MIT OpenCourseWare: New Archived Courses

15.431 Entrepreneurial Finance (MIT)

Scharfstein, David — 2012-01-27T00:15:28+05:00

This class examines the elements of entrepreneurial finance, focusing on technology-based start-up ventures, and the early stages of company development. It addresses key questions which challenge all entrepreneurs: how much money can and should be raised; when should it be raised and from whom; what is a reasonable valuation of the company; and how funding should be structured. The subject aims to prepare students for these decisions, both as entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.

6.045J Automata, Computability, and Complexity (MIT)

Lynch, Nancy — 2012-01-24T00:23:19+05:00

This course is offered to undergraduates and introduces basic mathematical models of computation and the finite representation of infinite objects. The course is slower paced than 6.840J/18.404J. Topics covered include: finite automata and regular languages, context-free languages, Turing machines, partial recursive functions, Church's Thesis, undecidability, reducibility and completeness, time complexity and NP-completeness, probabilistic computation, and interactive proof systems.

16.31 Feedback Control Systems (MIT)

How, Jonathan P. — 2012-01-24T00:22:40+05:00

This course covers the fundamentals of control design and analysis using state-space methods. This includes both the practical and theoretical aspects of the topic. By the end of the course, the student should be able to design controllers using state-space methods and evaluate whether these controllers are robust.

6.830 Database Systems (MIT)

Madden, Samuel — 2012-01-24T00:22:58+05:00

This course relies on primary readings from the database community to introduce graduate students to the foundations of database systems, focusing on basics such as the relational algebra and data model, schema normalization, query optimization, and transactions. It is designed for students who have taken MIT course 6.033 (or equivalent); no prior database experience is assumed though students who have taken an undergraduate course in databases are encouraged to attend. Topics related to the engineering and design of database systems, including: data models; database and schema design; schema normalization and integrity constraints; query processing; query optimization and cost estimation; transactions; recovery; concurrency control; isolation and consistency; distributed, parallel, and heterogeneous databases; adaptive databases; trigger systems; pub-sub systems; semi structured data and XML querying.

16.888 Multidisciplinary System Design Optimization (MIT)

Willcox, Karen — 2012-01-11T01:27:31+05:00

This course is mainly focused on the quantitative aspects of design and presents a unifying framework called "Multidisciplinary System Design Optimization" (MSDO). The objective of the course is to present tools and methodologies for performing system optimization in a multidisciplinary design context, focusing on three aspects of the problem: (i) The multidisciplinary character of engineering systems, (ii) design of these complex systems, and (iii) tools for optimization. There is a version of this course (16.60s) offered through the MIT Professional Institute, targeted at professional engineers.

21W.780 Communicating in Technical Organizations (MIT)

Barrett, Edward C. — 2012-01-11T01:27:42+05:00

This class offers students an opportunity to experiment with various forms and practices of cellphone communication and, most importantly, to propose and develop a semester-long project using advanced A780 cellphones donated by Motorola along with access to J2ME™ source code for programming cellphone applications. Class size is limited. Students in small collaborative groups will propose, implement and report on a semester-long project.

ESD.864 Systems Modeling and Assessment for Policy (MIT)

Selin, Noelle — 2012-01-11T01:27:59+05:00

This course explores how scientific information can be used to inform policy decision-making processes through the use of quantitative modeling techniques. It incorporates both hands-on analysis and practice using models as well as evaluation of the use and effectiveness of models in decision-making. The course assesses the full spectrum of model complexity from simple box model calculations to complex, global systems models. Issues addressed include scientific assessment processes; integrated assessment modeling; model frameworks; and scenarios. Examples focus on models and information used for earth system governance, with selected examples from other areas of application.

24.901 Language and its Structure I: Phonology (MIT)

Steriade, Donca — 2011-11-22T03:08:08+05:00

24.901 is designed to give you a preliminary understanding of how the sound systems of different languages are structured, how and why they may differ from each other. The course also aims to provide you with analytical tools in phonology, enough to allow you to sketch the analysis of an entire phonological system by the end of the term. On a non-linguistic level, the couse aims to teach you by example the virtues of formulating precise and explicit descriptive statements; and to develop your skills in making and evaluating arguments.

