Master of Science in Art, Culture and Technology (SMACT)

Special instructions for SMACT Thesis Students

Thesis is taken in conjunction with 4.390, Art, Culture and Technology Studio, which is taken each term, and 4.389, SMACT Thesis Tutorial, which is taken the final two terms. Thesis reviews are scheduled within the forum of 4.390, which is restricted to SMACT students.

Deadlines

Fall 2024 Thesis Deadlines

No off-cycle SMACT students graduating February 2025

Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission

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

Spring 2025 Thesis Deadlines

Wednesday, November 20, 2024: Drop Date

Date: End of Fall Semester

  • Last day to submit twenty-page thesis outline to thesis committee

Friday, January 24, 2025

  • First Draft of thesis due to advisor via email.

Friday, February 7, 2025

  • Registration for thesis, 24 units of 4.THG
  • Degree list: Put yourself on the May degree list by applying for a degree
  • Thesis committee (advisor and readers) must meet with the student in the first 2 weeks of the semester to agree on a thesis plan

Monday, March 17 – Friday, March 21, 2025

  • Public Midterm Review: ACT and departmental faculty invited to attend

Monday, March 31 – Friday, April 4, 2025

  • Penultimate draft of thesis due to thesis committee via email

Friday, April 11, 2025

  • Last date to change thesis title via WebSIS

Monday, April 21 – Friday, April 25, 2025

  • Thesis Defense/Penultimate Review: Closed (thesis advisor and committee members only)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025: Drop Date

  • Submit digital information and images about your thesis for the Final Review Pamphlet to TBA by 9am.

Friday, April 25: Thesis Document Due

  • 9:00am department thesis deadline via the Department Thesis Submission Tool
    • (choose “Single Sign On” and log in with your MIT email address)
    • Note: Your final thesis book must be reviewed and approved by thesis advisor(s) before submission to the department portal
    • If you are having difficulty when logged into Office 365 or Sharepoint under a different log in, try clearing your cache on your browser so that you can log in to the form with your MIT Kerberos account
    • 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).

Monday, May 5, 2025

  • Thesis must be cleared by department(s) for all formatting issues
  • SA+P is putting together a slideshow representing your time at MIT. It will be shown in Kresge Auditorium to the ceremony guests prior to your procession inside. We ask that you create 1 – 3 slides that include any, or all, of the following:
    • Images from your work (please include a caption and your name)
    • Pictures that exemplify your life at MIT – spending time with friends, extracurriculars, internships, community service, etc.
    • Acknowledgements – thank your loved ones, faculty, friends
    • Please create your slides in PowerPoint and save them with your full name and department. For example: orta_monica_arch. Then upload your slides to dropbox. Submit your slides by May 5th. We cannot wait to celebrate your achievements!

Monday, May 19, 2025: Final Reviews

  • Final Reviews: open to the public and includes external critics

Week 17 of term (exact date TBD)

  • Thesis show opens two weeks after the thesis review

Last week of May 2025

  • Thursday, May 29, 2025: Degree award date
  • TBA – Architecture Department’s End of Year Celebration / Awards Ceremony on TBA
  • Commencement: Thursday, May 29, 2025
    • 11am–12:30pm, SA+P Advanced Degree Ceremony in Kresge Auditorium
    • 2–4:30pm, OneMIT Ceremony on Killian Court for all graduates
    • More details, as they become available, will be posted on https://commencement.mit.edu/
    • If you plan to attend the ceremony, you should RSVP at degreeapp.mit.edu. Information about accessing your tickets will be sent out in mid-May. Note, you will receive 4 tickets to the SA+P Ceremony and 4 tickets to the OneMIT ceremony, should you choose to attend both. This year, Masters cords will be distributed at the procession check-in. PhD students will receive their hood on stage as part of the ceremony. I will follow up with additional procession and ceremony-specific details in the coming weeks.

Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission

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

SMACT Thesis Contacts