Dual Degrees

Common Dual Degrees for MSRED Students

• MSRED/Master of City Planning, Department of Urban Studies + Planning, SA+P
• MSRED/M.ARCH, Department of Architecture, SA+P
• MSRED/SMArchS, Department of Architecture, SA+P

Dual Degree Admission Criteria and Application Requirements for the MSRED Program

The requirements for students who wish to pursue dual degrees are stated in the Office of Graduate Education web site.

New applicants who wish to pursue a Dual Degree must apply to and be accepted by both programs. Accepted students will then work with the respective Graduate Academic Administrators to chart a curriculum plan. Dual degree students generally start in one program and complete most of that program’s requirements in Year 1. They then move to the second program to complete that program’s requirements.

Please note that the tuition rate for the MSRED program is higher than the MIT rate. Dual degree students who begin in the MSRED program, will be charged the higher premium for the duration of their time at MIT.

Admissions for Current MIT Students

In addition to the following requirements, the Admissions Committee seeks a diverse group of students who are clearly committed to devoting their careers to the real estate field, and who possess undergraduate or graduate degrees in one of the disciplines that have traditionally provided a basis for work in real estate (for example, engineering, law, architecture, planning, economics, or business). In general, the MSRED program prefers dual degree students with at least one and a half to two years of continuous professional experience in a real estate related field. Applications are evaluated by a Dual Degree Admissions Committee.

We recommend that students apply for a dual degree during their first semester at MIT. In order to be admitted into a dual degree program, students must apply and gain admission to each program separately. Admission for dual degree program is contingent upon filing an approved dual degree petition which is due during the Fall term of your second year.

Application materials must be submitted by January 15 of your first year at MIT. Internal dual degree candidates are required to meet all MSRED admission requirements.

The internal dual degree application materials required are:

1. It is strongly suggested that internal dual degree applicants set up a meeting with admission staff. Please contact Mary Hughes to schedule an appointment.
2. A new MIT Graduate Application Form and new statement of objectives focusing on why pursuing a dual degree with the MSRED program is an important step in your academic and professional development. Please describe what contribution you feel you would bring to the class. Please request an application fee waiver from OGE when you’re ready to submit your application.
3. Two new letters of recommendation, one of which needs to be from a faculty member in your current program, not a dual degree committee member.
4. A Grade Report sent from your current department’s Administrator.
5. If a microeconomics course has not been completed in prior academic work, it is suggested that one of the following courses be taken:
   
   14.01 – Principles of Microeconomics
   14.03 – Applied Microeconomics
6. A dual degree proposal, which outlines a proposed set of courses that fully satisfies all requirements for both programs, by semester and year in which courses will be taken. Proposal must accompany your application.

Admission decisions will be mailed by mid-March.

Graduation

Dual degree students are required to register for an additional term for a total of five semesters. The fifth semester of registration can be a summer term. Most dual degree students can graduate somewhat earlier by taking the programs simultaneously rather than in sequence. (Separately the programs would take three academic years plus a summer, or seven semesters). A few factors combine to allow this acceleration. First, one thesis may satisfy both programs – though the qualitative standards are higher for a dual degree program. Dual degree students are not allowed to do jointly authored theses. Second, some of the subject requirements in the Real Estate program may be counted against the unit requirement for other program.

It is also strongly recommended that students cluster their real estate subjects into one year, if possible, to take full advantage of the connections among those courses.

MSRED Program Core Requirements (57 units)

Additional Program Requirements

• 24 units of MSRED electives
• Thesis prep course either in the CRE or your home program
• Thesis (one thesis may sound towards the requirement for both programs)

In addition to satisfying this subject requirement, dual degree students must enroll in a minimum of 66 units of G level courses that are “unique” to the real estate program. Unique in this context means that courses and units must be allocated to one program or the other and cannot be double counted. They also need to have 24 units of MSRED electives to meet the requirements. Internal dual degree students must have a total 81 units of of MSRED courses to meet the dual degree requirement.

A thesis which will jointly satisfy the requirements of both programs consists of 24 units. In addition to a thesis advisor, some programs may require a reader plus a thesis defense (MSRED does not). All students are required to complete a thesis prep course.

Tuition/Funding

The MSRED program carries a premium tuition (10% higher than standard MIT tuition.) A student who has been funded by their home program may use those funds towards MSRED tuition. However, the student may be responsible for any shortfall between their funding amount and the cost of the premium tuition.

If a student registers for summer thesis, they will be considered a full-time student and will be required to pay full time summer tuition.

Questions? Please contact MSRED Admissions