Learning
Communities
As a freshman,
you have the
opportunity
to participate
in one of
four learning
communities.
These unique
groups with
common interests
offer programs
that allow
you to study
and socialize
within a smaller
community
of students, while still
taking advantage
of the Institute's intellectual
and cultural
diversity. Some of these
communities
offer their own versions
of the freshman Science
Core subjects, but
all offer
electives
and provide
opportunities
for lasting
contact with
faculty, staff,
and upperclass
students.
The
four
learning
communities
are:
Concourse
Concourse is
a small scholarly or learning
community that provides a highly-structured learning and teaching
experience. Concourse is a tightly
knit, supportive community; intense
participation of freshmen, faculty,
staff, and upperclassmen is expected.
The program offers most of the
first-year General
Institute Requirements (GIRs) and
uses the same textbooks, quizzes,
and examinations as the mainstream
curriculum. This learning community
provides a very thorough preparation
for upperclass subjects.
Concourse
presents the freshman curriculum
in a unified manner to enhance
your mastery through experience
and study. A dedicated, exceptionally
talented and experienced faculty
and small class size serve to
create strong student-faculty
and student-student ties. The
program is designed for those
of you interested in a highly
integrated, structured approach
to all of the core subjects. A
high level of personal contact
with and support by the faculty
and fellow students is emphasized.
Concourse's lounge is a favorite
locale for spontaneous and planned
pizza parties, breakfasts and
other fun gatherings. Got the
urge to cook for your peers?
Concourse has a kitchen.
Visit the Concourse website to learn more about the program, and check out the following streaming video:
Experimental
Study Group (ESG)
The Experimental
Study Group (ESG) is
a learning community that
provides you with small classes,
individual instruction, and
independent study opportunities.
You have the flexibility to
move through classes at your
own rate and to determine
when to meet with instructors.
Students who are highly motivated
or who have unique academic
backgrounds find the self-paced
style of learning very challenging
and rewarding.
You may take
all of your freshman courses
within the ESG learning community,
such as math, physics, chemistry,
and biology, as well as several
humanities and social science
subjects and undergraduate
seminars. Students are also
welcome to take one or two
subjects in the mainstream
offerings. In addition to
freshmen, the community
includes sophomores, faculty and staff, and both
undergraduate and graduate
student tutors.
Above and
beyond the academic program,
ESG sponsors weekly luncheons
with guest speakers; trips
to museums, plays and movies;
hiking and skiing outings;
and informal gatherings to study and socialize with others.
The ESG facility is open 24
hours a day, and this community
space is a great place for
you to study or socialize.
Check out
the
ESG
site and the following streaming videos for additional information:
Terrascope and Mission 2012
Mission 2012 is the MIT subject 12.000, Solving Complex Problems, designed for freshmen only. In Mission 2012, you can gain first hand experience working as part of a team researching and developing solutions to large and difficult real problems involving science, engineering, and social sciences. Some past topics have included: sustainable development of the Amazon Rainforest; comparing the environmental costs and resource benefits of drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; guaranteeing the survival of the Galapagos Islands; designing effective emergency tsunami response strategies for the circum-Pacific region; developing a plan to reconstruct New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and developing a plan to stop the collapse of the global fishery.
This year, 12.000 or Mission 2012 will revolve around the issues associated with the supply of fresh water for human consumption.
It has been estimated that more than a billion people lack access to clean drinking water and that tens of thousands of people die each year from water-borne disease. With the human population exceeding 6 billion and projections of 10 billion by the end of the century it is clear that the lack of fresh water will only become more severe. Surface water and ground water reserves are being contaminated and over-utilized. International agreements concerning water use are often out-dated and based on inaccurate projections of populations and water use. For the students of the class of 2012, 12.000 or Mission 2012, will revolve around the issues associated with the large and complex problems associated with the availability of clean, fresh water in the next century.
Mission 2012 is part of the Terrascope program and the supply of fresh water for human consumption will be the year long theme of Terrascope. If you choose to enroll in Mission 2012 in fall, you will automatically become part of the Terrascope community whether you continue in the Spring or not. If you do continue enrollment in Terrascope in the Spring (required subject: 1.016), you may opt to participate in a week-long field experience to a site related to the year’s topic.
Mission 2012 and the Terrascope program are open to all freshmen. All freshmen enrolled in Mission 2012, a 9-unit subject, are allowed to take up to 57 units of credit.
Now taking applications . . .
- How to Apply: To apply for Mission 2012: Saving our Oceans, also known as MIT subject 12.000-Solving Complex Problems, go to the Advising Choice page and apply for the traditional advising option. Be sure also to select the "Yes, I'd like to be in Terrascope/Mission 2012" button, when submitting your traditional advising preferences. You cannot be in Terrascope and Mission 2012 and also take a Freshman Advising Seminar because of the freshman credit limit.
- If you are interested in a Residence-based Advising (RBA) residence, be sure to select the traditional advising option and also check the "Yes, I'd like to be in Terrascope/Mission 2012" button, when asked for your advising preferences within the Housing Lottery. If you are in Mission/Terrascope, you will be assigned an advisor who is affiliated with the Terrascope program. If you are assigned to an RBA residence, you will keep the RBA advisor, but you will also be assigned a secondary, Terrascope advisor.
- If you are having trouble registering for our subject 12.000 (this is a 9 unit subject) - please contact Prof. Sam Bowring at 617-253-3775 or email him any time before the start of the semester.
- Additional information can be found on the Terrascope website. For more information on Mission 2012 visit: http://mit.edu/12.000/www/m2012/about.html.
- Check out the following streaming video:
Media
Arts & Sciences (MAS)
Media
Arts and Sciences (MAS) offers
a small group of first-year
undergraduates the opportunity
to pursue freshman subjects
through a learning community.
Emphasis is on research, both
understanding how it is carried
out and connecting current Media
Laboratory research to
core freshman subjects.
You
will be introduced to learning-by-apprenticeship
that characterizes the MAS
education mission. You will
attend mainstream lectures
in the core freshman subjects,
but will attend recitation
sections in chemistry and
physics taught by MAS faculty.
Again, the connection between
subject matter and current
Media Laboratory research
is emphasized.
Students are
encouraged to participate
in one of several MAS Freshman
Advising Seminars and must
take two MAS subjects. The
first is design-oriented.
The second is an introduction
to research protocol, data
collection and presentation
of results. Spring semester,
students are strongly encouraged
to participate in a UROP at
the Media Laboratory. This
program is intended for students
who will pursue any undergraduate
major at MIT.
For
additional information, please explore the MAS website. Also, please enjoy the following streaming video:
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