Graduate Thesis

The thesis comprises an original investigation, including a written report in English, on a subject approved by the Department of Architecture in advance. The Institute requires that each graduate student research and write an individual thesis and submit final copies to the Institute as a permanent record. In order for a degree to be awarded, the department must receive two copies of the thesis in accordance with the Specifications for Thesis Preparation published by the MIT Libraries Institute Archives.

Thesis work in all master’s degree programs in the Department of Architecture extends over two to three terms. Thesis work in doctoral programs extends over four to six terms. Registration for thesis and pre-thesis subjects differs by degree program.

The thesis process begins with one or more terms of thesis preparation and ends with one or more terms of thesis. Thesis registration (4.THG) for all programs begins once the thesis supervisor and/or committee have approved the thesis proposal.

Thesis Preparation

The objective of registering for thesis preparation is to produce an acceptable thesis proposal. Students in every degree program register for the thesis preparation subject(s) specific to their program.

4.189, Preparation for MArch Thesis, graded A-F.9-H-level units. A class taken the penultimate semester of the program.

4.290, SMArchS Pre-Thesis Preparation, graded P/D/F, 3 H-level units. Taken in the second semester of the program. The instructor is determined by area of study. 4.290 is a prerequisite for
4.288, Preparation for SMArchS Thesis, graded P/D/F, 9 H-level units. 4.288 is an independent study subject taken the third semester of the program and graded by the thesis advisor.

4.481, Building Technology Seminar, graded P/D/F, 3 H-level units. All SMBT students are required to register for 4.481 during the first term of the program. The thesis proposal is expected to be a product of this seminar, but the student may register for 4.488 to complete the proposal.
4.488, Preparation for SMBT Thesis, graded P/D/F, H-level, variable units. 4.488 is an independent study subject graded by the thesis advisor and taken the second term of the program, if necessary to complete the thesis proposal.

4.388, Preparation for SMVisS Thesis, graded P/D/F, 3 H-level units. A class taken in the second semester of the program.
4.389, SMVisS Thesis Tutorial, graded A-F, 9 H-level units, taken in the third semester after completion of 4.388. Independent research with regularly scheduled presentations and critiques supplemented by individual meetings with thesis advisor.

Doctoral Programs

4.481, Building Technology Seminar, graded P/D/F, 3 H-level units. All BT/PhD students must register for 4.481 during the first term of the program. The thesis proposal is expected to be a product of this seminar, but the student may register for 4.489 to complete the proposal.
4.489, Preparation for Building Technology PhD Thesis, graded P/D/F, H-level variable units. An independent study subject graded by the thesis advisor and taken the second term of the program, if necessary to complete the thesis proposal.

4.589, Preparation for Design and Computation PhD Thesis, graded P/D/F, variable units. An optional independent study subject graded by the thesis advisor and generally taken after coursework is completed. 4.589 is taken as preparation for the general examination and/or the dissertation proposal.

4.689, Preparation for History, Theory and Criticism PhD Thesis, graded P/D/F, variable units. Optional independent study graded by the thesis advisor and generally taken after coursework is completed. 4.689 is taken as preparation for the qualifying paper, general examination and/or the dissertation proposal. Students in this program do not register for thesis (4.THG) until all requirements except thesis have been completed.

Thesis Registration—4.THG

Once the thesis proposal is approved and the degree administrators have been notified, students register for thesis and continue to do so each term until graduation. The number of units varies by degree program. (However, upon submission of the thesis, 12 units of the grade awarded for 4.THG are entered into the student’s cumulative grade point average.)

MArch students Register for 24 units of 4.THG. Except for architectural design studio, other subjects needed to complete the degree requirements may be taken simultaneously.

Five reviews of student work lead to the final thesis. The department prepares a detailed MArch review schedule prior to the fall term:

Content Review—Week 1
Schematic Design Review—Week 4
Public Mid-Review—Week 8
Penultimate Review—Week 11
Final Review—Week 15

SMArchS students register for 36 units of 4.THG in their fourth and final term. All subjects needed to complete the degree (except architecture design studio) may be taken simultaneously.

