Department of Mathematics at MIT | Graduation Orientation


			Information for graduate students entering the program in Fall 2008: Orientation Timeline Fall 2008 Classes The preliminary fall term class schedule shown here is subject to change. Generic course descriptions can be found in the MIT Course Bulletin. Schedule updates will be posted outside 2-108 (the Undergraduate Math Office) as they become known. Math course numbers are explained here Graduate students usually take 3-4 courses each semester. MIT uses a one-letter abbreviation for each day of the week: M=Monday; T=Tuesday; W=Wednesday; R=Thursday; F=Friday. Thus a class listed as meeting TR 1, meets on both Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2pm. Most buildings have numbers rather than names, so a class listed as meeting in 2-139 will meet in building 2 in a first-floor classroom, number 139. The MIT Campus map is posted here. Classes, unless otherwise indicated, are 50 minutes in length, beginning 5 minutes after the hour and ending 5 minutes before the hour. Please see the Financial Aid page for information on the Teaching Assistantships and Payroll. Students need to bring enough money to cover expenses for approximately six weeks. Each student will have to make banking arrangements upon arrival at MIT: information on local banking options will be available at MIT prior to the start of the semester. Since Fall 2008 Student Bills will be posted to WebSIS by July 10, staff in the Department of Mathematics makes a tremendous effort to process all TA, RA, and Fellowship awards before that date. Occasionally a late fee will appear. Any late fees associated with tuition charges appearing on Student Account statements will be forgiven once departmental awards are processed. English Proficiency MIT’s English Evaluation Test (EET) is intended for international graduate students whose first language is not English. All incoming graduate students whose language of instruction in both elementary and secondary school was not English must take the EET as a prerequisite for registration. The test consists of listening, writing and reading components, as well as individual conferences between each student and an ELS staff or faculty member. The EET identifies the strengths and weaknesses in the written and spoken English of incoming international graduate students. It is a diagnostic tool and not an achievement test. The test has been helpful in identifying language problems and making appropriate referrals for support courses. Students and advisors will have the results on or before Registration Day. If you have any questions about the EET, please contact test administrators in the Foreign Languages and Literatures Section when you arrive at MIT in room 14N-305, (617) 253-4771. Demonstrated English proficiency is required of all who teach recitation sections: this is a Department and an Institute requirement. Students must register in English language studies (ELS) courses recommended as a result of the EET. Anyone required to register for 21F.211 Intermediate Spoken and Written Communication is expected to enroll in subsequent recommended ELS classes. Should you have any questions about the program in ELS, please contact Jane Dunphy, Director of English Language Studies (ELS), dunphy@mit.edu. Questions about Math Department policy should be directed to the Graduate Math Office.