MIT Class of 2016: Academics -

Communication Requirement

In order to graduate, you must complete four Communication Intensive subjects: two Communication Intensive HASS subjects, and two CI-Ms, as specified by your major. As a freshman, you are required to complete one appropriate Communication Intensive HASS subject.

In this section, we focus on your first year requirement.

FEE Results and Your CI-H Choice
Planning Out Your CI-H Requirement
Important Note about Early Sophomore Standing

View the Core Blitz video: Prof. Diana Henderson Presentation

FEE Results and Your CI-H Choice

The results of the Freshman Essay Evaluation (or exemption by AP score) determine which is the appropriate class you need to take to fulfill the freshman Communication Requirement. Depending on your score, you will either be required to take a Writing Subject (CI-HW) or any Communication Intensive HASS subject designated as CI-H/CI-HW.

Your FEE result is posted to your Online Freshman Advising Folder. Your FEE result will help you determine which type of Communication Intensive (CI) subject you must take during your freshman year.

If you receive an FEE score of:

"CI-H/CI-HW Required": You may take any CI-H or CI-HW in either semester of your freshman year. A full list of CI-H subjects is available online. Please note, some CI-H subjects may be listed as HASS-D. Because enrollment in these subjects is managed by a lottery, to enroll in a CI-H subject that is also a HASS-D, you will need to enter the HASS-D lottery. To enroll in any other CI-H or CI-HW subject not listed as HASS-D, you will register as you do for other MIT subjects when you meet with your advisor during Orientation.
"CI-HW (Writing Subject) Required": You must take one of the Expository Writing subjects designated as CI-HW in either the first or second semester of your freshman year. A full list of CI-HW subjects is available online. The Expository Writing Subject must be your first CI subject: You will not receive CI credit for any other subject until you pass a CI-HW subject.
"21F.222 (English as a Second Language) Subject Required": You must take 21F.222 as your first CI subject. You are encouraged to take 21F.222 in the Fall Term, because it provides a good foundation for communication in your other MIT subjects, but you may delay until the Spring. You will not receive CI credit for any other subject until you pass this subject.
"21F.220 Workshop in Written Expression (ELS) Required': You should register for 21F.220 Workshop in Written Expression. While 21F.220 does not carry CI credit, it will count as a HASS-H subject toward the HASS Requirement. You will be required to take 21F.222 Expository Writing for Bilingual Students as your first CI-HW subject. You will not receive credit for any other CI-H subject until you complete 21F.222. You should plan to take 21F.220 in the Fall and 21F.222 in the Spring.
Students who do not take the FEE and who have not submitted an AP score exempting them from the test will automatically receive the result "CI-HW (Writing Subject) Required."

Planning Out Your Communication Requirement

You may take your first Communication Intensive (CI) subject in either the Fall or the Spring of your freshman year. However, most CI subjects have a maximum enrollment of 18-25 students, so you need to plan the year carefully to ensure that you are able to take the class of your choice and to avoid possible academic consequences. See information about the HASS Requirement and Communication Requirement.
You are only able to receive CI credit for one CI-H subject per semester.
If you do not take the appropriate CI-H/CI-HW subject in the fall term, you must complete a CI-H in the spring semester. Failure to complete the appropriate Communication Requirement subject in your first year may have academic consequences, including a credit limit, for sophomore year.

Important Note about Early Sophomore Standing

In order to be eligible for early sophomore standing, you must complete an appropriate CI subject during the Fall Term of your freshman year. Otherwise, even if you have sufficient credit, you will not be eligible for early sophomore standing for the Spring.