Over the past 125 years industrialization has led to a steady rise in atmospheric CO₂: Can we remove and sequester CO₂ from the atmosphere?

12.000 - "Solving Complex Problems" is a 9 unit subject that only freshmen can participate in. Mission 2013 is also part of the Terrascope freshman program. You may take Mission 2013 without committing to the year long Terrascope program. However, by enrolling in 12.000 you become part of the Terrascope program and community, even if you do not continue in the Spring.  The Terrascope affiliation allows you to join students and faculty at weekly luncheons where guest speakers discuss their current research. You will also have access to the Program’s facilities including a dedicated classroom/study space, kitchen, and lounge. Terrascope also offers a number of opportunities for undergraduate research (UROP).  This structure allows students who feel unable to commit to a two-semester program to still benefit from the project-based learning environment of Solving Complex Problems and to experience the Terrascope community for the fall. Prospective students wanting to learn more about the Terrascope program should visit the program web site.

Q. How does Terrascope differ from the other programs for first-year students?

A. We are the most flexible of the programs. You can choose all your other subjects from within MIT's "mainstream" curriculum. All Terrascope students must enroll in Mission 2013 (12.000) during the fall and subject 1.016 in the spring. Your credit limit is 57 units as opposed to 54 units in most of the other freshman programs.

Q. What subjects MUST I take if I enroll in Terrascope?

A. ALL Terrascope students take Mission 2013 (12.000) in the fall and 1.016 in the spring of their freshman year.

Q. Can I enroll in Mission 2013 but not participate in Terrascope?

A. Mission 2013 is a stand-alone class that can be taken by any first year student. For the Fall semester all Mission 2013 students will enjoy Terrascope affiliation, even if they do not intend to continue in the Spring. We encourage all Mission students to continue with the Terrascope experience in the Spring, including the field trip.

Q. Does participation in Mission 2013 and/or Terrascope require me to major in either Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1) or Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Course 12)?

A. No. Terrascope was designed to demonstrate that the Earth system provides a valuable context for the study and application of basic concepts in science and engineering. Developing a systems-oriented approach to learning in the first year pays enormous dividends throughout your academic career, regardless of your choice of major. Our Terrascope alumni are spread across the different majors at the Institute.