Academics
Master’s degree and certificate students attend the integrated core class together through synchronous course delivery, which allows on-campus students and distance students to participate fully in real-time during the class. All student expected to meet the same high academic standards.
Time on Campus
While our programs allow for distance learning, all students come to MIT campus for:
- Our orientation “boot camp” in August – one week for certificate students and two weeks for master’s degree students
- A residency week in January during MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP)
- Several days at the conclusion of the spring semester in May for final presentations
Comparison Chart
| Master’s | Certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or certificate earned | SM, Engineering and Management | Graduate Certificate in Systems and Product Development |
| Time to completion | 12-21 months, depending on degree option | 12 months |
| Coursework | 36 units of integrated core course (36 units) 54 units* of engineering and management coursework | 36 units of integrated core sequence 9 units of capstone project |
| Final project | Thesis completed under supervision of MIT faculty | Capstone project completed with guidance from SDM faculty |
| Time on campus | Residential option: 12-21 months on campus Distance option: minimum of four weeks on campus during the first year (split between August, January, and May) plus one full-time semester on campus | Three weeks on campus (split between August, January, and May) |
| *Note: MIT credit system awards 9-12 units each for most full semester courses |