MBA students who wish to pursue advanced work or to carry out some special investigation of a management problem not specifically covered in a cataloged course and not qualifying as a thesis may complete independent study projects under course numbers 15.960 or 15.961. Credit earned for an independent study will count toward a student’s credit limit and be granted in the term that the deliverable is produced. Therefore, if a project is expected to take more than one semester to complete, the student must register for the project in the final term.

Students may conduct more than one independent study project, but may not register for the same independent study course number in the same semester. In addition, one project may not build upon a past project; each must be distinct. MIT Sloan independent study (15.960 or 15.961) advisors must be MIT Sloan faculty. If a student is interested in working with a non-Sloan faculty member, they must register for an independent study under that faculty’s home department. For MBA students, this will count as one of the three non-Sloan classes they are permitted to apply toward their elective unit requirement.

MIT Sloan Independent Study forms and instructions may be found on Canvas, in courses 15.960 and 15.961.

Sloan Transfer Credit

An MBA student who previously studied at MIT as a graduate student may transfer credit for prior classes taken in another program, in exceptional circumstances, under the conditions listed below:

• There will be no acceleration of the MBA degree. Students admitted to the MIT Sloan MBA program will complete, consecutively, one core term and three elective Spring/Fall terms (total 4 terms) in residence (registered at MIT Sloan) with at least the program-required minimum 27 units per term.
• If needed, in the second year the student can petition and MIT Sloan will approve to carry forward no more than 3 graduate-level MIT Sloan classes taken prior to their admission into the MBA program and not used toward any other MIT degree. These units cannot be used to satisfy the 27 units minimum required enrollment per term but will apply toward the overall 144 elective unit requirement.
• Students who previously completed an undergraduate degree at MIT do not have the option to carry forward classes completed during their undergraduate years.
• MIT Sloan does not accept transfer credit from any institution other than MIT.

Thesis

The thesis has historically been an important part of the academic program at MIT Sloan. Students have the choice of completing a major research project in close collaboration with a faculty advisor(s). The main thesis advisor must be MIT Sloan faculty. Secondary advisors and readers may be non-Sloan faculty. Students who wish to do a thesis and intend to do a significant amount of background research during the summer period are advised to choose a topic and secure the commitment of a faculty advisor by the beginning of the summer following the first year.

The MIT Sloan Thesis Handbook provides an overview of the thesis process and aids students in developing their thesis research interests. Abstracts of recent master’s theses can be reviewed on DSpace. For more information, contact MIT Sloan Educational Services or MIT Libraries, Institute Archives and Special Collections. Those students required or choosing to complete a thesis must adhere to a firm timetable. MIT Sloan Educational Services staff maintain all necessary thesis forms and provide timely reminders regarding thesis deadlines. Theses are submitted to MIT Sloan Educational Services upon completion. All theses are subject to submission to MIT Libraries; no thesis work is exempt from this.

The MIT Sloan Thesis Handbook and all necessary thesis-related forms can be found on the course 15.THG site in Canvas.