The Program in Media Arts and Sciences (MAS) focuses on the invention, study, and creative use of new technologies that change how we express ourselves, how we communicate with each other, how we learn, and how we perceive and interact with the world. The field draws on a number of other disciplines, including computer science, cognitive sciences, communications, design, and the expressive arts. The program offers undergraduate and graduate subjects (listed under MAS in Part 3) and a graduate program leading to master's and doctoral degrees. Its academic programs are intimately linked with the research programs of the Media Laboratory.
Most MAS undergraduate courses are project-oriented and relate to ongoing research within the Media Laboratory. Certain graduate subjects are open to advanced undergraduates (see subject descriptions in Part 3 for details).
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) positions at the Media Lab are a major part of the MAS education offerings to undergraduates. First-year students participating in UROP are encouraged to register for MAS.111 Introduction to Research in Media Arts and Sciences.
The MAS Alternative Freshman Year Program emphasizes project-oriented work and connections to current research topics. Students in this program attend mainstream lectures for core freshman subjects but take recitations led by Media Laboratory researchers and participate in research through UROP positions at the Media Lab.
Media Arts and Sciences offers a graduate program leading to master's and PhD degrees. Graduate students work closely with a research advisor in an apprenticeship relationship. Students enter the program from a wide variety of backgrounds, including electrical engineering, physics, computer science, cognitive science, mechanical engineering, art and design, and the learning sciences.
For the master's degree, students are required to spend at least four terms in residence (one of which may be a summer term) and to complete a satisfactory research thesis.
Students wishing to pursue a PhD degree must demonstrate exemplary progress in the master's program and gain approval from a departmental committee review. Requirements for the PhD degree include successful completion of MAS general exams, and successful completion and defense of a dissertation based on original and significant research within one of the Media Lab's research groups.
The Program in Media Arts and Sciences offers financial assistance to all successful applicants in the form of research assistantships within the Media Laboratory, which are an important part of the educational program. Research assistants receive academic credit for part of their research activities.
Additional information about the programs in Media Arts and Sciences, graduate admissions, research programs, and research assistantships may be obtained from Gigi Shafer, Room E15-401, MIT, 617-253-5114, fax 617-253-8542, mas@media.mit.edu.
Mitchel Resnick, PhD
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
LEGO Papert Career Development Professor of Learning Research
Program Head
Hiroshi Ishii, PhD
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Tod Machover, MM
Professor of Music and Media
William J. Mitchell, BArch, MEDes, MA
Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences
Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. (1954) Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Nicholas Negroponte, MArch
Professor of Media Technology
Alex Pentland, PhD
Toshiba Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Rosalind Picard, ScD
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Barry Vercoe, DMA
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Cynthia Breazeal, ScD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
LG Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Chris Csikszentmihályi, MFA
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Muriel R. Cooper Career Development Professor
Judith Donath, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Career Development Professor of Research in Education
Neil Gershenfeld, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Hugh Herr, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
NEC Career Development Professor of Computers and Communications
Joseph Jacobson, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
John Maeda, PhD
Associate Professor of Design and Computation
Rudge (1948) and Nancy Allen Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Patricia Maes, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Technology
Deb Roy, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
AT&T Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Joseph Paradiso, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Sony Corporation Career Development Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Ted Selker, PhD
Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Benesse Career Development Professor of Research in Education
Edward S. Boyden III, PhD
Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Sciences
Walter Bender, MSVS
Andrew Lippman, PhD
V. Michael Bove, Jr., PhD
Glorianna Davenport, MA
Christopher Schmandt, MSVS
Henry Lieberman, PhD
Marvin Minsky, PhD
Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, Emeritus
Seymour Papert, PhD
Professor of Education and Media Technology, Emeritus