Degree Requirements

MIT AeroAstro graduate study requires graduate-level subjects and research work culminating in a thesis or project. Degrees awarded are the Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Science.  For more detailed information on the types of degrees we offer, including those that are interdisciplinary, please visit the AeroAstro Section of the MIT Bulletin.

Master of Science (SM)

two-year (approximately) program

• 66 subject units, not including thesis units, in graduate subjects in the candidate's area of technical interest
• math requirement
• technical writing requirement
• minimum of 42 H-level units with at least 21 units from AeroAstro subjects
• non-H-level subjects must carry a grade of B or better to count toward degree requirements
• classes taken on a pass/fail basis do not count towards degree requirements

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Science (ScD)

• written and oral qualifying exams taken within three terms of entering the department
• development of a thesis committee
• five graduate-level subjects in the major concentration and three graduate level subjects for the minor concentration, as approved by the student's thesis committee
• math requirement
• technical Writing Requirement if not previously satisfied as MIT SM student
• written and oral exam on the major concentration
• thesis defense
• see the AeroAstro Doctoral Program Guide for more guidelines