Master of Architecture (MArch) Thesis

Deadlines

Fall Term 2023 Theses Deadlines (February 2024 degree candidates)

Friday, February 10, 2023: Registration Day (Penultimate Term)

  • Deadline for Dual Degree students to submit Dual Degree petition to institute.
    • E/signed OGE General Petition due to kbertin@mit.edu
      • All signatures must be on a single form
      • Attachments must include dual degree coursework plan and indication of co-thesis advisor in secondary department (some dual degrees require additional paperwork)

Tuesday, September 4, 2023: Registration Date

Deadline to Submit Thesis Committee Members: Email kbertin@mit.edu with names and email addresses of Thesis Committee members

  • You and your committee will then be sent a DocuSign version of the Thesis Proposal Form to fill in and collect esignatures
  • Each DocuSign form must be generated separately and cannot be created until all email addresses are collected

Friday, September 8, 2023

  • Registration: 4.THG, 24 units
  • Degree list: Put yourself on the February degree list by applying for a degree
  • 9am ESigned Thesis Proposal Form due via DocuSign (this includes a working thesis title and signatures; it does not include an abstract)
    • All signatures must be on a single form (this includes a working thesis title and signatures; it does not include an abstract)
    • Joint Thesis writers must also submit an OGE General Petition to kbertin@mit.edu, including a statement of contribution from each writer (see Joint Thesis for details)

September 11–15, 2023: Proposal Review (scheduled in conjunction with Thesis Coordinator)

October 2–6, 2023 (exact date TBD): Critic Requests due to Thesis Coordinator

Week 7 of term: International Students Only

  • Earliest date to begin OPT authorization process

October 16–20, 2023 (exact date TBD): Midterm Reviews

  • With invited internal critics

Friday, November 3, 2023: Thesis need requests due to Thesis Coordinator

  • Available materials:
    • 3 iPads without tripods (STOA)
    • 3 TV screens on wheels (Architecture)
      • 4: 65”, 2: 70”, 2: 55”, 1: 47” from studios (7-434 65” * 2 70” 55” 47”  7-403 65”  3-415 70” 55”  10-485 65”)
    • TV Wall in Silverman Room (Media Lab)
    • 1 Projector in Lecture Hall (Media Lab)
    • 4 projectors in the Multi-Purpose Room (2 each on 2 walls adjacent to each other) (Media Lab)
    • Banquet tables (Media Lab)
  • Notes on space:  We are unable to pinup anywhere except on the pinup boards specifically rented for the event and nothing may be placed on the glass floor in the Winter Garden: Media Lab Space Restrictions. We work to accommodate accessibility principles (no less than 36” between doorways or around presentations to allow for access, etc.): ADA compliance.
  • There are 48 pinup panels and 42 lights, which can be attached to the top of individual panels

Week 10 of term (exact date TBD): Website Materials due to cohort's Dropbox

  • Please note that we don’t expect what you put in the folder to be finalized; we will collect final content towards the end of the semester
    • 1. A text document (Word, Pages, txt, or rtf), including Thesis Title (exact formatting), Name(s) as you would like it/them displayed on the thesis website (i.e. Jim or James), Committee (advisor and readers indicated), Thesis statement (200-500 words)
    • 2. Media 5 - 10 images (JPEG or PNG), each file as compressed as possible, Thesis PNG ‘icon' or ‘logo' (i.e. a ‘cut out’ image without a background, maximum dimension 250px for main page), Audio recording (MP3) of you reading your thesis statement

November 6–10, 2023: Penultimate Review (scheduled in conjunction with Thesis Coordinator)

Monday, November 27, 2023

Wednesday, December 6, 2023: noon

  • Review pamphlet proof due. This is for typos only: this will not be a time to switch images or content

Week 15 of term (exact date TBD)

  • Final website (https://marchthesis.mit.edu/) submissions due via cohort's Dropbox
  • Note video files are not compatible with the platform, so moving media is restricted to GIF-type files
  • Please include any images, thesis statement, and roles/names of thesis advisor and readers

Friday, December 15, 2023

  • Last date to change thesis title via WebSIS
  • You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final thesis must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023: late afternoon/evening

  • Load-In (details below from Lord Jim):
    • The "All clear" to start bringing your materials over will probably be after 2pm (may be as late as 5pm!).
    • MIT ID card will allow you to swipe your way through the main doors to E14 at any hour and use any E14 elevator card reader. There is a freight elevator by the loading dock at the rear of the 1st floor.
    • A representative sample only of Long Lounge model bases will be brought over by truck. These will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in E14 6th floor. If you have some special requirement or need for a particular shape or size base, then contact Lord Jim well in advance.
    • If you have a large, heavy model that would be best transported by truck, please contact Lord Jim well in advance. It must be ready for pickup on (date TBD), at 8:00am in one of the thesis studios.
    • Anything that we transport will be returned by truck on (date TBD).
    • PLEASE NOTE: OUR TRANSPORTATION OF YOUR MODEL IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE WILL NOT BE REPSONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSS.  We will make every effort to move your work carefully, but these are movers, not art conservators.
    • The E14-670 catering kitchen will be used as a storage area for your materials. Do not block the circulation path or the rear door of the freight elevator.

