subject: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Emphasizes Research and Technology [print this page] Massachusetts Institute of Technology Emphasizes Research and Technology
One of the leading private research universities in Cambridge, Massachusetts in United States, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT has in its ambit five schools as well as one college comprising of 33 academic streams. Major emphasis of the University is on science, technology, and research. Brief Background An offshoot of the growing industrialization in United States, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded way back in the year 1861. Initially the university emphasized applied technology for both undergraduate as well as the graduate streams but since 1930 basic scientific research was also incorporated. In result the university made substantial contributions to defense oriented research during World War II and in subsequent global conflicts. Campus Features With are area of 168 acre campus extending over 1.6 kilometers is located on the northern bank of Charles River basin. Campus of the university offers engineering, physical science, linguistics, economics, management, and political science as its academic streams. Enrollment Features Over 10,000 students were enrolled in 2010-11 that includes over 4,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduates in the school. In addition the university also has over 1000 faculty members comprising of Nobel Laureates, MacArthur Fellows as well as National Medal of Science winners. With strong entrepreneurial character, volume of alumni of MIT is seventh largest in the world. Academic Programs and Accreditation MIT is residential research university where the enrollments are basically in graduate as well as professional streams. Since 1929 the University is accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Academic calendar of MIT is based on 4-1-4 system. It includes- 4 week activities period that is independent during January. Spring semester commencing in February and ending in May. The university has won many laurels including the "first in graduate and undergraduate programs" from U.S. News and World Reports since 1994. Games and Sports University sponsors multiple sports teams comprising of students and most of them compete in the NCAA Division III, Men's Athletic Conference Division I, New England Women's as well as in the rowing programs of EARC and EAWRC. Tuition Fees and Financial Aids For the year 2010-11 the undergraduate tuitions and fees totaled around $37,800 and overall annual expenses on average were $50,100. However no less than 61% students received financial aids in form of federal, state, local, and university scholarships and grants. MIT awarded around $87.6 million in terms of financial aids in 2010-11 and major portion of it came from institutions grants. Emphasis on research and technology distinguishes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from others.
