The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) new 6-5 degree program, Electrical Engineering With Computing, is rapidly becoming one of the most popular majors among incoming first-year students, according to Karl Berggren, faculty head of electrical engineering within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). The program, launched last fall, is now the third-most selected major among new students.
“It’s a real validation of all the work behind the scenes,” said Berggren. “The fact that Course 6-5 is now the third-most selected major among first-year students shows that the department is clearly meeting a growing need for a curriculum that bridges electrical engineering and computing.”
MIT Provost Anantha Chandrakasan echoed Berggren’s sentiment, stating the major’s design offered a “strong foundation in core electrical engineering concepts — such as circuits, signals, systems, and architecture — while also providing well-structured specialization tracks that prepare students for the future of the field.” These tracks include nanoelectronics, quantum systems engineering, and photonics, alongside more traditional electrical engineering domains like hardware design and energy systems.
The curriculum’s flexibility is a key draw for students. Charles Reischer, a student in the 6-5 program, explained, “They are very flexible, and essentially allow me to take whatever I want, with the tracks filling up almost automatically. For me, it essentially reduces the amount of specific required classes in the major, which has been helpful for choosing the classes I find fascinating.”
Jelena Notaros, who developed the Electromagnetics and Photonics track, highlighted the program’s hands-on approach. “It’s been incredibly rewarding… I think students are excited to have the opportunity to take a class where they can learn about a cutting-edge field and test real state-of-the-art chip hardware using industry-standard equipment.” Her class, 6.2320 (Silicon Photonics), provides students with access to three electronic-photonic probe stations, a feature not commonly found in university coursework.
The Quantum Systems Engineering track also offers unique access to advanced technology. Professor Dirk Englund, who teaches within the track, noted the program’s success is “in part through strong industry support, including from QuTools Inc.” Students utilize the same technology found in the Boston-Area Quantum Network Testbed, a metro quantum network linking MIT, Lincoln Laboratory, and Harvard University, as well as the NSF CQN.
Englund added that many of his students are pursuing careers in quantum information science, either through graduate studies or direct employment in the field. “Students recognize quantum engineering is the future. They see they’re building the foundation for metro-scale quantum networks.”
The emphasis on practical experience extends to other tracks as well. In the Circuits track, students enrolled in 6.208 (Semiconductor Electronic Circuits) participate in a “tape-out” process, where their circuit designs are physically manufactured. Professor Ruonan Han, who helped design the course, explained that this process “poses [real-life] constraints and forces the students to solve practical engineering problems.” Students utilize industry-standard CAD tools for circuit simulation and learn the intricacies of chip manufacturing through layout design.
Beyond technical skills, the 6-5 program also emphasizes real-world problem-solving. Professor Joel Voldman, a former faculty head of electrical engineering, and Senior Lecturer Joe Steinmeyer designed 6.900 (Engineering for Impact), a capstone course where students collaborate with city governments and nonprofits to address local challenges. The course simulates realistic project management conditions, including budget constraints and stakeholder expectations.
Andrea Leang, a student majoring in 6-2 who took 6.900, described the course as “eye-opening in the collaboration of hardware, firmware, and software to create a cohesive and working product.” Her experience led her to join Voltage, the student group for electrical engineers, where she found a supportive community.
Matthew Kim, an executive within Voltage, noted the group’s recent revitalization. “It has been great working […] to build a community for EE. We heard faculty say that they wanted to be more engaged with students and communicate more, and it has definitely been felt with the restart and support of Voltage.”
The enrollment in the 6-5 program is now comparable to the combined enrollment of the older 6-1 and 6-2 programs, demonstrating its growing appeal. Department head Professor Asu Ozdaglar expressed her enthusiasm for the program’s success, stating it “provides our students an exciting and forward-looking curriculum, developed through extensive work and great deal of thought by electrical engineering faculty.”
Dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, Dan Huttenlocher, added, “Students are using computation as a creative and analytical tool to expand the boundaries of engineering. They gain a deep understanding of how hardware and software reach together to drive technological progress.”
Former faculty head Joel Voldman concluded, “The buzz surrounding the classes and the new 6-5 degree program is fantastic. It’s great to see the strong student interest in what we’ve position together.”