Technology & Policy SM Curriculum
The TPP curriculum consists of a number of required core courses in introductory policymaking and leadership, and a number of frameworks course in law, public policy, and economics. These courses serve as the basis for the TPP degree and are supplemented by three or more courses in student’s personal interests in a coherent engineering systems concentration area. The TPP curriculum was designed for completion over the course of two years; however it is possible to accelerate the program. Several students opt to graduate in one and a half years with a very rare number of students completing the degree in one year. A large component of the TPP degree is a research thesis, which typically takes students over a year to complete. Thesis research and writing must count for at least 24 units of the student’s final-year course load. This requirement makes graduating in less than 1.5 years very difficult, unless a student has already started thesis research through an MIT program than might be applicable to TPP. The following is the suggested course track for TPP students completing the degree in two years. 1st Year – Fall 1st Year – Spring Summer Many students remain at MIT for the summer to work as full time Research Assistants for their advisor. Depending on a student’s advisor, this summer work might be required to guarantee funding for the academic year, and students should check with their specific advisor about summer work expectations. 2nd Year – Fall 2nd Year – Spring Engineering Systems Concentration Elective (9-12 units)
ESD.10 Introduction to Technology and Policy (12 units)
15.011 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions (12 units)
ESD.801 Leadership Development Seminar (3 units)
ESD.132 Law, Technology and Public Policy (12 units)
Engineering Systems Concentration Elective (9-12 units)
TPP does not have a requirement for completion of a summer internship or summer courses. However, many students use the summer as an opportunity to intern full-time for an agency/organization of their choice related to technology policy. Each year, TPP funds a limited number of students who find positions as unpaid interns, most often with federal agencies on policymaking in DC. These students are required to complete the Internship Seminar course, ESD.811, the fall semester following their summer internship, in which they share experiences with TPP classmates.
ESD.103 Science, Technology and Public Policy (12 units)
Thesis (12 units)
Engineering Systems Concentration Elective (9-12 units)
ESD.80 Research Seminar (3 units)
Thesis (12 units)Core Courses
ESD.10 Introduction to Technology and Policy (12 units)
ESD.801 Leadership Development Seminar (3 units)
ESD.811 Internship Seminar (3 units – OPTIONAL)
15.011 Economic Analysis for Business Decisions (12 units) The TPP thesis is a major professional work that builds upon the student's concentration. It integrates the technology and policy of an issue, placing the technical problem in context and providing leadership regarding what can and ought to be done. Each student is also required to take a coherent sequence of three graduate-level subjects in technology and policy/social sciences, each valued at a minimum of 9 units. Students are generally free to choose policy courses that best integrate with their individual programs. However, the engineering systems concentration requires approval from both the student’s research supervisor and the TPP administration. Students considering a PhD in TMP or ESD are strongly encouraged to take ESD.71, Engineering Systems Analysis and Design, as a concentration elective. Student concentration areas can range from typical engineering disciplines such as Telecom Networks, Transportation and the Environment, and Materials Engineering to more creative and unique concentration areas such as Electric Energy in Developing Nations, Biotechnology, and Technology Education. Most graduate level subjects offered at MIT can fulfill an engineering systems concentration, given permission of the student’s supervisor and the TPP administration. For a full listing of MIT course offerings, please review the MIT Course Bulletin.
ESD.80 Research Seminar (3 units)
Framework Courses
ESD.132J Law, Technology, and Public Policy (12 units)
ESD.103J Science, Technology, and Public Policy (12 units)Thesis
Thesis work normally spreads over two semesters. The student prepares a thesis proposal in the first semester, submitting it for review by the TPP Thesis Committee no later than the start of the student's final semester at MIT, during which the student does the intensive work on the thesis.Engineering Systems Concentration (30 units)
