Registration Instructions
The process:
- Students and advisors meet to agree on subject selections for the term.
- Academic advisor approves the subject selections for which the student has pre-registered. If the advisor is a WHOI faculty member, they send an email to the WHOI Registrar indicating approval of the selected courses, and the WHOI Registrar approves the online registration.
- Student completes registration by submitting the digital form.
The deadline to complete the registration process without penalty is the Friday following registration day at 5:00pm.
See the MIT Registrar's website for more information on registration.
Registering for Research
All continuing JP students register for research or thesis units every semester. Students working on a master's, engineer's, or doctoral thesis should register for thesis units.
- School of Science: Only students who have passed the thesis proposal defense and advanced to candidacy or are working on a master’s degree should register for thesis units (XX.THG). Pre-thesis proposal students should register for the pass/D/fail research option (12.983 or 12.981) unless instructed otherwise by their advisor.
- School of Engineering: Varies by MIT department; see Research Subject Numbers below.
- Navy SM Candidates: Varies by MIT department; see examples of PO & AOSE Navy curriculum here. Be sure to register for thesis units (XX.THG) in your final semester.
Students can also consult their handbook, Academic Advisor, or MIT Graduate Administrator for guidance.
Research Subject Numbers
| Course 1 - Civil & Environmental Engineering | |
| 1.THG | Graduate Thesis (all JP students in Course 1) |
| Course 2 - Mechanical Engineering | |
| 2.689 | Projects in Oceanographic Engineering (pre-qualifying exam) |
| 2.THG | Graduate Thesis (post-qualifying exam) |
| Course 6 - Electrical Engineering & Computer Science | |
| 6.9920 | Introductory Research in EECS (taken in the first year) |
| 6.THG | Graduate Thesis (taken after spring of 1st year) |
| Course 7 - Biology | |
| 7.491 | Research in Biological Oceanography (pre-thesis proposal) |
| 7.THG | Graduate Thesis (post-thesis proposal) |
| Course 12 - Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences | |
| 12.980 | Current Research in Joint Program at MIT (letter graded - only use this number if specifically instructed to do so; advised at MIT; pre-thesis proposal) |
| 12.981 | Current Research in Joint Program at MIT (Pass/D/Fail; advised at MIT; pre-thesis proposal) |
| 12.982 | Current Research in Joint Program at WHOI (letter graded - only use this number if specifically instructed to do so; advised at WHOI; pre-thesis proposal) |
| 12.983 | Current Research in Joint Program at WHOI (Pass/D/Fail; advised at WHOI; pre-thesis proposal) |
| 12.THG | Graduate Thesis (post-thesis proposal) |
| Course 16 - Aeronautics & Astronautics | |
| 16.THG | Graduate Thesis (all JP students in Course 16) |
Registration Load for Full-Time Graduate Students
- Spring and Fall terms: 36 or more units
- Summer session: 24 or more units
- IAP: JP students do not register unless taking a specific course OR submitting their final thesis during IAP.
*Students should defer to their MIT home department for exceptions to the above.
Adding and Dropping Courses
Students wishing to add or drop subjects from their registration should use the MIT Registrar's website. The student initiates the change; it is then approved by an advisor or administrator. If the advisor is a WHOI faculty member, they need to send an email to the WHOI Registrar indicating their approval of the change, in order for the WHOI Registrar to approve the petition. Once the approval is made, the student must submit the online petition or the process will not be complete.
The deadline to add is in the fifth week of the term; the drop deadline is during the twelfth week of the term. Students should make sure to allow time for for the approver of the change to submit their decision.
Cross-registration
Students who wish to take courses at Harvard should visit the MIT cross-registration page for instructions.
Teaching Trainees
Teaching Trainees should register for the following using the department number where the subject is taught:
| Subject Department | Subject Number | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – CEE | N/A or 1.984 | see subject description |
| 2 – ME | N/A | -- |
| 6 – EECS | 6.981 | 24 (if fulltime TT) |
| 7 – Biology | 7.934 | 15 |
| 12 – EAPS | 12.446 | 1 |