Concourse at MIT

 

Concourse is about learning in community. One of the most difficult things you ever learned was your first language. You probably don't remember this as hard work for at least two reasons: First, because you came into the world prepared to learn that language and second because you learned how to speak and understand as a member of a supportive community--a family that spoke the language. You got into MIT because MIT believes you are prepared to learn what MIT has to offer. Concourse is a supportive community that will help you learn it.

 

Concourse is an academic program whose goal is to allow students the advantages of a small school while retaining the opportunities offered by the Institute as a whole. You will have to apply to enter Concourse, and then our 60 students are chosen from the applicant list by lottery. These students learn together, not in large lecture halls filled with strangers. Concourse is rigorous, but is neither elite nor remedial.

About your future: what will you take with you from your education here that you will use for the rest of your life? Consider this: Concourse is about teaching you how to think, not what to think; not about what to learn, but about how to learn. Does this sound obvious? It isn't. You need to acquire learning skills you can use for the rest of your life, in all places and all weather. There are many innovative and unusual ways to learn that are great fun (and we will try a few, just for the fun of it) and very effective, but are not practical in the "real world." (Remember: MIT is not an AP exam, and neither is life.) What is the most important thing you can take with you from a university education? How to learn! The problem is, learning is a very individual skill--everyone has different ways to do it--there is no magic formula, and "one size fits all" approaches have a history of failure. You need to learn how to learn as a member of a community, from all the different individuals around you, and adopt what suits you best. And, because you are just starting out on a great adventure, you probably feel you don't have the experience to make many important decisions. (You may even need to master some "boring" material!) Again, you can get excellent advice on these questions from the Concourse community.

 

Your first year at MIT is the foundation for the rest of your MIT education. You must satisfy a fixed curriculum, a set of core courses or General Institute Requirements. To fulfill these requirements you have several options, one of which is Concourse. Many alumni will tell you that Concourse is simply the surest way to survive and enjoy your freshman year here. Our faculty has years of distinguished teaching and research experience and has been recognized at MIT and internationally for their research and teaching ability. We offer most of the Institute Requirements usually taken during one's first year, and most of our textbooks are the same as those used in the mainstream curriculum. The major difference between Concourse and the larger Institute is that you're learning in a small environment where personal interaction with your professors and classmates is the norm and not the exception.

 

In the fall, we teach the following courses satisfying the General Institute Requirements: physics (8.01/8.012), calculus (18.01A/18.02A and 18.02), chemistry (3.091), and a  humanities course: Introduction to Psychology (SP.318, HASS elective and acceptable as a version of 9.00 for Course IX). We take pains to ensure that our freshmen are well prepared to tackle the rigors of any MIT major, yet do not try to "channel" students into any particular path. In our fall subjects, for instance, Concourse chemistry is a special synthesis of both Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry (3.091), recommended for engineering majors, and Principles of Chemical Science (5.111/5.112), recommended for science majors. It combines the best parts of these two mainstream courses and thus is excellent preparation for both engineering and pure science majors.

 

Likewise, Concourse physics provides a very strong foundation for physics and engineering majors, but also retains sufficient breadth for other courses. The fall term 8.01/8.012 class is taught at a deeper level, both conceptually and mathematically, than mainstream 8.01. While mastery at a level of 8.01 is sufficient to pass the course, inspired students who qualify may take the 8.012 final in mainstream to receive 8.012 credit.

 

During the spring term, we will offer: Electricity and Magnetism (8.02), Differential Equations (18.03), and Madness and Literature (SP.321), a HASS-D/CI-H course combining psychology and literature. Each year we pick a theme. In spring 2009, the topic, as you may have guessed, is Madness and Literature. Are artists “crazy?” How is insanity portrayed in literature? For that matter, what does it mean to be “insane?” Who gets to decide? We pick a series of literary texts from antiquity to modern day and look at them through the lenses of psychology and of literature. In 2009, the course will be taught by Jeremy Wolfe and John Hildebidle. Professor Wolfe will have taught the Introduction to Psychology course in the fall term. He runs the Visual Attention Lab at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a professor at Harvard Medical School. John Hildebidle is a professor of literature and has taught at the Institute for more than twenty years.

 

SP.321—Madness and Literature —qualifies as a HASS-D, Category 1, Communication Intensive (CI-H) class. Only those students who received a “Pass “ on the freshman Essay Evaluation (or have already satisfied the requirement by taking a CI-HW fall term) will receive CI credit. All students will receive HASS-D credit.

 

We're not just all academic, however. Students and faculty come together frequently in our 24/7 lounge, not only for study but also for informal discussions, class tutorials, and even occasional breakfasts and dinners. The result of all this community spirit is that Concourse is a place where friendships flourish. Indeed, a great many students have found their closest friends within the program, and have been closest to the Concourse professors.

 

When you join Concourse, you will have all the advantages of academic and peer support. However, your freshman advisor will be outside the program. We encourage you to choose whichever form of freshman advising that better suits you and your plans for the fall. For example, you may be part of Concourse and still choose to take a Freshman Advising Seminar or participate in Residence-Based Advising and/or Mission 2012. However, at MIT no one will know you better than the teachers you see every day, particularly in the personal environment of Concourse. So we all, all of your instructors, keep in touch with you and with your mainstream advisor. Again, you have the best of both worlds and the best possible advisor/mentor situation.

 

Because the size of Concourse is limited to 60 students, enrollment will be accomplished at the Concourse Orientation session on Tuesday, August 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, in the Concourse Lounge (Room 16-128). The faculty will be present at this time and will describe the Concourse curriculum in detail and answer any academic questions you may have. It is imperative that you are present for the entire presentation. We understand that Orientation week is extremely hectic. However, the information provided at this session is essential in making an informed decision about your courses for fall term. Thus, we feel it is necessary to make attendance at this event a requirement for enrollment.

 

If you would like to speak with former students about the program, plan on stopping by the Concourse Open House on Monday, August 25, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Concourse Lounge, Rm. 16-128. The Open House is very informal and strictly optional. It's a great opportunity to meet former Concourse students who can give you first-hand impressions and opinions on the Concourse experience. Because Concourse is limited to 60 students, we don't always have space for everyone who would like to joint the program. As a result, we may have to hold a lottery to determine who will be admitted. Priority will be given to those students who have indicated interest over the summer. If you think that you might be interested in enrolling, please fill out the online form at http://web.mit.edu/concourse/www/request.

If  you have any questions or concerns about Concourse, do feel free to contact us at 617-253-3200 or by email to cbutters@mit.edu.