Program Overview

Program Overview

The HASTS program at MIT combines the disciplines of History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society, preparing students to conduct intensive research on topics of global relevance, leading to outcomes with global impact.

Program Requirements

The HASTS program requirements prepare students with the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills needed to embark on their intensive dissertation research by the summer after their third year and—at the completion of the five- to six-year program—write a dissertation based on an original research project.

Classes

Students take three core classes in their first year, covering all the HASTS disciplines; the remaining seven classes for the 10-class requirement can be taken within the three disciplines, elsewhere at MIT, or through cross-registration at Harvard. Classroom learning allows students to both explore ideas and build the foundation for the dissertation project.

Program Seminar

The weekly HASTS Program Seminar offers graduate students and postdoctoral fellows an opportunity to present their work in progress—and to give and receive constructive feedback—in a supportive peer setting.

Student Resources

The program guarantees six academic years of financial support, including summers after years one through five. There are also a variety of MIT funding resources available to HASTS PhD candidates. Additionally, HASTS students have full access to all the myriad academic and research-oriented resources found within the MIT community.

Student Testimonial

Having an international background, the HASTS program was chosen for its broad-scale interdisciplinary research opportunities, providing a huge toolkit for students to choose from, whereas other schools are narrower in scope.