ESG’s primary mission is to offer MIT’s first-year undergraduate core curriculum in small classes that foster a hands-on, highly interactive learning experience. This environment encourages students and teaching staff to get to know each other well, and enables instructors to adapt their pacing and teaching to be nimble and responsive to their students’ needs.

Since its founding in 1969, ESG has grown and evolved, adding new initiatives that expand and enhance the first-year experience. We offer more seminars than any other single department within MIT, ranging from the math of toys and games to special topics in physics to the bio-chemical processes of drugs on the human brain. ESG provides an ideal environment for students to explore their educational passions.

Community is one of ESG’s key bywords. Peer-to-peer teaching, weekly community lunches, and outside social activities are just some of the ways ESG helps create a communal sense of belonging.

A great place to begin exploring ESG is by reading more about the program’s history and current projects. Have a question? Send us email at esglizards@mit.edu.