molliebatmit

All students at MIT have to take the GIRs, which include a semester of chemistry (3.091/5.111/5.112), a semester of biology (7.012/3/4), two semesters of calculus (18.01 and 18.02 or variants thereof), and two semesters of physics (8.01 and 8.02 or variants thereof). There are placement tests for chemistry and biology, a 4 or 5 on AP Calculus gets you credit for 18.01, and a 5 on AP Physics C gets you credit for 8.01.

Gratisfaction

Do current MIT students think that GIRs are fundamental and necessary to an MIT education? Like I said before, a rigorous study of the social sciences is very quantitative and is not for the mathematically faint of heart. Wouldn't the GIRs just turn off some excellent students who intend to focus on applied mathematics in the study of social sciences? On a graduate level, MIT is untouchable in that field, so shouldn't the institution do something greater to attract those students at an undergraduate level? I know Northwestern has a competitive program called "Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences" and Dartmouth has a major in "Mathematical Social Sciences".

cellardweller

The issue of the GIRs has been debated by faculty and the administration for decades with some minor changes over the years, mostly in the area of the humanities. In terms of the science GIRs, while there has been some suggestions for their elimination (most frequently chem and bio), most such proposals were rejected. These classes are prerequisites for a number of majors and taking them out of the GIRs would force departments to integrate these classes into their programs. It would also force students to choose their majors freshman year which is against the philosophy of MIT which encourages exploration. Most importantly, it would largely eliminate the shared freshman experience which is one the most unique features of an MIT undergraduate education. My D was no physics fan but going through the 8.01/8.02 sequence with all her friends made the experience much more bearable. Finally, MIT prides itself on providing its students with a broad scientific background essential to the understanding of any increasingly complex environment. Because of these various factors, combined with the fact that very few MIT students are pure HASS majors (most HASS majors are double majors in a science or engineering field), it is unlikely the current approach will change. There has actually been discussions about expanding the GIRs to include at least one computer science or introductory engineering class.

Gratisfaction

I completely agree with the shared freshman experience and a strong background in the sciences, but MIT has in the past boasted of its superb economics and linguistics departments available to undergrads. Certainly, this is true. What I can't get past is the fact that they are not attracting students that would shine in those departments simply because a) those students weren't outstanding in the maths or sciences as high schoolers or b) they don't want to go through the grind of taking the extremely intense GIR science courses. Nothing wrong with the GIRs, but how is the school supposed to attract the brightest minds with various academic interests if it's not marketable to a large proportion of high school students? Yes, MIT is based on European polytechnic universities, but MIT can also attract many students who may not distinguish themselves in the maths and sciences that could still bring a lot to campus and succeed in majors such as economics, urban planning and anthropology. These are quant majors that can get difficult but how many students who have won "Distinguished Mathematician" awards in high school are looking for careers in urban planning? I venture to say not many. If by decreasing the intensity of GIRs they are attracting mathematically-inclined minds that would otherwise shy away from the intense MIT curriculum, would that not be a winning situation for the school?

cellardweller

MIT is getting more than enough mathematically inclined minds and I seriously doubt any oustanding math students would be deterred from applying because they have to take a few science classes. As far as admitting students who can't handle reasonably advanced mathematics, that is not simply compatible with its core mission. Even modern economics is highly quantitative (n large part because of the contribution of MIT to the field) and no top graduate school will admit students in their PhD programs without a strong mathematics background. It is precisely the fact that ALL students at MIT have gone through a rigorous math and science training that makes the degree so appealing to employers and graduate schools. There are are no "light" majors at MIT and there will never be. For those who can't handle the rigor of MIT there is always Harvard!