MIT Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Computational Science and Engineering (Dept-CSE PhD)
Forms
- Dept-CSE PhD Program of Study Form (version date 05Feb2024)
- Checklist for Dept-CSE PhD Students (version date 19Aug2024)
Dept-CSE PhD Participating Departments
The interdisciplinary doctoral program in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE PhD + Engineering or Science) at MIT allows enrolled students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field of their choice through focused coursework and a doctoral thesis. This program is offered through a number of participating departments, namely
- Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1),
- Mechanical Engineering (Course 2),
- Materials Science and Engineering (Course 3),
- Chemical Engineering (Course 10),
- Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (Course 12),
- Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course 16),
- Mathematics (Course 18),
- Nuclear Science & Engineering (Course 22).
Program Outline
Once admitted, doctoral degree candidates are expected to complete the host department’s degree requirements (including qualifying exam) with CSE deviations relating to coursework, thesis committee composition and thesis submission that are specific to the Dept-CSE program and are discussed in more detail below.
Academic Performance
Dept-CSE PhD students are required to complete at least five graduate-level subjects, totaling no less than 60 credit units, in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Dept-CSE PhD students may not use more than 12 units of credit from a “meets with undergraduate” subject to fulfill the CSE curriculum requirement. Subjects taken with the graduate P/D/F grading option, or subjects specifically designated as P/D/F in the MIT Bulletin, cannot be used to satisfy the Dept-CSE PhD curricular requirement of five graduate-level subjects, totaling no less than 60 credit units, in computational science and engineering*.
In addition to departmental academic performance expectations, Dept-CSE students are expected to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.5 (out of 5) in CSE subjects and an overall GPA of at least 4.2 (out of 5) during the course of their studies.
*ChemE-CSE students are required to complete at least four subjects in computational science and engineering, in addition to 10.34, for a total of no less than 57 credit units.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
A complete description of the doctoral program in Civil and Environmental Engineering can be found at https://cee.mit.edu/resources/. Deviations associated with the CEE-CSE degree (“1.CSD”) are as follows.
Coursework Requirements
The CEE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by their thesis committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 1, with the additional requirement that that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Chair of Course 1 Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Fields
Course 1 will award degrees under the thesis fields “Civil Engineering and Computation” and “Environmental Engineering and Computation.”
Department of Mechanical Engineering
A complete description of the doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering can be found at http://meche.mit.edu/academic/graduate. Deviations associated with the CSE degree are as follows. MechE-CSE PhD candidates (“2.CSD”) are expected to pass the ME qualifying exam in Computational Engineering (present thesis in computational engineering and take computational engineering subject exam).
Coursework Requirements
The MechE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by their thesis committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 2, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the ME Graduate Officer, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 2 will award degrees under the thesis field “Mechanical Engineering and Computation.”
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
A complete description of the graduate program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) can be found via https://dmse.mit.edu/graduate/programs. Deviations associated with the DMSE-CSE degree (“3.CSD”) are as follows.
Coursework Requirements
The DMSE-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. The CSE five-course requirement can be satisfied through courses that simultaneously satisfy the DMSE core, post-core electives, and/or minor requirements. CSE subjects that a student may have applied towards a MIT SM degree may also be applied towards a DMSE-CSE doctoral major field of study requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by Thesis Committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The Thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of DMSE, with the additional requirement that that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Chair of the Departmental Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
DMSE will award degrees under the Thesis field “Computational Materials Science and Engineering”.
Department of Chemical Engineering
A complete description of the doctoral program in Chemical Engineering can be found at http://web.mit.edu/cheme/academics/grad/advising.html#phdscd. Deviations associated with the ChemE-CSE degree are as follows.
