PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics in Cambridge United States | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

AeroAstro provides Ph.D. and Sc.D. programs focused on specialized research within a concentrated field. The doctoral application procedure is outlined in the Admission Requirements section earlier in this document. Candidates earn their degree by completing a tailored curriculum, presenting and defending a thesis proposal, and ultimately submitting and defending an original research-based dissertation.

Upon acceptance into the doctoral program, students work with their thesis advisor to choose a research specialization and assemble a thesis committee. This committee guides the development of the candidate's research plan and tracks their advancement. The primary requirement for earning the doctorate is proving the ability to conduct pioneering research in aerospace engineering. The completed thesis, which showcases this capability, is presented and defended before department faculty, who then decide whether to confer the degree.