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If you entered before Fall 2013, refer to Old PhD Requirements (entering before Fall 2013) instead. Otherwise precede...

You should refer to http://web.mit.edu/nse/education/grad/phd.html for the up-to-date detailed requirements for degree programs. This site meants to supplement the published requirements through veteran students' experience. This page does not include all the details and exceptions etc as provided by the NSE page, so you should check the NSE for full details.

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 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 22.39
    • Nuclear Reactor Physics: 22.211, 22.312 and 22.212 (EOY)
    • Nuclear Materials: 22.71, 22.74 (new), and either 22.72 (EOY) or 3.21
    • Nuclear Fuel Cycle: 22.211, 22.251 (EOY) and 22.78
    • Fusion: 22.611, 22.62, and one of 22.67, 22.615, or 22.616
    • Nuclear Science and Technology: 22.51 and two out of (8.511, 8.333, 8.421)
    • Nuclear Security and Policy: Select three out of (22.251, 22.78, 22.812, 22.814)
  • 2 courses in Advanced Subject (traditionally called "Major"): closely related to your research. 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 (maybe?)
    • Nuclear Materials: ????
    • Nuclear Fuel Cycle: ????
    • Fusion: 22.63, 22.67, 22.74
    • Nuclear Science and Technology: ????
    • Nuclear Security and Policy: ????
  • 2 courses in Minor: needs to be sufficiantly different from your major.

    • 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
  • Lulu Li
  • Rebecca Romatoski
  • Brandon Sorbom (Fusion)

 

 
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