Doctoral Guidelines

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Introduction
The Physics Graduate Program
Types of Financial Support
Satisfactory Progress
Academic Issues
General Doctoral Examination
Specialty Subject Requirements
Breadth Subject Requirements
Research
Thesis
Career Counseling

Breadth Subject Requirements

To enrich knowledge about physics outside of one’s own research field, students must complete two breadth requirement subjects.  At least one of these must be from the list below.  Both must be passed with a grade of “B-” or better.

x indicates the subject is not allowed as a breadth requirement for students in this area.
2 indicates the subject may be used as the second breadth requirement for students in this area as long as they also take one of the unmarked subjects.

If only one breadth requirement is taken from this list, students may request approval of a second course that is not on the list if it genuinely satisfies the two stated objectives of the breadth requirement: 1) learning about physics and 2) being outside the student's research field.

To request approval for a course, a student should write a short but clear email or letter explaining why the course satisfies these two objectives.  If the course is in another department, the message should tersely explain on the basis of the course description or curriculum, why it should be considered learning about physics. The student should also succinctly state his or her research specialty and thesis topic, and explain why the course should be considered as being outside this research area. A short paragraph is sufficient to convey the necessary information.

The student should send the request to his or her academic advisor and, if necessary, discuss and modify the content to obtain the advisor's approval.  The advisor should then forward the request, with his or her  approval, to the General Examination and Requirements Coordinator who will send notification of the decision.

Research

Most graduate students are supported by Research Assistantships.  RAs become involved in a research project as soon as they begin their assistantship, and this often leads to a thesis topic. TAs, Fellows, and self-supporting students who are not involved in research should look for a research group during the first year.  Prior to thesis research, students get academic credit for their research by registering for Special Problems (8.391 or 8.392), which is generally taken every semester that research is conducted until thesis research formally commences.  Starting with the semester in which the thesis proposal is submitted (see section titled “Thesis”), registration changes from Special Problems to Thesis (8.THG).  While many students stay with their first research group, some register for Special Problems in two or more research areas before finding a research topic suitable for a thesis.  The Special Problem is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

All graduate students conduct research that eventually leads to a thesis, but there are many different paths to gaining a research project.  Students are expected to register for thesis and be assigned a thesis committee by the first term of their fourth year of graduate school (see section titled “Thesis”). 

RESEARCH SUPERVISION

Any person who holds a Faculty or Senior Research Scientist appointment in the Physics Department may serve as a research supervisor.  Under special circumstances, a faculty member outside the Department may supervise a student (this includes other MIT departments or Physics Departments at other institutions).  Prior to embarking on a research project with an outside supervisor, the student must obtain a Departmental co-supervisor.  In consultation with the research supervisor, the student should find a Faculty member in the Physics Department who agrees to be the co-supervisor. The co-supervisor will maintain close contact with the research as it progresses and must ultimately co-sign the thesis.  The student should submit a Research Co-Supervision Form, which requires the signatures of the research supervisor and co-supervisor.  This form must be completed and returned to Academic Programs.  Any funding (i.e. RA) will not be administered by the Department of Physics until this form is submitted.

RESEARCH EXTERNSHIPS

To broaden the graduate experience, the Graduate Committee encourages physics graduate students to arrange an externship in an industrial or national laboratory at some time during their graduate career.  Such externships may be scheduled during either summer or academic terms and can be used, with approval of the student’s academic advisor, to satisfy one of the Departmental breadth requirements.  Even if the externship is in the student’s research field, it may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement.   Externships may not be used to satisfy the specialty requirement.  The Department recognizes that demands of MIT research may make it difficult for students to consider this opportunity, but it also believes that the benefits outweigh the possible conflict.  Students seeking externships should discuss the issue with their research supervisor and schedule the externship to minimize disruption of research.  Interested students should contact the Career Counselor and provide him with a curriculum vita.

Thesis

PH.D. THESIS

Students must register for thesis and be assigned a thesis committee no later than the first term of their fourth year of graduate school.  It is strongly recommended that students register for thesis in a term earlier than this final deadline. The first step is for the student and research supervisor to agree on a thesis topic. An initial Graduate Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet (available in Academic Programs or via the web) must be submitted to Academic Programs by the second week of the term.  The form requires an initial thesis title, the name and signature of the research supervisor and the name of one reader for the thesis committee agreed upon by the student and supervisor. The student should register for 8.THG (reminder: the minimum number of combined units for all subjects in any particular semester should equal 36) beginning this term.  A third reader from the physics faculty, who is not in the same research area, but whose interests, background, or special knowledge make him or her an appropriate member of the committee, will be assigned by the Graduate Student Coordinator.  If there is a co-supervisor (see above), the thesis committee will consist of four people: research supervisor, co-supervisor, selected reader, and assigned reader.  After notification of the final reader, the student will need to convene an initial thesis committee meeting no later than four weeks before the last day of classes.

