Library's Dspace .

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Thesis Information

Upcoming thesis defenses.

If you are defending this term and do not see your information listed, please contact Sydney Miller in the APO.

Forming a Thesis Committee

When : Doctoral Students – After completing the written and oral exams and generally by the beginning of their third Year of study. Forming their committees at this stage will allow students to consult with all members of the committee during their studies and can provide additional advice and mentorship for them.

How : Register for thesis research under subject number 8.ThG, form a thesis committee, meet with full committee, and submit a formal thesis proposal to the department.

Thesis Committee Formation

Student should consult with their Research Supervisor to discuss the Doctoral Thesis Committee Proposal Form which will name the 3 required members of the Physics Doctoral Committee and a descriptive preliminary thesis title. 

Doctoral Committee must include 3 members with MIT Physics faculty appointments:

• Committee Chair: Research Supervisor from MIT Physics Faculty or Research Supervisor from outside MIT Physics + Co-Supervisor/Chair from MIT Physics Faculty
• Selected Reader: from MIT Physics Faculty (in the same/similar research area, selected by student and supervisor)
• Assigned Reader: from MIT Physics Faculty (in different research area, selected by the Department’s faculty Graduate Coordinator.)

The Form should include the names of the Student, Chair, and Selected Reader and a Thesis Title, when it is forwarded to the Academic Programs Office via email to [email protected] and Sydney will work with Faculty Graduate Coordinator Will Detmold , who will identify the Assigned Reader.

Following the consultation with their supervisor, the student should reach out to the proposed Selected Reader to secure an electronic signature or email confirmation in lieu of signature to serve on this committee. (Form should include either signature or date of email agreement.) It will take approximately 2-3 weeks before an Assigned Reader will be added and Sydney will provide an introduction to this final member of your Doctoral Committee. Please note: you may not form your committee and defend your thesis in the same semester.

Thesis Committee Meeting and Proposal

Once the Thesis Committee is established, the student should send all members a draft description of the proposed thesis topic and set up the first committee meeting with all members attending together in real time. A formal 2-page written Thesis Proposal should result from this important meeting and be sent to Sydney for the student’s academic record.  

Thesis Proposal

You should discuss your thesis research with your committee members all together in real time at your first committee meeting. Following this full discussion about your thesis topic, please write up your formal Thesis Proposal to reflect the mutually-agreed thesis plans and forward the Proposal to the graduate program at the APO using [email protected] for Sydney to document in the department’s academic records.

Thesis Research

Following the formation of the doctoral committee and submission of the thesis proposal, the student will continue to work on their thesis research in consultation with their Research Supervisor and other members of their Committee. This important communication paves the way for the thesis defense and degree completion.

When students are ready to defend, they should complete an ‘ Application for Advanced Degree ’ with the Registrar and schedule a thesis defense with all committee members attending in real time, whether in person or by video. Announcements for the defense will be coordinated by the Academic Programs Office and students should be in close contact with Sydney Miller during their final term or study.

Further details about this last stage of your studies will be available separately.

Thesis Defense

If there is even a slight possibility that you may finish this term, please complete an Application for Advanced Degree at the Registrar’s website at the beginning of the term. It is easy to remove your name if your plans change, but this timely step will avoid late fees!

Once you have scheduled your defense, please send this information to Sydney at [email protected] :

• Thesis Title:
• Committee Members:
• Meeting Details: (can be sent in the final week before the defense)

She will create the email notifications for our physics community and the MIT Events and Physics Calendar listings. This information you provide her is also used to generate the defense grade sheet for your defense.

Please send your committee members a thesis draft to help them prepare for your defense and plan to spend around two weeks making thesis revisions after your successful defense. The date you submit your thesis document to the department will determine whether it is for a Fall, Spring, or Summer degree.

Thesis Formatting

Archival copies of all theses must adhere carefully to principles specified by the MIT Libraries for formatting and submission. For complete information about how to format your thesis, refer to the  Specifications for Thesis Preparation .

Graduate Program Coordinator Sydney Miller can review your title page and abstract for accuracy before you submit the thesis. You may send these to her at  [email protected].

