MIT Subject Listing & Schedule
IAP/Spring 2026 Search Results

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20 subjects found.

6.1020 Software Construction

Introduces fundamental principles and techniques of software development: how to write software that is safe from bugs, easy to understand, and ready for change. Topics include specifications and invariants; testing, test-case generation, and coverage; abstract data types and representation independence; design patterns for object-oriented programming; concurrent programming, including message passing and shared memory concurrency, and defending against races and deadlock; and functional programming with immutable data and higher-order functions. Includes weekly programming exercises and larger group programming projects.

6.2222 Power Electronics Laboratory

 Hands-on introduction to the design and construction of power electronic circuits and motor drives. Laboratory exercises (shared with 6.131 and 6.1311) include the construction of drive circuitry for an electric go-cart, flash strobes, computer power supplies, three-phase inverters for AC motors, and resonant drives for lamp ballasts and induction heating. Basic electric machines introduced including DC, induction, and permanent magnet motors, with drive considerations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments and an extended final project. Enrollment limited.

6.5920 Parallel Computing

Introduction to parallel and multicore computer architecture and programming. Topics include the design and implementation of multicore processors; networking, video, continuum, particle and graph applications for multicores; communication and synchronization algorithms and mechanisms; locality in parallel computations; computational models, including shared memory, streams, message passing, and data parallel; multicore mechanisms for synchronization, cache coherence, and multithreading. Performance evaluation of multicores; compilation and runtime systems for parallel computing. Substantial project required.

9.401 Tools for Robust Science

New tools are being developed to improve credibility, facilitate collaboration, accelerate scientific discovery, and expedite translation of results. Students (i) identify obstacles to conducting robust cognitive and neuroscientific research, (ii) practice using current cutting-edge tools designed to overcome these obstacles by improving scientific practices and incentives, and (iii) critically evaluate these tools' potential and limitations. Example tools investigated include shared pre-registration, experimental design, data management plans, meta-data standards, repositories, FAIR code, open-source data processing pipelines, alternatives to scientific paper formats, alternative publishing agreements, citation audits, reformulated incentives for hiring and promotion, and more. 

11.158 Behavioral Science, AI, and Urban Mobility

Integrates behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and transportation technology to shape travel behavior, design mobility systems and business, and reform transportation policies. Introduces methods to sense travel behavior with new technology and measurements; nudge behavior through perception and preference shaping; design mobility systems and ventures that integrate autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and public transit; and regulate travel with behavior-sensitive transport policies. Challenges students to pilot behavioral experiments and design creative mobility systems, business and policies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

11.382 Water Diplomacy: The Science, Policy, and Politics of Managing Shared Resources

Examines the history and dynamics of international environmental treaty-making, or what is called environmental diplomacy. Emphasizes climate change and other atmospheric, marine resource, global waste management and sustainability-related treaties and the problems of implementing them. Reviews the legal, economic, and political dynamics of managing shared resources, involving civil society on a global basis, and enforcing transboundary agreements. Focuses especially on principles from international relations, international law, environmental management, and negotiation theory as they relate to common-pool resource management.

11.478 Behavioral Science, AI, and Urban Mobility

Integrates behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and transportation technology to shape travel behavior, design mobility systems and business, and reform transportation policies. Introduces methods to sense travel behavior with new technology and measurements; nudge behavior through perception and preference shaping; design mobility systems and ventures that integrate autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and public transit; and regulate travel with behavior-sensitive transport policies. Challenges students to pilot behavioral experiments and design creative mobility systems, business and policies. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

11.S03 Special Subject: Transportation Shaping Sustainable Urbanization: Connections with Behavior, Urban Economics and Planning

Explores changes in the built environment expected from transportation investments, and how they can be used to promote sustainable and equitable cities. Reflects on how notable characteristics of cities can be explained by their historical and current transportation features. Introduces theoretical basis and empirical evidence to analyze the urban transformation autonomous vehicles will bring and how shared mobility services affect travel behavior, and its implications from an urban planning perspective. Lectures interspersed with guest speakers and an optional field trip. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students. Licensed for Fall 2023 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18.

12.900 EAPS First Year Graduate Seminar

Provides a shared experience for first-year graduate students in EAPS and the MIT/ WHOI Joint Program. Facilitates opportunities to interact with senior graduate students and to meet a wide range of faculty.  Familiarizes students with departmental research within the themes of Earth, planets, climate, and life.  Discusses resources, graduate life at MIT, and the path to PhD. 

15.361 Executing Strategy for Results

Provides students an alternative to the mechanistic view of strategy execution that reframes an organization as a complex network of teams continuously adjusting to market conditions and to other teams. Introduces the Flexible Execution Model, consisting of seven elements; strategy for execution, shared context, goals 2.0, resource re-allocation, distributed leaders, top leaders, and execution culture that together shape how well an organization executes its strategy. Discusses a set of practical tools, based on research and field-tested, that help leaders achieve their organizations' strategic priorities. Explores novel ways to use data including surveys, Glassdoor reviews, and other sources to measure strategy execution and identify what is and is not working. Preference given to Master of Business Administration students.

15.878 Sustainable Business Lab

Integrative experience that explores the complex set of circumstances and choices leaders must face in light of uncertain environmental and social consequences. Drawing on academic and practical experiences, students engage in a semester-long project focused on a host organization's sustainability challenge. Peer-to-peer learning accompanies in-class cases, simulations, and role-playing to provide students with practical skills for application in projects and for careers beyond. A shared deep dive into a systemic challenge provides a chance for students across programs to reflect and engage in dialogue about the ethical landscape of business. Through personal reflection and career visioning, students clarify their own personal commitments to leadership and change.

