Academic Requirements

Current HASTS students should refer to the Student Handbook for more detailed information about the below requirements and other important program information. Please see the Academic Administrator if you do not have a copy of the Student Handbook.

Courses Required
STS.210J/21H.991J Theories and Methods in the Study of History STS.250J/21A.750J Social Theory and Analysis STS.260 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society
Students will typically take the three core classes in the fall of their first year of study.
Recommended methods/writing sequence
21A.861J Methods for Graduate Research in the Social Sciences (Fall) STS.390 Research Seminar in STS (a.k.a. “Writing Seminar”) (Spring)
Remaining Course Work
Five other courses to be chosen in consultation with advisor; these should fit into a coherent course of study. Or, if a student in consultation with their advisor has elected not to participate in the methods/writing sequence, two additional electives must be taken to complete a total of 10 courses.

First Year Paper
The first-year paper usually comes out of one of the three core subjects. It may be a term paper for one of these subjects. The paper should demonstrate the student's ability to write in a clear, organized, polished fashion and to develop a sustained argument, marshalling appropriate evidence and literature. This paper, as with later required writing in the Program, may not be co-authored.

Second Year Paper
The second-year paper should be a substantial research paper of publishable quality. Students should write the second-year paper in consultation with their advisor.

Language Requirement
In order to satisfy the HASTS language requirement, students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one language other than their native language. For international students whose native language is not English, English can be used to fulfill this requirement.

General Examinations
In the third year, students are expected to take a general examination with both a written and oral component.

The written component of the general examination consists of three parts:

Field 1: Students prepare by reading from the MIT HASTS Common Exam List. This list encompasses the areas of social and cultural perspectives on science and technology; history of technology; and history of science.

Field 2: Treats a field of history or the social sciences. This examination probes the student's mastery of a field of history (e.g., Imperial Russian and Soviet history) or a field of one of the social sciences (e.g., theory and method in the study of culture).

Field 3: This part, tailored to each student, examines the range and depth of understanding of the history or social study of a particular science or field of engineering (e.g., the history of modern biology; the social study of information technologies). This exam ordinarily anticipates the area of the student's doctoral dissertation.

The written exams are followed by an oral exam, usually about two hours in length.

Grant/Fellowship Proposal
In conjunction with preparation of the dissertation proposal, students should prepare at least one proposal for research funding from outside MIT. Although we do not expect all students to obtain outside funding for their research, we expect all students to submit proposals because grant writing is an important learning experience for anyone going on to a career in academia, and can be particularly relevant while developing a dissertation proposal.

Dissertations
Dissertation Proposal and Presentation
Ordinarily students should complete their dissertation proposal within a term of their completion of general exams were taken. The proposal should be between ten and twenty pages long and accomplish three goals: introduce the dissertation topic, explain briefly the scholarly significance of the topic (including a brief review of the relevant literature), and indicate a general plan of work.

Once the student's committee has reviewed the written proposal, the student will orally present the proposal to their committe, at a meeting open to HASTS faculty members and students.

Dissertation Defense
The dissertation defense is an open presentation consisting of a fifteen-to-thirty-minute summary of the dissertation, followed by questions from the student’s committee and the audience.

The Office of the Dean for Graduate Education lists Institute requirements for thesis completion at MIT.

Timeline and Course Loads
Ordinarily, all coursework is completed in four to six semesters. Pursuit of a graduate degree at MIT on a part-time basis is not permitted, and HASTS students are required to take a full course load in order to remain eligible for financial aid. International students are required to consistently register fully and within the deadlines, in order to maintain their legal visa status. A full course load is usually defined as three subjects (36 units) per semester, although students who are working as Teaching Assistants are only required to enroll in two subjects (24 units).

Required Element	Target Deadline	Hard Deadline
First-Year Paper	July 1 after 1st Year	August 1 after 1st Year
Second-Year Paper	July 1 after 2nd Year	Fall Reg Day of 3rd Year
Language Requirement	December 31 of 3rd Year	Must complete before General Exam
General Examinations	Spring Reg Day of 3rd Year	Spring Reg Day of 4th Year
Submit Grant Proposal	May 31 of 3rd Year	May 31 of 4th Year
Dissertation Proposal & Proposal Presentation	May 31 of 3rd Year	May 31 of 4th Year
Dissertations	"Grades Due" Date of 5th Year	n/a