Required Signatures and Documentation

• Signatures:  The MIT Archives require an electronic PDF document and the Department needs a separate additional stand-alone title page with electronic/scanned signatures of   the student, research supervisor, and co-supervisor (if applicable). Theses are accepted by Associate Department Head, Professor  Lindley Winslow . Please send your documents to  [email protected]  and the APO staff will forward your thesis submitted to the MIT Library Archives.
• Thesis defense grade sheets:  Before accepting a PhD thesis, the Academic Programs Office must have a signed thesis defense grade sheet from the research supervisor indicating a “Pass” on the thesis defense.
• Thesis letter grade:  Before accepting an SM thesis, Academic Programs must have received a letter or email from the research supervisor, assigning a final thesis grade of A, B, or C.

Finalizing and Submitting your Thesis to MIT

Departments collect the thesis documents on behalf of the MIT Thesis Library Archives and Physics graduate students will submit their thesis to Sydney Miller.  Review overall information from MIT about  thesis specifications and format .

Please see the attached doctoral title page format for Physics and send your draft of the title/cover page and abstract to Sydney for review and any necessary edits. Once these are approved, please prepare the full document, with pagination appropriate for double-sided printing.

Theses may be completed and signed on any date of the year and the degree requirements are completed when the thesis is submitted. This is the final day of student status and payroll. (International students are eligible for Optional Practical Training starting on the following day.)

MIT awards degrees at the end of each term:

• Fall Term degree is in February. (Theses due second Friday in January.)
• Spring Term degree is in May. (Theses due second Friday in May.)
• Summer Term degree is in September. (Theses due second Friday in August.)

Thesis submissions are electronic files and you will submit the following to Sydney:

• A complete thesis document, without signatures
• A title page with electronic signatures from yourself, your supervisor (and co-supervisor, if required). Sydney will work with the Associate Head, Lindley Winslow , whose signature is required for the department and this will be added after you submit your document to the department/Sydney.
• A separate abstract page

Doctoral students also complete and submit the  Proquest/UMI form  (PDF), with attached title page and abstract (no signatures).

In addition to submitting your thesis to the department for the library archives, you may also  add your thesis to DSpace .

Digital Submission Guidelines

All theses are being accepted by the MIT Libraries in  digital form only . Digital theses are submitted electronically to the Physics Department, along with a separate signed title page. Students on the degree list will receive specific guidance about submission from the Academic Programs Office.

General Thesis Policies

All theses are archived in the MIT Libraries. An archival fee must be paid before a student’s final candidacy for a degree can be officially approved.

After all required materials have been submitted to the Academic Programs Office, a thesis receipt will be sent by email.

Thesis Due Dates

Check the MIT Academic Calendar for deadlines to submit your online degree application.

Thesis submission deadlines Graduating in May: Second Friday in May Graduating in September: Second Friday in August Graduating in February: Second Friday in January We strongly recommend that your defense be scheduled at least three weeks prior to the submission date. Consult with Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin to determine your thesis submission timeline.

Thesis FAQs

The information on this page is applicable for both PhD and Masters (with the exception of an Oral defense) degree candidates.

How do I submit a Thesis Proposal? When is it due?

Students register for thesis research units and assemble a thesis committee in the term following passing the Oral Exam.

The first step is for the student and research supervisor to agree on a thesis topic. An initial Graduate Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet (PDF) (Master’s Degree candidates should see process in section below) must be submitted to Academic Programs by the second week of the term.

The form requires

• an initial thesis title
• the name and signature of the research supervisor
• the name of one additional reader for the thesis committee agreed upon by the student and advisor

A third reader from the MIT Physics faculty, who is not in the same research area but whose background makes him or her an appropriate departmental representative on the committee, will be assigned by the Graduate Program Faculty Coordinator. If a student has a co-supervisor (because the main supervisor is from outside the MIT Physics faculty), the thesis committee will consist of four people: research supervisor, co-supervisor, selected reader, and assigned reader.

