6.034 is a survey class that introduces representations, methods, and architectures used to build applications and to account for human intelligence from a computational point of view. It covers problem solving and inference paradigms such as constrained search, constraint propagation, rule chaining, inheritance, and statistical inference. It also covers machine learning paradigms such as decision trees, neural nets, genetic algorithms, support-vector machines, and boosting.    The lecture schedule for Fall 2022, subject to change, is here.

6.034 will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am to 11am in 26-100. The lectures, in which we introduce material and talk about the "big picture", usually will be on Monday and Wednesday. On many Fridays, and the occasional Monday or Wednesday, you will learn about what is happening in the field right now from someone who is actively doing work in an area related to the lecture topics. Lectures are not recorded, but material related to lecture topics will be posted. Lecture attendance is not required, though it is highly recommended.

Four examinations, aka quizzes, will cover material from the lectures; quizzes are always on a Wednesday.  Additional written assignments will cover material presented in lectures and/or the right-now talks.  Labs, released approximately every 7 to 10 days, are Python programming assignments in which you practice your newly acquired skills. 

Recitations will meet weekly for an hour on Friday and will provide you with a venue in which you can review lecture material, work practice problems, and have small-group discussions. Students will choose their recitation times the first week of class.  All students taking this class for credit must sign up for a recitation; attendance during the term is strongly encouraged but not required. Recitation meetings will not be recorded, but material related to recitation topics will be available. 

6.034 is no longer offered in the spring term.

We are pleased to note that Bloomberg has listed 6.034 as among "Five of the Best Computer Science Classes in the U.S."

Questions about the class can be sent to  6.034-2022-staff@mit.edu.

6.844 [6.4102] Graduate Version

6.844 was created in response to requests from grad students who wanted to take 6.034, but needed graduate level credit.

It is a discussion-based class and a supplement to 6.034: You register for 6.844, attend 6.034 class meetings and do all of the 6.034 work (labs, SRNs, quizzes), and in addition attend the 6.844 session and do the 6.844 required work. The 6.844 session will meet every Friday 11am-12pm in 32-141. The class is not recorded.

For each 6.844 session, students read an assigned paper or papers from the research literature, write up a one page response to a set of provided questions, and come to Friday class prepared to discuss answers to those questions.

To keep the class size manageable and to encourage active class participation, we do not allow listeners in 6.844. Listeners are allowed in 6.034. 

Questions about the class can be sent to  6.844-2022-staff@mit.edu.