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 2025 Thesis Deadlines
No off-cycle SMACT students graduating February 2025
Formatting, Specifications & Thesis Submission
Important: Consult the Formatting & Specifications and Thesis Submission information page.
Thesis Deadlines for May 2026 Graduates
| Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | Drop Date | Use the Student Forms and Petitions to drop classes. |
| TBD (end of Fall Semester) | Last day to submit twenty-page thesis outline to thesis committee | scheduled in conjunction with your thesis advisor |
| Friday, January 23, 2026 | First Draft of thesis due to advisor via email | scheduled in conjunction with your thesis advisor |
| Friday, February 7, 2026 | Registration Deadline | * 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 16 – Friday, March 20, 2026 | Public Midterm Review | ACT and departmental faculty invited to attend |
| Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3, 2026 | Penultimate draft of thesis | Scheduled by student with committee members |
| Friday, April 10, 2026 | * Last date to change thesis title via WebSIS 12:30pm: * Thesis Book Formatting Review Session/Q&A: TBD We will use this time to go over the important thesis formatting required for publication by the library. This is always the final step that your book must pass to be accepted by the department and be cleared for graduation. * You will not be approved on the degree list without your thesis book meeting library publication standards. * To make this session productive, please upload your front matter (title page, committee page, and abstract page) via the Airtable form, here: https://airtable.com/appuUvW5p64U0ZraP/shraE3Amrxi8PcJVO | |
| Monday, April 20 – Friday, April 24, 2026 | Thesis Defense/Penultimate Review: Closed (thesis advisor and committee members only) | Scheduled by student with committee members |
| Monday, April 27, 2026 | Front matter of thesis Document Due | Thesis Submission Portal Front matter includes (in this order!): Title page, committee page, abstract page, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of figures, list of tables (if needed), bibliography |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 by 9am | FULL & COMPLETE BOOK DUE, NO EXCEPTIONS | Thesis Submissions Portal NO Filler, Signed Signature page included, don’t make us chase you for a complete book please. |
| Friday, May 15, 2026 by 5pm | Staff deadline to Approve Graduates on the May Degree List | If a thesis is not approved by both thesis advisor and the Department this point, the student will not be approved for the May degree list. (To be approved by the dept for the list, we must have a final grade submitted and your full book must clear formatting standards/be approved by the dept) |
| TBD | Final Reviews | Open to the public and includes external critics |
| TBD, likely Wednesday, May 27, 2026; 4-6pm | Dept End of Year Celebrartion/Awards Party | TBA location, likely Walker Lawn |
| Thursday, May 28, 2026 | SA+P Advanced Degree Ceremony in Kresge Auditorium Spring 2026 Thesis Degree Conferral Date OneMIT Graduate Degree Ceremony on Killian Court | More details for degree ceremonies will be available here: https://commencement.mit.edu/ |
SMACT Thesis Contacts
- SMACT Director: Azra Akšamija
- SMACT Thesis Preparation: Azra Akšamija
- Architecture master’s degree administrator: Kateri Bertin
- SMACT thesis submission: Kateri Bertin and Tonya Miller
- ACT Director of Finance and Operations: Scott Tirrell