Teaching and Dissertation

Dissertation
Upon satisfying the core and field requirements, the Ph.D. candidate embarks on original research culminating in a completed dissertation. Thesis writers are required to participate in the workshop most germane to the subject of their thesis. Upon agreeing on a topic with a primary thesis supervisor, a secondary thesis supervisor will be chosen by the student, subject to the approval of the student's Graduate Registration Officer. A third faculty reader will be appointed by the Graduate Registration Officer in consultation with the candidate after the thesis has been approved by the primary and secondary supervisors. The third faculty reader will have as her/his main function the unitary reading of the complete final draft of the thesis. These three faculty members will be the candidate's thesis committee and are responsible for its acceptance and final defense. In order to give adequate time for the final thesis review and for revision, the completed draft must be submitted for final review by the third faculty reader at least one month before the final MIT dates for submission of a satisfactory grade on the dissertation.

Teaching
Teaching is not a required part of the Ph.D. program, but is regarded by the Department as an important part of the graduate experience for students interested in academic careers. Opportunities for undergraduate teaching are available for most students.