After the student is notified of the assigned reader, he or she should convene an initial thesis committee meeting within the same term. The student should also register for 8.THG beginning in this term, and in each term thereafter. 8.THG registration should be for up to 36 units, depending on whether the student is also still taking classes and/or receiving academic credit because of a teaching assistantship. All post-qual students should routinely register for a standard total 36 units.

Master’s degree candidates should complete an SM Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet (PDF). A second reader for the Master’s degree thesis committee is assigned by the Graduate Program Faculty Coordinator. Note that there is no public defense required for an SM degree.

See the Doctoral Guidelines for additional information.

I am going to graduate soon–what do I have to do in terms of paperwork etc.?

Please reference the Registrar’s complete graduation checklist . Students should reference this list at the START of the semester prior to graduation. Your research area’s administrative office and the Physics APO will also help you manage the final stage of your degree.

How do I get on/off the Degree List?

Fill out the Degree Application through the student section of WebSIS . Petitioning to be on the degree list for a particular commencement is required. Note that it is easier to be removed from the degree list to be added, so students are encouraged to apply for the degree list if there is any reasonable chance they will complete the PhD in the coming term.

The WebSIS degree list is used to communicate information about thesis defense announcements and grade sheets, thesis formats, and completion dates, so it is important to file a degree application to be on the list in a timely way. The standard deadline for filing a degree application without being assessed a late fee is the Friday of the first week of the term in which a student anticipates graduating. Removing oneself from the degree list requires an email to Academic Programs .

When is my thesis due? Can I get an extension?

Students can defend and submit their thesis on any dates that work for their committees, but MIT confers degrees only 3 times each year: in May, September and February. Thesis submission deadlines Graduating in May: Second Friday in May Graduating in September: Second Friday in August Graduating in February: Second Friday in January We strongly recommend that your defense be scheduled at least three weeks prior to the submission date. Consult with Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin to determine your thesis submission timeline.

Note that these deadlines are already more generous that the Institute thesis deadline. Students desiring extensions should contact the Academic Administrator, Shannon Larkin .

How do I find a room for my Thesis Defense?

Many Divisions have conference and/or seminar rooms which can be used for oral exams and defenses. These locations are recommended to keep your Thesis Defense comfortable and in familiar territory. Students who cannot book a room in their research area should contact Sydney Miller in the Physics APO to check availability of a Physics departmental conference room (often difficult to schedule due to heavy demand) or to help schedule a classroom through the Registrar’s Office.

When I submit my thesis to Physics Academic Programs, what do I need to bring?

Please refer to the Graduate Thesis Submission Guidelines .

Shaoyun Bai

Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Phone: (617) 253-6770

Office: 2-269

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JOINT PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY/APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

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Navy Program

The Joint Program offers a master’s degree program for U.S. Naval Officers, and more than 100 officers have received this degree dating back to the first award in 1970.  The U.S. Navy manages the initial application process for Naval Officers prior to consideration by the Joint Program.

The Navy application process is detailed in a naval message released each June/July.

The application deadline for U.S. Naval Officers is October 1. Applications are submitted online (see How to Apply and Navy (SM) Online Application ).

Naval Officers can be considered for admission to the master's degree program in either two disciplines: the Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (AOSE) and Physical Oceanography (PO). The master's degree program is suitable for motivated students with undergraduate degrees in geoscience, physics, chemistry, mathematics, or engineering. The program is designed to be completed in 27 months (two years and a summer). The first year, students matriculate in June and begin research with an advisor before taking classes in September.  In the second year, the student conducts research and thesis work, culminating in a SM thesis. This must be signed off by the advisor and Chair of the disciplinary committee (AOSE or PO).  Within the PO discipline, it is recommended to give a public presentation of the work.

GRE Scores are not required for admission to the Joint Program.

Application to either discipline includes letters of recommendation, including academic references. Other discipline-specific requirements are described below.

