PhD Requirements

This webpage is based on Revision 30 (Oct 15, 2014) document Updated NSE PhD Requirements - OCT 2014.pdf

http://web.mit.edu/nse/education/grad/phd.html reflects the Oct 2014 revision, which is the most up-to-date version as of summer 2016.

Typical Timeline For Taking courses

A typical timeline for obtaining your PhD looks like the following assuming you enter in the fall semester: 

• First two semesters: takes 3 modules + 1 field of specialization course each semester.
• Third semester: takes your last field of specialization course, re-take any module you might not have satisfied the first time around, and prepare for the oral qual exam from fall through the winter (IAP term)
• Feb right after your third semester: take the oral exam
• Fourth semester: turn-in your PhD proposal which proposes your major ("advanced subjects") and minor. Proceed with your major and minor courses.

Core Requirement / "Modules"

Read about the modules system at The Modules You should tackle these courses first before you can take the qual.

Oral Examination / "The Qual"

Read about the qualifying exam at PhD Qualifying Exams. Typically you take it at the end of your third semester (Feb of your second year that is).

Additional Courses Requirement

• 3 courses in Field of Specialization by the end of 4th semester. There is a pre-approved list based on your field:

• • Nuclear Reactor Engineering: 22.211, 22.312, and one of (22.39, 22.313, or 22.315)
  • Nuclear Reactor Physics: 22.211, 22.312, and one of (22.212, 22.213, or 22.251)
  • Nuclear Materials: 22.71, 3.20 (thermodynamics), and one of (22.72, 22.74 or 3.21 (kinetics))
  • Fusion: 22.611, 22.62, and one of (22.67, 22.615, or 22.616)
  • Nuclear Science and Technology: 22.51, 8.511, and one of (22.90, 8.333, or 8.421)
  • Nuclear Security and Policy: 6.431, (22.812 or 22.814), and (22.312 or 22.90)

• 2 courses in Advanced Subject (traditionally called "Major"): closely related to your research. Noticed there is no approved list of courses like in the case of the Field of Specialization, instead each individual proposes his or her own subjects. Some courses veteran students have used to satisfy this requirement include (FIXME: ask around for more suggestions):
  
  • Nuclear Reactor Engineering: 22.313 (2-phase flow), 22.314 (structural mechanics), 22.315 (CFD), or sub one out for a course 2 one. 22.251, 22.33, 22.39.
  • Nuclear Reactor Physics: 22.213, 22.251, 22.39.
  • Nuclear Materials: ????
  • Nuclear Fuel Cycle: ????
  • Fusion: (22.63, 22.67, and 22.74)  (22.616, 22.615 and 22.67)
  • Nuclear Science and Technology: ????
  • Nuclear Security and Policy: ????
• 2 courses in Minor: needs to be sufficiently different from your major. Noticed there is no approved list of courses like in the case of the Field of Specialization, instead each individual proposes his or her own subjects.
  

  • Nuclear policy: 22.814, 22.812J

  • Numerical Methods: 18.335 (Intro to Numerical Methods), 16.920 (Numerical Methods for PDEs)

  • Materials: 22.70 (Materials for Nuclear Applications), 3.370 (Manufacture and Use of Structural Materials)

  • Finance:

     

Thanks to our awesome Contributors:

• Nathan Gibson (Nuclear Reactor Physics)
• Silvia Espinosa-Gutiez (Fusion)
• Lulu Li (Nuclear Reactor Physics)
• Rebecca Romatoski (Nuclear Reactor Engineering)
• Brandon Sorbom (Fusion)