Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Graduates of MIT’s electrical engineering and computer science department work in diverse industries and conduct research in a broad range of areas. They improve the stability and security of computers and communications networks, and they increase the efficiency of solar panels. They create unique algorithms to analyze financial markets and design robots capable of thinking like human beings. Our community members continually make breakthroughs that enable people to communicate more easily, manage their environments more effectively, and lead more comfortable lives than ever before.
MIT has awarded electrical engineering degrees for nearly 130 years, and our educational programs have been at the cutting edge since their inception. We provide an in-depth education in engineering principles built on mathematics, computation, and the physical and life sciences, and encourage our students to apply what they learn through projects, internships, and research. We succeed in our mission to produce graduates capable of taking leadership positions in the fields of electrical engineering and computer science and beyond.
Nearly 25 percent of MIT’s undergraduates are enrolled in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and our graduate programs are world-renowned. Our faculty comprises more than 40 members of the National Academy of Engineering, more than 10 members of the National Academy of Sciences, several members of the Institute of Medicine, several National Medal of Technology winners, as well as many fellows of professional societies, such as the IEEE, ACM, APS, AAAI and others.
Graduate Education
Graduate study in the department moves students towards mastery of areas of individual interest, through course work and significant research, often defined in interdisciplinary areas that take advantage of the tremendous range of faculty expertise in the department and, more broadly, across MIT.
Programs at the doctoral and predoctoral level have three elements:
- Classroom subjects in physics, mathematics, and fundamental fields of electrical engineering and computer science
- Specialized classroom and laboratory subjects and a wide variety of colloquia and seminars that introduce students to current research issues
- Research under the direct supervision of a member of the faculty, which culminates in a unique thesis
Graduate degrees in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are:
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Master of Engineering
Students in this program gain the depth of knowledge and the skills needed for professional work, as well as the broad perspective essential for engineering leadership in a world of increasing technological complexity. Students shape the program according to their needs and interests, choosing from the following concentrations:
- Artificial intelligence and applications
- Bioelectrical engineering
- Communication, control, and signal processing
- Computer systems and architecture
- Devices, circuits, and systems
- Electrodynamics and energy systems
- Theoretical computer science
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Master of Engineering Thesis Program with Industry
This program enables students to combine classroom study with practical experience in industry through a series of supervised work assignments at a participating company or laboratory. Students are exposed to current activities in the various fields of electrical engineering and computer science, and they receive assignments of progressive responsibility and sophistication.
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Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
This degree option is open to well-prepared students with a bachelor’s degree from another school or another department at MIT. Students plan a program in consultation with a faculty advisor and may take classes outside the department. Study must be well-balanced and emphasize one or more of the theoretical or experimental aspects of electrical engineering or computer science.
Note: Students with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT must complete the Master of Engineering program, rather than the Master of Science degree program.
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Electrical Engineer or Engineer in Computer Science
These degrees are open to qualified students in the doctoral or predoctoral program who seek more extensive training and research experiences than are possible within the master’s program. Admission to the engineer’s program depends upon a superior academic record and outstanding progress on a thesis.
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Doctoral degree
Candidates for the PhD and ScD are expected to participate fully in the educational program of the department and to perform thesis work that is a significant contribution to knowledge. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree outside the department and have not completed a master’s degree program must complete the requirements for MIT’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Students who have earned a master’s degree at another institution but have not completed significant research must complete a research project equivalent to a master’s thesis before proceeding in the doctoral program.
Students may also choose to participate in interdisciplinary degree programs affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, including the Computation for Design and Optimization (CDO) program for students interested in computational approaches to the design and operation engineered systems, and Leaders for Global Operations program for students with two or more years of work experience who aspire to leadership positions in manufacturing or operations companies.