At that meeting the student will make an oral presentation to the thesis committee of a detailed proposal for a research program that would subsequently become the Ph.D. thesis. The student should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of relevant literature, explain the significance of the research to progress in the field, and present a well thought out program of research including contingency plans, if appropriate. After that meeting, and based on the discussion, the student will develop a written proposal. The written proposal will consist of a one or two page description of the body of work that is to comprise the thesis.  It will be due in Academic Programs near the end of the semester (a formal date will be determined each semester, but it will be approximately two weeks before the end of the term).

Subsequent changes in title, scope, supervisor(s), or readers may be made with the written approval of the Graduate Student Coordinator.

In some cases, the thesis research may be in a borderline field between physics and some other field of science or engineering.  In these cases, a joint committee, including members of another department may be formed.  This requires approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Students who have not registered for thesis research or submitted a thesis proposal by the first term of their fourth year (see deadline dates listed above) must write a letter to the Graduate Student Coordinator explaining the circumstances leading to the delay.  Similar letters must be submitted in each subsequent term the student is not registered for thesis.  Graduate appointments will be renewed only for students who meet the thesis registration and proposal requirements unless the Graduate Student Coordinator approves an extension based on the circumstances described in the student’s letter.

Subsequent to the initial oral presentation to the thesis committee, each student must make at least one substantial oral presentation of progress to the thesis committee every 12 months.  The scheduling of this presentation is to be arranged by the student. 

Students pursuing a Master’s degree are required to submit a written thesis.  No oral defense is necessary.  When work on the thesis commences, each student must submit a Master’s Thesis Proposal Form with the proposed title of the thesis and the signature of the research supervisor to Academic Programs, 4-315.  The student should begin registering for 8.THG immediately.  A second reader will be assigned by the Graduate Student Coordinator and the student will be subsequently notified.  Upon completion of the thesis, the research supervisor will submit a letter grade for the work to Academic Programs.

Students may be recommended for their degree in any term.  A student must submit an Application for Advanced Degree at the beginning of the term in which he or she plans to graduate, and must be registered during that term.  Only the names on the degree list will be considered for degrees for that term.  Those on the September and February degree lists may participate in commencement the following June. Reminder: as an advanced degree candidate, a student should register for thesis as long as he or she is doing thesis research, including the summer terms.  No specified number of research units is required, although the combined number of registered units each term should not be fewer than 36.

The thesis defense is primarily an oral presentation of the thesis research.  In order that suggestions for revision from the thesis committee can be incorporated into the final version of your thesis, the defense should take place at least three weeks before the due date posted by the Institute. This oral is based on an acceptable draft of the thesis, which is provided to the thesis committee at least two weeks prior to the defense.  What constitutes an acceptable draft should be discussed carefully with the thesis committee.  At this time, the student should notify the Graduate Assistant in Academic Programs of the day, time, and place of the defense.  The student is responsible for arranging the thesis defense.  The defense is public and all members of the MIT community may attend.  Notices are sent to all physics faculty.  Immediately following the public presentation there will be a mandatory private session involving only the student and the thesis committee.

THESIS COPIES

After passing the thesis defense and incorporating the suggested changes, students must submit to Academic Programs: 1. two original copies on thesis archival paper with original signatures and 2. the completed form from the Specifications for Thesis Preparation, with an abstract and title page attached.  The student should determine whether or not the supervisor, fellowship sponsor, etc. require additional copies.  Students should also be aware that a thesis archival fee will be charged to their student account.  The Institute requires that this, and all outstanding charges, be paid before the final degree is approved.   Details of the required thesis, abstract, and title page formats are provided in Specifications for Thesis Preparation http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/thesis-specs/, or at http://web.mit.edu/gso/gem/ad/theses.html.  Care should be taken to follow the presented format. For advanced degrees submitted to the Physics Department, copyright is usually granted to MIT instead of retained by the student. The “Chairman” signature line on the thesis cover page should be that of Professor Thomas Greytak, Associate Department Head for Education. This signature is obtained by the Academic Programs Office after the students submits  the thesis.

Career Counseling

If you have questions, or if you need someone to talk to about your career, there are many people available and willing to help.  Every incoming student is assigned an academic advisor with whom they can discuss their course schedule.  Students in research groups have excellent resources in their research supervisor and other graduate students, and teaching assistants can talk to the professors for whom they are teaching.  Students can also get advice from their course instructors.  The Graduate Career Counselor is also an excellent resource for discussing career paths and options.

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