Academic Subjects

MIT's doctorate in materials science and engineering requires completion of a four-subject core that treats materials principles from a universal perspective, rather than by materials class, along with two seminar subjects taken in the first year of the graduate program. The four-subject core defines what the department considers to be the irreducible basis of the discipline—what every PhD materials scientist or materials engineer from MIT ought to know. The first-year student seminars and core subjects will provide a rigorous and unified foundation for subsequent advanced level subjects and thesis research.

The required subjects are:

For students entering in Fall 2021 or later

3.20 Materials at Equilibrium (15 units, Year 1 - Fall)
3.22 Structure and Mechanical Properties of Materials (12 units, Year 1 - Fall)
3.201 Introduction to DMSE (3 units, Year 1 - Fall)
3.21 Kinetic Processes in Materials (15 units, Year 1 - Spring)
3.23 Bonding and Electronic Properties of Materials (12 units, Year 1 - Spring)
3.202 Essential Research Skills (3 units, Year 1 - Spring)

The Fall 2021 subjects 3.20 Materials at Equilibrium and 3.22 Structure and Mechanical Properties of Materials have undergone revision. 3.20 Materials at Equilibrium will be similar to the previous version of the class. 3.22 Structure and Mechanical Properties of Materials has undergone content revision and will now include structure of crystalline and noncrystalline materials, symmetry of properties, defects, and mechanical properties.

For students entering prior to Fall 2021

3.20 Materials at Equilibrium (15 units, Year 1 - Fall)
3.23 Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials (12 units, Year 1 - Fall)
3.21 Kinetic Processes in Materials (15 units, Year 1 - Spring)
3.22 Mechanical Properties of Materials (12 units, Year 1 - Spring)

Enrolling in Undergraduate Subjects to Successfully Complete the Graduate Core

While DMSE admits students from various backgrounds who have an education equivalent to MIT’s undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering, we recognize that some students may require additional background in appropriate undergraduate subjects in order to ensure their success in completing the core graduate curriculum.

Students should discuss with their registration officer and the instructors of the graduate core whether undergraduate subjects might enhance and benefit their experience. Students may enroll in undergraduate subjects concurrently with the four core subjects in the first two semesters of the graduate program in place of any restricted elective subjects.

Enrolling in English Subjects Based on the English Evaluation Test

International graduate students may be required to take the MIT English Evaluation Test upon arrival in the fall semester. Results from the test will indicate whether the student will be required to take English classes at MIT.

The English Evaluation Test may be waived if the student studied at a US university or an international university whose primary language of instruction is English for at least 3 years and received a degree from that US / international university. In addition the test may be waived for those students whose language of instruction was English during primary and secondary school years.