1.  For consideration for admission to AOSE, applicants choose the Mechanical Engineering option.  Program requirements are (with A or B grades):

• Degree in engineering or physical sciences
• Mathematics (through differential equations, advanced courses recommended)
• Physics (one year)
• Upper-level courses in specialty

2.  For consideration for admission to PO, program requirements are:

• Degree in mathematics or physical sciences.
• MIT 8.03.  Physics III.  Mechanical vibrations and waves; simple harmonic motion, superposition, forced vibrations and resonance, coupled oscillations, and normal modes; vibrations of continuous systems; reflection and refraction; phase and group velocity. Optics; wave solutions to Maxwell's equations; polarization; Snell's Law, interference, Huygens's principle, Fraunhofer diffraction, and gratings.
• MIT 18.03.   Differential Equations.  Study of differential equations, including modeling physical systems. Solution of first-order ODEs by analytical, graphical, and numerical methods. Linear ODEs with constant coefficients. Complex numbers and exponentials. Inhomogeneous equations: polynomial, sinusoidal, and exponential inputs. Oscillations, damping, resonance. Fourier series. Matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, diagonalization. First order linear systems: normal modes, matrix exponentials, variation of parameters. Heat equation, wave equation. Nonlinear autonomous systems: critical point analysis, phase plane diagrams.
• MIT 18.04.   Complex Variables with Applications.  Complex algebra and functions; analyticity; contour integration, Cauchy's theorem; singularities, Taylor and Laurent series; residues, evaluation of integrals; multivalued functions, potential theory in two dimensions; Fourier analysis, Laplace transforms, and partial differential equations.

Other Information

Navy students are required to conduct research at WHOI for one summer.  AOSE students generally live near MIT at least for their first year, because most of their initial classes will likely be taught at MIT.

Summer and transient housing for JP students residing in Woods Hole is guaranteed; family housing is subject to availability.

Check with the WHOI housing office at [email protected] for details.

Deferral by one year is an option with approval of Navy and Associate Dean.

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What are the Major Requirements?

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What are the Minor Requirements?

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15-3 Finance

How do I declare a double major?

You can declare a double major in sophomore spring. Information on declaring a double major can be found at https://registrar.mit.edu/registration-academics/academic-requirements/majors-minors/double-majors

Our office can sign off on your double major form. Feel free to email us in advance if you want to discuss your courseroad/double major planning.

See sample roadmaps of many popular double major combinations at https://mitsloan.mit.edu/programs/undergraduate/roadmaps-course-15-single-and-double-majors . 

How do I declare course 15?

For declaring a major, see: https://registrar.mit.edu/registration-academics/academic-requirements/majors-minors/declaring-major  

You don’t need to be a major to make an appointment with our office to discuss majoring, minoring, or taking a class. Email us to set up a meeting to discuss anything Course 15: [email protected]

How do I request study abroad/transfer credits?

Please email Rianna Allen-Charles ( [email protected] ) in the Undergraduate Office and provide the course description and syllabus. Also, inform her about the type of credit you are seeking (e.g., for a specific class or general elective units). The Undergraduate Office will collect this information and then forward it to one of our faculty members in the relevant area for preliminary approval. The official approval will be granted when the student returns from studying abroad, provides a transcript to confirm at least a B grade (usually in the course), and submits the final syllabus.

How do I petition for requirement substitutions/exceptions?

We do not have a formal petition process. Start by emailing us at [email protected] with any requests. 

Where can I find information about MIT Sloan UROP’s?

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Contact us for a recent list of faculty who have offered UROP opportunities in the past: [email protected]

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• DSpace@MIT Home
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This collection of MIT Theses in DSpace contains selected theses and dissertations from all MIT departments. Please note that this is NOT a complete collection of MIT theses. To search all MIT theses, use MIT Libraries' catalog .

MIT's DSpace contains more than 58,000 theses completed at MIT dating as far back as the mid 1800's. Theses in this collection have been scanned by the MIT Libraries or submitted in electronic format by thesis authors. Since 2004 all new Masters and Ph.D. theses are scanned and added to this collection after degrees are awarded.

MIT Theses are openly available to all readers. Please share how this access affects or benefits you. Your story matters.

If you have questions about MIT theses in DSpace, [email protected] . See also Access & Availability Questions or About MIT Theses in DSpace .

