Engineering Systems Division
In MIT’s Engineering Systems Division, students pursue the study, analysis, and design of complex systems involving technology, people, and services. They learn from faculty drawn from departments throughout the School of Engineering, as well as from the MIT Sloan School of Management and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students also participate in and benefit from the innovative academic and research partnerships ESD forges with industry and government.
Designing systems requires not only technological and analytical skills, but also knowledge of public policy issues and awareness of societal needs, tastes, and preferences. Because of the aggressive rate of change and the challenge of scaling systems in size, scope, and complexity, ESD promotes the development of new approaches, frameworks, and theories to analyze and design these systems.
As a vital part of engineering systems education, ESD faculty and students work with hundreds of enterprises on issues of national and international importance. This work is generally directed through a range of relationships ESD has forged with industry, government, and academic units, including the Center for Technology, Policy, and Industrial Development; the Center for Transportation and Logistics; the Center for Engineering Systems Fundamentals; the MIT-Portugal Program; and MIT’s AgeLab.
ESD’s graduate education opportunities include:
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Ph.D. in Engineering Systems
The doctoral program enables students to develop technical expertise and apply new research methodologies to address problems in the development and implementation of engineering and technological systems. This degree typically takes between three and five years, including a master’s degree such as the S.M.
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S.M. in Technology and Policy
The Technology and Policy Program (TPP) is an engineering research degree program with a strong focus on the role of technology in policy analysis and formulation. Many students combine TPP’s curriculum with complementary subjects to obtain dual degrees in TPP and either a specialized branch of engineering or an applied social science such as political science or urban studies and planning. Completion of degree requirements typically takes three or four terms.
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M.Eng. in Logistics
MLOG is a nine-month, intensive degree program designed to supply the global logistics industry with a new breed of supply chain professional, one who is highly trained in both analytical problem solving and change management leadership. This highly individualized program prepares graduates for logistics and supply chain management careers in manufacturing, distribution, retail, transportation, logistics, consulting, and software development organizations.
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Leaders for Global Operations
The LFM program is an educational and research partnership among global operations companies and MIT’s schools of engineering and management. Through coursework and a half-year internship, students learn and help to codify new guiding principles for world-class manufacturing and operations. At the conclusion of this 24-month dual-degree program, students receive an S.M. from ESD and an M.B.A. or S.M. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
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System Design and Management
SDM's rigorous 13- to 24-month graduate program for experienced technical professionals is built on a foundation of core courses in system architecture, systems engineering, and system and project management—and integrated with classes in engineering and specially designed courses in management. Accepted applicants can enroll as full-time on-campus students or part-time commuters/distance learners. This program leads to an M.S. degree in Engineering and Management granted jointly by the School of Engineering and MIT Sloan.
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S.M. in Engineering Systems
This degree focuses on the design and implementation of socio-technical systems. It can be a terminal degree that prepares students for productive practice, or it can be obtained during ESD’s Ph.D. program or earned as the engineering S.M. degree for the LFM program. The ESD S.M. is constructed around core subject areas that give students competence in systems theory, quantitative methods, and the social/technical context.