16.460 Algorithmic Human-Robot Interaction
(New)

Explores algorithmic approaches to human-robot interaction through a human-centered lens. Topics include: mathematical models of human behavior, inverse reinforcement learning, imitation learning, active learning, explainable AI, and shared autonomy. Emphasizes recent research and foundational methods in the field. Combines lectures with student-led paper presentations, discussions, and short programming assignments. Students complete an individual research project or literature survey to engage with current challenges. Familiarity with probability, sequential decision-making, and Python programming is encouraged. Designed for graduate students; advanced undergraduates may enroll with instructor approval.

EC.703 Entrepreneurship for the Idealist

Examines the nature of contemporary and historical injustices: their particularities, shared dynamics, tropes, myths, durability, and shape-shifting nature. Studies how innovation, technology, markets, and social enterprises relate to justice. Explores accompaniment — journeying, often literally, with the wronged until right is done — and its success in a broad range of settings. Instruction provided in designing accompaniment-centered approaches by picking a societal challenge, surveying and critiquing past efforts, and proposing a design of their own. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

EC.783 Entrepreneurship for the Idealist

Examines the nature of contemporary and historical injustices: their particularities, shared dynamics, tropes, myths, durability, and shape-shifting nature. Studies how innovation, technology, markets, and social enterprises relate to justice. Explores accompaniment — journeying, often literally, with the wronged until right is done — and its success in a broad range of settings. Instruction provided in designing accompaniment-centered approaches by picking a societal challenge, surveying and critiquing past efforts, and proposing a design of their own. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

21T.110 Physical Improvisation: Bodies in Motion

Explores the realities of the body in space and motion - interacting with gravity, momentum, inertia, alignment, negative space, one's imagination, one's body, other bodies, the present room and rooms from memory, geometry, stillness, and more. By releasing tension and abandoning the notion of pre-planning, students experience a natural, spontaneous flow of movement, opening themselves up to, and diving into, whatever might happen. Develops alertness in order to work in an energetic state of physical disorientation, self-correcting what doesn't work and reinforcing what does on the spot, discovering physical/emotional truths and shared moments that leave students aware, centered, incredibly present, and sharply alive. Students taking graduate version will complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 per section.

21T.232 Producing Podcasts

Students write and produce a pilot episode of a narrative podcast (about fifteen minutes in length); sources come from interviews or research that students conduct. At the start of the term, students pitch possible stories. Discussions of selected episodes of narrative podcasts such as Serial, Homecoming, and This American Life. Introduces the basics of podcast recording with a primer on using Logic Pro X and hardware like the Apogee Duet. Students record and edit a rough draft of their podcast using provided portable recording studio kits. Podcasts shared with the larger MIT community at the Podcast Listening Room at the end of term. Students taking graduate version complete alternate assignments. Enrollment limited.

21T.510 Physical Improvisation: Bodies in Motion
(New)

Explores the realities of the body in space and motion - interacting with gravity, momentum, inertia, alignment, negative space, one's imagination, one's body, other bodies, the present room and rooms from memory, geometry, stillness, and more. By releasing tension and abandoning the notion of pre-planning, students experience a natural, spontaneous flow of movement, opening themselves up to, and diving into, whatever might happen. Develops alertness in order to work in an energetic state of physical disorientation, self-correcting what doesn't work and reinforcing what does on the spot, discovering physical/emotional truths and shared moments that leave students aware, centered, incredibly present, and sharply alive. Students taking graduate version will complete additional assignments. Limited to 20 per section.

21T.532 Producing Podcasts
(New)

Students write and produce a pilot episode of a narrative podcast (about fifteen minutes in length); sources come from interviews or research that students conduct. At the start of the term, students pitch possible stories. Discussions of selected episodes of narrative podcasts such as Serial, Homecoming, and This American Life. Introduces the basics of podcast recording with a primer on using Logic Pro X and hardware like the Apogee Duet. Students record and edit a rough draft of their podcast using provided portable recording studio kits. Podcasts shared with the larger MIT community at the Podcast Listening Room at the end of term. Students taking graduate version complete alternate assignments. Enrollment limited.

CMS.628J Advanced Identity Representation

Studies and develops computational identity systems for games, social media, virtual worlds, and computer-based artwork. An interdisciplinary set of readings (cognitive science, computer science, art, and sociology) looks at both the underlying technology and the social/cultural aspects of identity. Includes topics such as developing improved characters, avatars, agents, social networking profiles, and online accounts. Engages students in on-going research projects. Explores how social categories are formed in digital media, including gender, class, and ethnicity, along with everyday social categories (such as those based on personality or shared media preferences). Experience required in one of the following: computer programming, graphic design, web development, interaction design, or social science research methods. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

CMS.828 Advanced Identity Representation

Studies and develops computational identity systems for games, social media, virtual worlds, and computer-based artwork. An interdisciplinary set of readings (cognitive science, computer science, art, and sociology) looks at both the underlying technology and the social/cultural aspects of identity. Includes topics such as developing improved characters, avatars, agents, social networking profiles, and online accounts. Engages students in on-going research projects. Explores how social categories are formed in digital media, including gender, class, and ethnicity, along with everyday social categories (such as those based on personality or shared media preferences). Experience required in one of the following: computer programming, graphic design, web development, interaction design, or social science research methods. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.