Coursework Requirements
ChemE-CSE students (“10.CSD”) are expected to complete the ChemE core curriculum with a CSE minor consisting of at least four graduate level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. The minor subjects shall not include 10.34, which is already part of the Chemical Engineering core curriculum. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the student’s thesis committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 10, with the additional requirement that either the committee chair be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Chair of the Departmental Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 10 will award degrees under the thesis field “Chemical Engineering and Computation.”
Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Once admitted, doctoral degree candidates are expected to complete the Course 12 degree requirements as outlined at https://eapsweb.mit.edu/academic-resources/grad-resources, except those relating to coursework in the Major Field of Study, Thesis Committee Composition and Thesis Submission that are specific to the EAPS-CSE program and are discussed in more detail below.
Degree candidates are expected to pass the qualifying exam in Course 12.
Coursework Requirements
The EAPS-CSE (“12.CSD”) doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the Thesis Committee. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute.
Thesis Committee Composition
The Thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 12, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Examination Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 12 will award degrees under the Thesis field ” Computational Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences “.
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
A complete description of the doctoral program in Aeronautics and Astronautics can be found at http://aeroastro.mit.edu/graduate-program/doctoral-degree. Deviations associated with the AeroAstro-CSE degree are as follows. AeroAstro-CSE PhD candidates (“16.CSD”) are expected to pass the Aerospace Computational Engineering track qualifying exam in Course 16.
Coursework Requirements
The AeroAstro-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by thesis committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 16, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Chair of the Departmental Graduate Program Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 16 will award degrees under the thesis field “Computational Science and Engineering” to students matriculating in/before September 2023 and “Aerospace Engineering and Computational Science” for students matriculating after September 2023.
Department of Mathematics
A description of the plan of study for the Applied Mathematics option of the PhD degree in Course 18, can be found at http://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/plan.php. Deviations associated with the Math-CSE degree (“18.CSD”) are as follows.
Coursework Requirements
The Math-CSE doctoral program of study consists of at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM degree can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by the Chair of the Applied Mathematics Committee in the Mathematics department and CCSE.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 18, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members.
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Examination Committee, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 18 will award degrees under the Thesis field “Mathematics and Computational Science”.
Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering
NSE-CSE PhD candidates (“22.CSD”) must satisfy all NSE requirements for doctoral students, including completing an NSE Field of Specialization requirement. A complete description of the NSE doctoral program and its requirements can be found at: http://web.mit.edu/nse/education/grad/phd.html.
Deviations associated with the NSE-CSE degree are as follows. The oral exam committee must include at least two CCSE-affiliated faculty members (one or both of whom may be NSE faculty members). The content of the oral exam must address some aspects related to computation.
Coursework Requirements
In addition to satisfying a NSE Field of Specialization requirement, students pursuing the computation option must take at least five graduate-level subjects in computational science and engineering selected from the approved list of Computational Concentration Subjects. Subjects taken as part of an MIT SM program can be counted toward this requirement. Doctoral candidates are normally expected to take their major subjects at the Institute. The specific subjects will depend on the student’s thesis topic and background, and will be approved by thesis committee.
Thesis Committee Composition
The thesis committee composition requirements are identical to those of Course 22, with the additional requirement that either the advisor be a CCSE member or the committee contain at least two CCSE members (who may be NSE faculty members).
Thesis Submission
In addition to approval from the Chair, Department Committee on Graduate Students, the complete thesis needs to be submitted to and approved by CCSE. Students should provide a copy of the thesis title page to the CCSE assistant director for review and approval prior to submitting the final thesis.
Thesis Field
Course 22 will award degrees under the thesis fields “Nuclear Engineering and Computation” and “Computational Nuclear Science and Engineering”. Student may choose either; the requirements are identical.
Doctoral candidates in general may petition to change the name appearing on their degree certificates. However, petitions from students in the CSE-participating departments listed above to include the keywords ‘computation’ or ‘computational’ in the degree name will only be approved if the student has satisfied requirements listed above. The PhD thesis field “Computational Science and Engineering” will be reserved for students graduating from the standalone CSE PhD program.