4.42J Fundamentals of Energy in Buildings (MIT)

Glicksman, Leon — 2011-11-22T03:07:37+05:00

4.42J (or 2.66J or 1.044J), Fundamentals of Energy in Buildings, is an undergraduate class offered in the Department of Architecture, and jointly in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It provides a first course in thermo-sciences for students primarily interested in architecture and building technology. Throughout the course, the fundamentals important to energy, ventilation, air conditioning and comfort in buildings are introduced. Two design projects play a major part in this class. They will require creative use of the principles and information given in the course to solve a particular problem, relating to energy consumption in buildings. The students will be asked to propose and assess innovative building designs, technologies and operating schemes that will yield an outstanding sustainable building.

15.391 Early Stage Capital (MIT)

Loessberg, Shari — 2011-11-15T01:38:13+05:00

15.391 examines the elements of raising early stage capital, focusing on start-up ventures and the early stages of company development. This course also prepares entrepreneurs to make the best use of outside advisors, and to negotiate effective long-term relationships with funding sources. Working in teams, students interact with venture capitalists and other professionals throughout the semester. Disclaimer: The web sites for this course and the materials they offer are provided for educational use only. They are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney and no attorney-client relationship is created by using them. All materials are provided "as-is", without any express or implied warranties.

17.42 Causes and Prevention of War (MIT)

Van Evera, Stephen — 2011-11-15T01:37:51+05:00

The causes and prevention of interstate war are the central topics of this course. The course goal is to discover and assess the means to prevent or control war. Hence we focus on manipulable or controllable war-causes. The topics covered include the dilemmas, misperceptions, crimes and blunders that caused wars of the past; the origins of these and other war-causes; the possible causes of wars of the future; and possible means to prevent such wars, including short-term policy steps and more utopian schemes. The historical cases covered include World War I, World War II, Korea, Indochina, and the Peloponnesian, Crimean and Seven Years wars.

15.668 People and Organizations (MIT)

Kochan, Thomas A. — 2011-11-04T02:24:04+05:00

This course examines the historical evolution and current human and organizational contexts in which scientists, engineers and other professionals work. It outlines today's major challenges facing the management profession and uses interactive exercises, simulations and problems to develop critical skills in negotiations, teamwork and leadership. It also introduces concepts and tools to analyze work and leadership experiences in optional undergraduate fieldwork projects.

14.661 Labor Economics I (MIT)

Pischke, Jorn-Steffen — 2011-11-04T02:24:29+05:00

Neoclassical analysis of the labor market and its institutions. A systematic development of the theory of labor supply, labor demand, and human capital. Topics discussed also include wage and employment determination, turnover, search, immigration, unemployment, equalizing differences, and institutions in the labor market. There is particular emphasis on the interaction of theoretical and empirical modeling and the development of independent research interests.

21H.104J Riots, Strikes, and Conspiracies in American History (MIT)

Maier, Pauline — 2011-11-04T02:23:05+05:00

This course uses readings and discussions to focus on a series of short-term events that shed light on American politics, culture, and social organization. It emphasizes finding ways to make sense of these complicated, highly traumatic events, and on using them to understand larger processes of change in American history. The class also gives students experience with primary documentation research through a term paper assignment.

21H.968J Nature, Environment, and Empire (MIT)

Ritvo, Harriet — 2011-11-04T02:22:19+05:00

This course is an exploration of the relationship between the study of natural history, both domestic and exotic, by Europeans and Americans, and concrete exploitation of the natural world, focusing on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

15.818 Pricing (MIT)

Tucker, Catherine — 2011-11-04T02:21:37+05:00

This course, primarily discussion based, provides a framework for understanding pricing strategies and tactics. Topics covered include pricing in competitive markets, estimating demand, price discrimination, the role of price cues, anticipating competitive responses, pricing in business to business markets, and pricing of new products. Lectures and cases are the primary modes of learning.

SP.401 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies (MIT)

Walsh, Andrea — 2011-11-04T02:20:41+05:00

This course offers an introduction to Women's and Gender Studies, an interdisciplinary academic field that asks critical questions about the meaning of gender in society. The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with key issues, questions and debates in Women's and Gender Studies scholarship, both historical and contemporary. Gender scholarship critically analyzes themes of gendered performance and power in a range of social spheres, such as law, culture, work, medicine and the family.

