First-Year Academics

This section provides important information on subjects taken during your freshman year and the special credit limits and grading policies for freshmen. You will also find information about MIT’s policies about receiving credit from College Board Advanced Placement tests, International Examinations, and for transfer credit for classes taken at another university prior to your arrival at MIT last September.

The General Institute Requirements (GIRs) page shows which subjects satisfy the GIRs, which include the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Requirement. Restricted Electives in Science and Technology (REST) and laboratory subjects are usually taken in your second and third years. MIT also has a Physical Education Requirement that you need to be starting in your first year.