What you need to know

Minor programs consist of five to seven subjects, with a typical program including six. You must designate your minor between the end of your sophomore year and Add Date one full term prior to receiving your degree. Minors must be associated with an SB degree program and cannot be awarded independently. You may not minor in the area of your major and you may not earn more than two minors.

Minors are also not allowed in either field of composite degrees, such as the SB in Mathematics with Computer Science or the SB in Computer Science and Molecular Biology. The Committee on Curricula (CoC) has the authority to determine whether a specific combination is permissible.

Key points to remember:

  • A minor may include subjects that count toward the General Institute Requirements (GIRs).
  • Subjects taken for a minor may also count toward your departmental degree requirements with approval from your major department and the CoC.
  • The minor advisor may approve transfer credit for your program, but at least half of your minor subjects must be MIT subjects.
  • Of the six subjects required for a HASS minor, at most five may count toward your eight-subject HASS Requirement and only one may count toward the distribution component.

What you need to do

  • Meet with the minor advisor in your chosen field to plan your program of study and complete an application. Bring a copy of your unofficial transcript to the meeting.
  • Review the additional guidelines and procedures for minoring in a HASS field.
  • File your minor completion form by the end of the third week of the term in which you plan to receive your SB degree, even if you are taking subjects in your final term to complete the minor.
  • Late submissions are charged a $50 fee and may jeopardize your minor.

Minor fields

There are a wide variety of minors for you to choose from. Subject requirements are listed in the MIT Bulletin under each department. For information on minors in fields within HASS, Management, or Energy Studies, visit these links:

For information on minors in Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Architecture, contact the undergraduate office in your field of interest.

Field

Undergraduate office

Architecture

Room 7-337

Astronomy

Room 4-315

Biology

Room 68-120

Biomedical Engineering

Room 16-267

Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Room 46-2005

Chemistry

Room 6-205

Civil Engineering

Room 1-281

Computer Science Room 38-476 (or online)

Design

Room 7-304

Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

Room 54-910

Environmental Engineering Science

Room 1-281

Materials Science and Engineering

Room 6-107

Mathematics

Room 2-110

Mechanical Engineering

Room 1-110

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Room 24-102

Physics

Room 4-315

Toxicology and Environmental Health

Room 56-651