Some allow you to take well over 5 courses if that's something you desire. Some prefer you to use at least 1 of those course allotments as "independent study" so you can spend more time on research. Each group at the ML operates differently but speaking to all my peers at the lab, a PI will generally allow you to take any class you want as long as you can balance it with your research. All you need to do is take any 5 courses at MIT, Wellesley, or MassArt. I would like to add that the Media Lab's academic requirements are lax. Do you like refine cuisine or melting pot etc. You yearn for flexibility or clarity path? You feel annoyed or excited with the defined guidance provided by master program? You want to work with alike peers or very different people. So, I suppose you might ask if you have any of these symptoms. Additionally, at Media Lab, you'll be likely working with people with diverse backgrounds, interests (design, hardware, ethic, user dynamics, industry research.) and proficiencies (from UROP undergrads to people who already with advanced skills), instead of your approximate peers at other CS MS. It seems many people here feel they are constrained by traditional defined programs or their questions can't be answered by focusing on one discipline alone. Thus, it attracted a lot of talented academic oddballs and hippies, in both researchers and students capacity.
![mit lab master programs mit lab master programs](https://cheme.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/grads2.jpg)
The Media Lab, by design, is highly interdisciplinary, experimental, and risky. So suppose, 'fit' is probably more important here. It's also noteworthy that all the people I know who involved with the lab are either saying it's one of 'best things happening to them' or it's overwhelming confused 'cool banana'.
![mit lab master programs mit lab master programs](https://img.yumpu.com/8073632/1/500x640/master-thesis-mit-media-lab.jpg)
I'd say many of the criticisms are justified and needed for changes but are also somewhat unfair to the majority of the 20 or so groups within the lab. First FYI is that the Media Lab right now is at the lowest point of their reputation within MIT with many feel its lax control and scandals damage the institution's 'drinking from the firehose' reputation.