The Program has granted 46 doctoral degrees since its inception in 1988. Graduates hold faculty appointments at universities including MIT, American University of Beirut, Bates College, Boston College, Rice University, Rutgers University, Franklin Olin College of Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, University of Detroit/Mercy, National University of Singapore, and the University of Toronto. Other graduates work in museums, journalism, business, and academic research.
HASTS selects a small number of highly qualified students for doctoral study. A master's degree is not offered. Some HASTS students have training in science or engineering, while others have a background in history, sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies, among many others. Some, but not all students enter the program having completed an advanced degree in another discipline.
In 2007 the Program admitted six new students from a pool of nearly 100 applicants. Currently the program includes 28 students (12 male and 16 female). There are 5 international students (2 male and 3 female).
Prospective applicants may make arrangements to visit the program. Visitors may request to meet with the HASTS Director of Graduate Studies, the Academic Administrator and/or faculty members whose area of research is of interest to them. Prospective applicant visits are not a factor in the admissions process.
Visitors should contact the HASTS Academic Administrator (at hasts@mit.edu or 617-253-9759) and submit the one-page Prospective Student Questionnaire (PDF | Word doc) before arriving at MIT. Applicants should keep in mind that facutly have full schedules, so it is important to schedule meetings with faculty before making travel plans to visit MIT.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit between May 1 and December 15 each year.
Students with an undergraduate degree from any academic discipline are invited to apply, but they should express long term interest in science and technology in their historical or social dimension. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required; specific subject GRE exams are not required. GRE scores are accepted up to five years after the exam was taken. Students with a first language other than English must also provide TOEFL results.
We encourage use of the online application through Graduate Admissions. A .pdf paper application can also be downloaded fromt he same site. Applications may also be obtained from the MIT Graduate Admissions Office via telephone: 617-253-2917.
2008 Admission is now closed. The 2009 application will become available in September.
The HASTS Program office administers the admissions process but does not send applications to students.
Applications to the doctoral program must include:
The writing sample and transcripts can be sent directly to the department at:
Doctoral Program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, E51-185
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Specific instructions are included in the full application. The deadline for applications is January 1st for admission the following September. The Program does not admit students for the Spring term.
The HASTS Admissions Committee will begin their review process in mid-January. Students who are selected to advance to the second round of the admissions process will be invited to the program for a visit and an interview on one of the following dates:
Friday, February 15
Friday, February 22
Friday, February 29
Friday, March 7
For international students or those unable to attend, alternative (telephone) interviews will be arranged. Following the interviews, faculty will meet again to determine the final and alternate list of admitted students.
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
MIT HASTS Building E51-185 | 617-253-9759 | hasts@mit.edu |