A student may request approval to pursue masters degrees in two fields simultaneously, using a single thesis or two separate theses to meet the degree requirements for each department. A student who chooses this academic degree path is thus pursuing dual degrees, as opposed to an interdisciplinary degree in two or more research fields. The link to the dual degree petition form is at the bottom of the page.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to participate in a dual degree program, students must meet the admissions criteria of both departments. The student must submit to each department a statement of educational objectives along with a detailed program plan that includes a list of subjects for each term and a description of the proposed thesis topic(s). The total program must meet with the approval of each department.
Petition deadline
Once the student has completed departmental instructions, they must submit a dual degree petition describing the program to the Office of Graduate Education by the first day of classes of their fourth regular (fall or spring) semester for review, approval, and filing with the Registrar’s Office. Students in the Masters of Architecture program may submit a dual degree petition to the OGE by the last day of classes in their fourth regular semester. Departments may have earlier internal deadlines for admission to a secondary program.
The detailed program plan must include a list of subjects and credit units for each degree. Later changes to this program plan must be approved by both departments and submitted as an update to the original petition. The secondary department may rescind their approval to participate in the dual degree program if the department determines that the student has deviated from the original degree plan without approval, or is not making satisfactory progress toward degree requirements.
** Please note that after August 31, 2026, the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science will no longer accept dual degree petitions from students in other departments.
Duration
Students pursuing dual master’s degrees must receive both degrees on the same degree list (September, February, or May) and they must complete both degrees within the standard time to degree for their primary program, or with one additional regular term. Enrollment beyond one additional term may be considered as an exception and requires the approval of both departments.
Tuition and funding
Students pursuing dual degrees will abide by the terms of funding set by their primary and secondary programs.
Dual degree students enrolled in programs the Provost’s office has designated as professional master’s programs are not eligible to receive the summer tuition subsidy and will be charged tuition for all terms that correspond with the professional degree program rate. These programs are: masters programs in the Sloan School of Management, System
Design & Management, Supply Chain Management, Real Estate Development, and Data,
Economics and Design of Policy.
Single thesis
This degree plan is intended for qualified graduate students who seek academic recognition in two professional fields that, although distinct, have a substantial intellectual connection. The degree plan requires a balanced choice of academic subjects, made with the advice of each of two departments, and by selection of the thesis topic.
To satisfy the minimum requirements for the program, the student must complete (in addition to thesis units) at least 132 subject units, of which 66 units are unique to each department. In those instances where a department or program has established unit requirements in excess of the foregoing minimums the department or program requirements prevail. Such excess of units in one department may not be applied to the program in the other department.
The thesis research must be done under the supervision of an approved member of one of the two participating departments, with the other department providing a thesis reader. The thesis must be of superior quality. The single thesis cannot be used to satisfy the thesis requirements of any additional graduate degree programs.
The dual-degree Leaders for Global Operations is an established program that confers both an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and SM degree from one of seven engineering programs. Students enrolled in the LGO program are not required to submit a petition to the OGE.
Unit exceptions for MCP and Architecture students
A student pursuing a Master in City Planning in addition to a second master’s degree must have both programs approved in the usual way, but the subject units for the MCP can be lowered at the discretion of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning.
Students who wish to qualify for a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development (MSRED), in addition to a Master of Architecture (MArch) or Master in City Planning (MCP) degree, will be required to satisfy all the subject requirements of each program. Specifically, candidates for the MArch degree must take 164 subject units and MCP degree candidates must take 126 subject units. Individuals who wish to qualify for the MSRED also must take at least 66 subject units unique to this program. Students may submit a single thesis provided it is acceptable to the graduate committee of each program.
Two theses
Occasionally an individual, already admitted for graduate study, may wish to pursue simultaneously two distinct master’s programs, fulfilling the thesis requirement with a separate thesis for each degree program. In such cases, the usual unit requirements for each program apply separately. Registration for two degrees is contingent upon approval by the second department of a request for admission. Such a request can be initiated by a petition approved by both departments and approved by the Office of Graduate Education.
Submit a Dual Degree Petition