If you are a recent MIT graduate, your thesis will be added to DSpace within 3-6 months after your graduation date. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Permissions

MIT Theses may be protected by copyright. Please refer to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Note that the copyright holder for most MIT theses is identified on the title page of the thesis.

Theses by Department

• Comparative Media Studies
• Computation for Design and Optimization
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• Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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• Department of Biological Engineering
• Department of Biology
• Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Department of Chemistry
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• Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
• Department of Economics
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• Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Department of Ocean Engineering
• Department of Physics
• Department of Political Science
• Department of Urban Studies and Planning
• Engineering Systems Division
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• Media Arts & Sciences
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• Program in Real Estate Development
• Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies
• Science, Technology & Society
• Science Writing
• Sloan School of Management
• Supply Chain Management
• System Design & Management
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Collections in this community

Doctoral theses, graduate theses, undergraduate theses, recent submissions.

An Approach to Fault Management Design for the Proposed Mars Sample Return EDL and Ascent Phase Architectures 

Silicon Photomultipliers as Free Space Optical Communication Sensors 

Study of Cavity Geometry to Improve Optical Quality of Windows in Hypersonic Flow 

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Welcome, g1 physics students 2019.

Academic Life in Cambridge and Boston Harvard University's physics students are welcomed into an environment which is internationally renowned for its faculty, resources, and research initiatives. Commensurate with the academic surroundings are the outstanding cultural and recreational options available in the historic cities of Cambridge and Boston, which have been thriving on the banks of the Charles River for more than 350 years.

Students can relax on the grass of the Cambridge Common, where George Washington took command of the Continental Army, or stroll the narrow streets around Harvard Square, where bookstores, restaurants and shops buzz with activity while street musicians and performers entertain those passing by.

On the other side of the Charles, the Boston Freedom Trail takes walkers through early American history, winding its way around landmarks from the days of the American Revolution, such as the Old South Meeting House in which the Boston Tea Party was planned, the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read in public, and the "Cradle of Liberty", Faneuil Hall.

Cultural and entertainment opportunities are bountiful around Cambridge and Boston, from world-class orchestras, theaters, museums, and festivals, to professional sports of every stripe, to an endless variety of popular entertainment venues, superb dining, clubs, galleries, lectures, and screenings of rare films.

The natural environment of the Atlantic coast offers unlimited choices for recreation and relaxation. To the south are the magnificent beaches of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, and to the north sprawl the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, popular with hikers and skiers. Picturesque towns like Marblehead and Kennebunkport hug the rugged seacoast and provide excellent destinations for weekend getaways. Greater Boston is home to at least six major research universities. Harvard students can benefit in many ways from the area's rich academic atmosphere by taking part in the many seminars, colloquia, and inter-university collaborations that happen on a regular basis throughout the year. Harvard students may also cross-register for classes at MIT, which is 20 minutes away from Harvard by bus or subway.

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Doctoral Thesis: Safe and Ethical Implementation of Intelligent Systems

32-G449 (Patil/Kiva)

By: Zheng Dai

Thesis Supervisor(s): David Gifford

• Date: Tuesday, July 2
• Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
• Category: Thesis Defense
• Location: 32-G449 (Patil/Kiva)

Additional Location Details:

Abstract: In the year 2024, the prospect of solving human level tasks using intelligent systems is no longer the subject of science fiction. As these systems play an increasingly critical role in our day-to-day lives, it becomes ever more important to consider the safety and ethics surrounding their implementation. This is a multifaceted challenge spanning multiple disciplines, involving questions at the regulatory, engineering, and theoretical levels. This thesis discusses three projects that span these levels. We first explore the problem of tracing causal influence from training data to outputs of generative models. In our exploration we encounter the phenomenon of unattributability, and consider its scientific and regulatory implications. We next tackle the challenge of designing a high diversity library of therapeutics that is depleted of dangerous off-target binders using intelligent systems, developing a suite of inference and optimization tools along the way. Finally, we derive universal bounds for the robustness of image classifiers that inform us of how safe these intelligent systems can be in theory. Together, these projects present a multilevel overview of the safe and ethical implementation of intelligent systems.

• Email: [email protected]