Two major reviews of the student's thesis work are held with the advisor(s) and all readers—the first in the fourth week of term, the second in the ninth week. The department degree administrator schedules reviews. SMArchS Thesis Proposal Form

SMBT students register for 4.THG upon approval of the thesis proposal and continue to do so each term until graduation. Units will vary according to the number of other subjects being taken. A normal course load for a term is not more than 48 credit units.

SMBT students are expected to schedule a content review directly with the thesis advisor to take place near the end of the final term. At this point the thesis should be substantially complete; the content review marks the point at which the student may turn to production of the final thesis.

SMVisS students register for 48 units of 4.THG in their fourth and final term. Thesis is taken in conjunction with 4.390, Visual Arts Independent Studio, which is taken each term. Thesis reviews are scheduled within the forum of 4.390, which is restricted to SMVisS students.

PhD students register for 48 units of 4.THG for terms in which they are resident and not taking other subjects. Students who have been granted nonresident status register for 36 units of 4THG only. (Nonresident status is not permitted in the term during which the thesis is submitted.)

Regular meetings with members of the dissertation committee to review thesis progress is expected and left to the student to schedule. At the conclusion of the thesis, PhD students are required to hold an oral defense of their dissertation. This defense is scheduled directly with the thesis committee, and the date is reported to the degree administrator.

Policy on Incompletes and Thesis Semester

MArch, SMArchS and SMVisS students entering thesis term may have no more than one incomplete in a subject required for the degree, and that incomplete can be no older than the term previous to thesis.

Students with several incompletes and/or incompletes from terms further back will be denied registration until those subjects are completed and graded. This policy applies to subjects required by curriculum or needed for units toward the degree.

Policy on Credit and Thesis

MArch students must have their curriculum credits in order by the end of the thesis prep semester. No substitutions or petitions for advanced standing or credit will be accepted or processed during the thesis term.

Thesis for Dual Degrees

Thesis research for dual degrees must be done under the supervision of an approved member of one of the two participating departments, with the other department providing a co-advisor or thesis reader. Students expecting to receive two advanced degrees must submit all thesis materials to the department in which they register during their final semester at MIT and are bound by the thesis specifications and deadlines of that department.

Thesis Guidelines and Deadlines

Specifications for Thesis Preparation is published by the MIT Libraries Institute Archives to assist students in the preparation of the thesis document. The Institute is committed to the preservation of the student’s thesis because it is both a requirement of the MIT degree and a record of original research.

The department upholds the requirements of the Institute specifications. In addition, the Department of Architecture requires that each thesis contain a page listing the names and titles of each member of the thesis committee. This page is to be inserted between the title page and the abstract. Students should review the thesis checklist before submitting the thesis to the department degree administrator.

At the beginning of the final thesis term, all students must file an online Application for Advanced Degree at MIT WebSIS. The deadline is the end of the first week of term.

Graduate Policies and Procedures can be found on a website provided by the Graduate Students Office. This document offers additional information on the thesis process, including joint theses, restrictions on thesis publication, patent protection, privacy and security, intellectual property policy and thesis holds.

The deadline for submitting the approved, archival copies of the thesis to the department is set by the Institute and can be found on the MIT Academic Calendar.

All theses are submitted to the department degree administrators:

Master’s programs: Cynthia Stewart, Room 7-337, 617 253-4408, stewart@mit.edu

Doctoral programs: Renée Caso, Room 7-337, 617 253-7792, yammie@mit.edu

Quick Links

Degree Administrators
Graduate Policies and Procedures
MArch thesis review schedule
MIT Academic Calendar
Nonresident Request Form
SMArchS Thesis Proposal Form
Specifications for Thesis Preparation
Thesis Checklist
WebSIS