Week 15 of term (exact date TBD)

  • Documentation 3-329 with professional photographer TBA schedule
    • Please arrive 15 mins early to the space. Outside, you will find a table and brushes for dusting off your model.  Please clean and assemble your model (including the bottom) outside of the space before you enter the room.
    • A single speck of dust on the camera lens can trigger the sensors and ruin not only your photos, but those of your colleagues.
    • If you have any questions or concerns, please email arch-comm@mit.edu.

Thursday, December 21, 2023: Final Review & Load-Out

  • With invited external critics
  • From Lord Jim: ALL MATERIALS MUST BE REMOVED FROM E14 BY 8:00AM ON 12/22. We are under a lot of pressure to return these rooms promptly to a clean and empty condition.  YOUR COOPERATION IS EXPECTED AND APPRECIATED.

First week of January (exact date TBD)

  • Thesis Formatting Q&A via Zoom

Friday, January 5, 2024: 9am deadline to submit theses to the Department Thesis Submission Tool

(choose "Single Sign On" and login with your MIT email address)

  • Note: Your final thesis book must be reviewed and approved by thesis advisor(s) before submission to the Department Thesis Submission Tool.
  • This is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly if adjustments are needed. Please do not email separately.
  • Dual degree candidates must abide by their home department's deadlines and protocols (for example, Architecture cannot accept digital copies of the thesis with signatures).

Friday, January 19, 2023

  • All theses must be cleared by each department (multiple departments for dual degrees) and submitted to the Institute.
  • If a thesis is not approved by both thesis advisor and the Department this point, the student may be pulled from the February degree list.

Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission

Important: Consult the Formatting, Specifications and Thesis Submission information page.

Spring Term 2024 Theses Deadlines (May 2024 degree candidates)

Friday, September 8, 2023: Registration Day (Penultimate Term)

  • Deadline for Dual Degree students to submit Dual Degree petition to institute.
    • E/signed OGE General Petition due to kbertin@mit.edu
      • All signatures must be on a single form
      • Attachments must include dual degree coursework plan and indication of co-thesis advisor in secondary department (some dual degrees require additional paperwork)

Wednesday, November 22, 2023: Drop Date (Penultimate Term)

  • Deadline to Submit Thesis Committee Members
    • Email kbertin@mit.edu with names and email addresses of Thesis Committee members
      • You and your committee will then be sent a DocuSign version of the Thesis Proposal Form to fill in and collect esignatures
      • Each DocuSign form must be generated separately and cannot be created until all email addresses are collected

Friday, December 15, 2023: End of Reading Period (Penultimate Term)

  • 9am Thesis Proposal Form due via DocuSign

Thursday, December 1, 2023 – Monday, January 8, 2024

  • PreRegistration: 4.THG, 24 units

Second week of January (exact date TBD)

  • MIT Library hosting "Tools & Tips for Thesis Authors" (link forthcoming)

Friday, February 2, 2024

  • Registration deadline. Note: you will be unable to register until your completed Thesis Proposal Form has been received with all esignatures.
  • Degree list: Put yourself on the May degree list by applying for a degree

Week 2 of term: International Students Only

  • Earliest date to begin OPT authorization process

Week 3 of the term (exact date TBD): Proposal Review

Friday, March 8, 2024: Add Date

  • Critic Requests due via GoogleForm by 9am

March 20–24, 2024 (exact date TBD): Midterm Review

Friday, April 12, 2024

  • Last date to change thesis title via WebSIS
  • You must return to the online site of your application and add or make a change to your thesis title by this deadline. The title on your final thesis must be an exact match of the one you submit on your Application for Degree. If you add your title after this date, you will be charged a late fee.

Week 12 of the term (exact date TBD): Penultimate Review

Tuesday, April 23, 2024: Drop Date

  • Thesis need requests due via GoogleForm by 9am
  • Submit digital information and images about your thesis for the Final Review Pamphlet via GoogleForm by 9am

Week 13 of the term (exact date TBD)

  • Review pamphlet proof.This for typos only: this will not be a time to switch images or content.

Monday, April 29, 2024: 9am department thesis deadline via the Department Thesis Submission Tool

(choose "Single Sign On" and enter your MIT email address).

  • Note: Your final thesis book must be reviewed and approved by thesis advisor(s) before submission to the Department Thesis Submission Tool.
  • This is for the purpose of making certain the document is in compliance with MIT archive requirements. You will be contacted quickly via the portal if adjustments are needed. Please do not email separately.
  • Dual degree candidates must abide by their home department's deadlines and protocols (for example, Architecture cannot accept digital copies of the thesis with signatures).

Friday, May 10, 2024

  • All theses must be cleared by each department (multiple departments for dual degrees) and submitted to the Institute.
  • If a thesis is not approved by this point, the student may be pulled from the May degree list.

May 15 or 16, 2024 (exact date TBD): Final Reviews

  • With invited external critics

Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission

Important: Consult the Formatting, Specifications and Thesis Submission information page.

MArch Thesis Contacts