14.123 Microeconomic Theory III (MIT)

Eso, Peter — 2011-11-04T02:14:44+05:00

This half-semester course discusses decision theory and topics in game theory. We present models of individual decision-making under certainty and uncertainty. Topics include preference orderings, expected utility, risk, stochastic dominance, supermodularity, monotone comparative statics, background risk, game theory, rationalizability, iterated strict dominance multi-stage games, sequential equilibrium, trembling-hand perfection, stability, signaling games, theory of auctions, global games, repeated games, and correlation.

18.702 Algebra II (MIT)

Artin, Michael — 2011-11-04T02:11:12+05:00

This undergraduate level course follows Algebra I. Topics include group representations, rings, ideals, fields, polynomial rings, modules, factorization, integers in quadratic number fields, field extensions, and Galois theory.

18.701 Algebra I (MIT)

Artin, Michael — 2011-11-04T02:06:05+05:00

This undergraduate level Algebra I course covers groups, vector spaces, linear transformations, symmetry groups, bilinear forms, and linear groups.

SP.406 Sexual and Gender Identities (MIT)

Surkan, Kim — 2011-10-19T02:54:19+05:00

This course introduces scholarly debates about sexual identities, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientation and its representation in various media. We begin with an investigation of the theoretical underpinnings of the emerging field of queer studies, from the nineteenth century to the present day, and consider how subsequent work in transgender studies continues to challenge traditional understandings of sex, gender, and sexuality.

15.769 Operations Strategy (MIT)

Rosenfield, Donald — 2011-10-19T02:53:22+05:00

The class provides a unifying framework for analyzing strategic issues in manufacturing and service operations. Relationships between manufacturing and service companies and their suppliers, customers, and competitors are analyzed. The material also covers decisions in technology, facilities, vertical integration, human resources and other strategic areas. Means of competition such as cost, quality, and innovativeness are explored, together with an approach to make operations decisions in the era of outsourcing and globalization.

7.89 Topics in Computational and Systems Biology (MIT)

Burge, Christopher — 2011-10-19T02:50:31+05:00

This is a seminar based on research literature. Papers covered are selected to illustrate important problems and approaches in the field of computational and systems biology, and provide students a framework from which to evaluate new developments. The MIT Initiative in Computational and Systems Biology (CSBi) is a campus-wide research and education program that links biology, engineering, and computer science in a multidisciplinary approach to the systematic analysis and modeling of complex biological phenomena. This course is one of a series of core subjects offered through the CSB PhD program, for students with an interest in interdisciplinary training and research in the area of computational and systems biology. Acknowledgments In addition to the staff listed on this page, the following three guest lecturers also contributed to this course: Prof. Amy Keating, Prof. Joel Voldman, and Prof. Forest White.

2.094 Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids (MIT)

Kim, Do-Nyun — 2011-10-19T02:39:34+05:00

This course presents finite element theory and methods for general linear and nonlinear analyses. Reliable and effective finite element procedures are discussed with their applications to the solution of general problems in solid, structural, and fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and fluid-structure interactions. The governing continuum mechanics equations, conservation laws, virtual work, and variational principles are used to establish effective finite element discretizations and the stability, accuracy, and convergence are discussed. The homework and the student-selected term project using the general-purpose finite element analysis program ADINA are important parts of the course.

6.061 Introduction to Electric Power Systems (MIT)

Kirtley, James — 2011-10-19T02:11:41+05:00

This course is an introductory subject in the field of electric power systems and electrical to mechanical energy conversion. Electric power has become increasingly important as a way of transmitting and transforming energy in industrial, military and transportation uses. Examples of new uses for electric power include all manners of electric transportation systems (electric trains that run under catenary, diesel-electric railroad locomotion, 'maglev' medium and high speed tracked vehicles, electric transmission systems for ships, replacement of hydraulics in high performance actuators, aircraft launch and recovery systems, battery powered factory material transport systems, electric and hybrid electric cars and buses, even the 'more electric' airplane). The material in this subject will be useful to students who pursue careers or research in electric power systems, power electronic systems, vehicle electrical systems (e.g. electric or hybrid vehicles), development or use of electric motors and generators, robots and "mechatronics."

