Interphase: Acclimating Freshmen to Life at MIT [VIDEO]

Even if it has been years since you were a freshman, you might still enjoy the new video posted by the MIT News Office. It looks at Interphase, a rigorous seven-week residential program for MIT freshmen. In addition to calculus, physics, and chemistry training, Interphase participants (who must apply to participate) undertake lab research with faculty mentors and engage in a variety of workshops.

Learn more about Interphase at http://web.mit.edu/ome/programs-services/interphase/

And for the more inquisitive among you, scroll down to see the program's current academic curriculum.

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Physics

This course introduces classical mechanics:

• straight-line kinematics,
• vectors,
• motion in a plane,
• uniform circular motion,
• motion in 3 dimensions,
• Newton's Laws,
• universal gravitation,
• collisions and conservation of momentum,
• work,
• and kinetic and potential energy.

Translational and rotational motion will be paralleled throughout the course. The emphasis is not as much on derivations as it is on the conceptual understanding of the underlying Physics principles.

Calculus A

Calculus A is the study of the differentiation and the integration of functions of a single variable:

• elementary functions;
• Cartesian and polar coordinates;
• limits and continuity;
• differentiation, including:
  • rules,
  • applications to graphing,
  • rates,
  • extremum problems;
• indefinite integrals and integration techniques;
• definite integrals;
• fundamental theorem of Calculus;
• improper integrals;
• and applications of integration to Geometry and Science.

Calculus B

Calculus B is the study of the differentiation and the integration of functions of several variables:

• scalar functions of several variables,
• partial derivatives,
• directional derivatives and gradients,
• double and triple integrals,
• determinants,
• matrices,
• vectors in 3-space,
• line and surface integrals in space,
• and conceptual understanding and applications of Divergence, Green's and Stokes' theorems.

Chemistries A and B

Chemistry A is an introduction to Chemistry while Chemistry B is introduction to Chemistry for students with an unusually strong background in the subject and in Calculus:

• the basic principles of atomic and molecular electronic structure,
• thermodynamics,
• acid-base and redox equilibria,
• chemical kinetics,
• and catalysis.

Humanities: Reading and Writing about Identity

The Humanities course focuses on self-identity. It seeks to improve reading, writing, and discursive skills while simultaneously improving self-efficacy. These efforts are meant to bolster and sustain the students' confidence so that they thrive throughout their MIT careers.