Dual Degrees
Many Technology and Policy students graduate with two Master of Science degrees, a consequence of the fact that the TPP curriculum has been designed to develop competence in two domains - one in technology and one in policy. About one-third of the class gets both their Technology and Policy diploma and another in either a specific field of Engineering, Science, or Urban Studies and Planning.
Completing two Master of Science degrees is relatively straightforward for students in Technology and Policy Program. The basic MIT requirement for two degrees is a minimum number of credits (132 MIT units, 66 in each program). Moreover, MIT allows students to submit one thesis for two degrees.
Students can thus obtain two diplomas through a single integrated program of study. Since a typical course of study in Technology and Policy calls for roughly 90 MIT units, getting two master's degrees requires a student to take a handful of additional subjects.
Students must also meet the specific subject requirements of each curriculum. They must therefore plan carefully. In meeting these requirements, technical or policy/management subjects that are a part of the approved TPP course of study can count toward the second masters.
Students wishing two degrees must petition for permission to do so. This must be done no later than the semester preceding the one in which the student intends to graduate. In practice, this means three things:
- Students must work out the details of their programs;
- Students must obtain the signed endorsement of each department for their program, and
- Students must be admitted to each program.