21F.740 The New Spain: 1977-Present (MIT)

Resnick, Margery — 2011-09-12T06:39:05+05:00

This course deals with the vast changes in Spanish social, political, and cultural life that have taken place since the death of Franco. It examines the new freedom from censorship; the re-emergence of strong movements for regional autonomy: the Basque region and Catalonia; the new cinema including Almodóvar and Saura; educational reforms instituted by the socialist government, and the fiction of Carme Riera and Terenci Moix. Special emphasis is placed on the emergence of mass media as a vehicle for expression in Spain. Consideration is given to the changes wrought by Spain's acceptance into the European Community. Materials include magazines, newspapers, films, fiction and Amando de Miguel's Los Españoles. This course is taught in Spanish.

14.11 Special Topics in Economics: The Challenge of World Poverty (MIT)

Banerjee, Abhijit — 2011-09-12T06:36:32+05:00

This is a course for those who are interested in the challenge posed by massive and persistent world poverty, have had some economics, and believe that economists might have something useful to say about this question. The questions we will take up include: Is extreme poverty a thing of the past? Why do some countries grow fast and others fall further behind? Does growth help the poor? Does foreign aid help? What can we do about corruption? Should we leave it all to the markets? Should we leave it to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs)? Where is the best place to intervene? How do we deal with the disease burden? How do we improve schools? And many others.

17.950 Understanding Modern Military Operations (MIT)

Cote, Owen — 2011-08-26T07:22:22+05:00

A proper understanding of modern military operations requires a prior understanding of both the material side of war, including especially weapon, sensor, communication, and information processing technologies, and the human or organizational side of war, including especially military doctrine, which is an institutionalized vision within military organizations that predicts how the material tools of war will be wielded on future battlefields. Military doctrine makes assumptions about the nature of future battlefields, and determines what the division of labor on those battlefields will be between different military tools. Doctrine also therefore determines the organizational hierarchy among the various branches of the military which wield those tools. Thus, one way to think of the relationship between military technology and doctrine is to think of doctrine as a filter that a military organization will use to assess the effect that future technologies or new battlefields are likely to have on its existing organizational hierarchy.

21H.101 American History to 1865 (MIT)

Maier, Pauline — 2011-08-26T07:20:45+05:00

This course focuses on a basic history of American social, economic, and political development from the colonial period through the Civil War. The colonial heritages of Spanish and British America; the American Revolution and its impact; the establishment and growth of the new nation; and the Civil War, its background, character, and impact are examined. Readings include writings of the period by Winthrop, Paine, Jefferson, Madison, W. H. Garrison, G. Fitzhugh, H. B. Stowe, and Lincoln.

1.258J Public Transportation Service and Operations Planning (MIT)

Wilson, Nigel — 2011-08-26T07:18:44+05:00

This course describes the evolution and role of urban public transportation modes, systems, and services, focusing on bus and rail. Technological characteristics and their impacts on capacity, service quality, and cost are described. Current practice and new methods for data collection and analysis, performance monitoring, route design, frequency determination, and vehicle and crew scheduling are also discussed. In addition, the effect of pricing policy and service quality on ridership and methods for estimating costs associated with proposed service changes are presented together with means to improve operations through real time intervention.

21W.747-3 Classical Rhetoric and Modern Politics (MIT)

Perelman, Leslie — 2011-08-23T05:27:12+05:00

This course is an introduction to the history, theory, practice, and implications of rhetoric, the art and craft of persuasion. The course is designed to let you practice your own rhetorical prowess. This combination of reading, speaking, and writing will help you succeed in: Learning to read and think critically. Learning techniques of rhetorical analysis. Learning techniques of argument. Learning and practicing some basics about oral presentation.

STS.003 The Rise of Modern Science (MIT)

Gerovitch, Slava — 2011-08-23T05:22:51+05:00

This course studies the development of modern science from the seventeenth century to the present, focusing on Europe and the United States. Key questions include: What is science, and how is it done? How are discoveries made and accepted? What is the nature of scientific progress? What is the impact of science on society? What is the impact of society on science? Topics will be drawn from the histories of physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and medicine.AcknowledgementThis class is based on the one originally designed and taught by Prof. David Jones. His Spring 2005 version can be viewed by following the link under Archived Courses on the right side of this page.

HST.950J Engineering Biomedical Information: From Bioinformatics to Biosurveillance (MIT)

Kohane, Isaac — 2011-08-18T03:03:43+05:00

This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the technological advances in biomedical informatics and their applications at the intersection of computer science and biomedical research.