Interdisciplinary Programs

Interdisciplinary Programs

Interdisciplinary Programs

Our interdisciplinary graduate programs unite engineering with other fields to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of industry and society. These programs give graduate students the opportunity to blend technical mastery with leadership, creativity, and real-world impact across fields from global operations and supply chains to polymers and systems design. Two programs are offered jointly with the MIT Sloan School of Management, giving students the unique opportunity to develop both the analytical rigor of engineering and the strategic insight of management to drive innovation and lead transformative change.

Leaders for Global Operations

The Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program is a dual-degree initiative that combines an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management with an SM from the School of Engineering in one of seven disciplines. Designed for future leaders at the intersection of business and technology, LGO integrates rigorous management education with advanced engineering research to prepare students to drive innovation in high-tech and global operations. With world-class faculty, flexible curricula, and a deeply collaborative community, LGO graduates emerge ready to lead transformative change across industries worldwide.

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LGO Student Interests

  • MANUFACTURING
  • SUPPLY CHAIN
  • PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
  • ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
  • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
  • OPTIMIZATION
  • BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • SUSTAINABILITY
  • ENERGY

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MIT LGO

Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST)

The Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST), housed within the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) at MIT, unites engineering, science, and clinical medicine to drive innovation in human health. A joint initiative with Harvard, HST trains clinician-scientists and engineers to translate discoveries from bench to bedside through rigorous research, quantitative training, and clinical immersion. Its graduates lead transformative advances across medicine and biotechnology, from diagnostic breakthroughs to novel therapies.

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HST
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Program in Polymers and Soft Matter

The MIT Program in Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM) is an interdisciplinary doctoral program that brings together the Schools of Engineering and Science to advance the study of polymers and soft materials. Open to current PhD and ScD candidates in one of the five participating home departments —Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering—PPSM offers a rigorous foundation in polymer chemistry, physics, and engineering, combined with opportunities for cutting-edge research across disciplines. Through a shared core curriculum, collaborative research, and an active seminar series, PPSM prepares students to lead innovation in materials science, bridging molecular understanding with large-scale technological impact.

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MIT PPSM

Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Management (SCM) program, housed within the Center for Transportation and Logistics, provides a fast, flexible path to a top-ranked graduate degree that combines analytical rigor, hands-on learning, and real-world impact. Students can pursue one of two pathways: the ten-month residential program that offers immersive, on-campus training and personalized career support, or the blended program, which builds on the MITx MicroMasters® credential and culminates in an accelerated five-month on-campus experience. Both options prepare graduates to lead with innovation and insight in the global supply chain industry—delivering the skills and outcomes of traditional MBA programs in roughly half the time.

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MIT SCM

97% MIT SCMr students received an offer within 3 months of graduation

System Design and Management

The MIT System Design and Management (SDM) program equips early and mid-career professionals to lead at the intersection of engineering, management, and systems thinking. Offered jointly by the School of Engineering and the MIT Sloan School of Management, SDM combines technical depth with strategic insight. Students prepare to design, integrate, and lead complex systems in a rapidly changing world. Through a flexible curriculum grounded in real-world application and strengthened by close ties to industry, SDM students gain the tools, perspective, and network to become transformative leaders who see connections where others see complexity.

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MIT SDM

SDM teaches students how to see the connections and relationships between all parts of an organization, using Systems Engineering, System Architecture, and Project Management techniques to become engineering leaders

Computational and Systems Biology

The MIT Computational and Systems Biology PhD Program trains inventive, quantitatively minded biologists who work at the intersection of engineering, computation, and the life sciences to advance discovery. Through rigorous coursework, immersive research rotations, and mentorship from leading faculty, students build a deep foundation in modern biology and the quantitative tools that drive new technologies and insights. Highly selective and intentionally supportive, the program prepares graduates for impactful careers across academia, industry, and beyond.

CSBPHD
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