Detailed Information
Programs of Study
The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) offers two full-time graduate policy degree programs: the Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) and the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.). The M.P.A. program also includes a unique specialization in Development Practice (M.P.A. D.P.) These programs and their student bodies share a great deal in common. Employers demand the reliable skill set of a common core curriculum and an area of solid specialization of both sets of graduates. The School offers the same concentration choices to students in both the M.I.A. and M.P.A. programs, reflecting the fact that most policy questions can no longer be neatly categorized as domestic or international issues. As a result, the content and the structure of SIPA’s M.I.A. and M.P.A. programs have slowly converged. Prospective students still notice differences in the programs that reflect their histories and student bodies: There is more international content in the M.I.A. core; the M.P.A. core has more national and local policy content. Students in both programs choose SIPA for its balance of theory and practice, and find their classmates’ perspectives are as varied as their diverse backgrounds. Nonetheless, most students would say that an M.I.A. student tends toward a more global and theoretical approach to policy questions, while an M.P.A. student is more likely to focus on questions of policy processes and implementation at a local level. The M.P.A. D.P. student has a desire to understand and manage approaches to sustainable development challenges. The rigorous cross-disciplinary M.P.A. D.P. program emphasizes the development of critical knowledge, skills, and attributes of an effective professional in developing societies.
The School of International and Public Affairs also participates in combined programs with the Graduate School of Business; the School of Law; the School of Public Health; the Graduate School of Journalism; the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation; the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; the School of Social Work; Institut d'Études Politiques (Paris); the London School of Economics; Hertie School of Governance (Berlin); and the National University of Singapore.
Research Facilities
The International Affairs Building contains Lehman Library, which holds 265,000 volumes, including virtually all significant American and international publications in foreign relations, foreign policy, and the areas covered by the Regional Institutes. The Lehman Library is part of the University library system, with holdings in excess of 6 million volumes.
Associated with the School are the University’s eight regional institutes, the Institute of War and Peace Studies, the Center for the Study of Human Rights, the United Nations Study Program, and the Columbia Earth Institute. Scholars from all parts of the world are invited to study and participate in the institutes’ activities and, while in residence, to teach courses.
Financial Aid
The School offers a number of fellowships. In 2008–09 approximately 11 percent of first-year students received fellowship funding, while over 68 percent of second-year students received funding. The average first-year fellowship award was $14,222, and the average second-year fellowship amount was $17,771. Students are also encouraged to apply for outside fellowships. Long-term loans are available to help pay for tuition, fees, and living expenses. For additional information about financial aid, interested students should visit http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/financial_aid/index.html.
Cost of Study
Tuition and fees for the 2008–09 academic year were $37,884. Additional expenses for the academic year, including housing in New York City, food, and books, are estimated to be approximately $22,356.
Living and Housing Costs
The University provides housing for a limited number of single and married graduate students at varying costs. Inquiries about accommodations should be directed to the Office of University Apartment Housing. International House, a privately owned student residence near the campus, also has accommodations for graduate students. Inquiries should be addressed to the Committee on Admissions, International House, 500 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10027. The Off-Campus Housing Registry in the Office of University Apartment Housing maintains a listing of privately owned apartments and rooms for rent.
Student Group
The School’s student body, with approximately 1,200 students across seven degree programs, consists of men and women from the United States and many other countries. In 2008–09 students at SIPA came from more than ninety different countries. Approximately 45 percent of the students are international scholars, and about 60 percent are women.
Location
New York City is truly an exciting city in which to live and study. Its educational and cultural opportunities are unparalleled in their scope and diversity, as are its professional options.
The University and The School
Established as King’s College in 1754, Columbia was given a state charter and a new name after the Revolutionary War. Today, the University community of over 26,000 students and faculty members has at its disposal extensive library collections and a computer center for academic research projects. The University is one of the world’s leading centers for studies in international affairs.
The School of International and Public Affairs is a graduate professional school established in 1946 for the purpose of training students for careers in such fields as international business and banking, government service, international organizations, and journalism. The School has an active placement program that is constantly seeking the best opportunities for its graduates. Apart from its own resources, the School draws upon the faculties of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, the Graduate School of Business, Teachers College, the Graduate School of Journalism, and the School of Public Health.
Applying
A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent is required. M.I.A. candidates must be proficient in a second language to graduate. It is thus recommended that M.I.A. candidates possess at least an elementary understanding of a second language at the time of admission. GRE General Test scores are required and GMAT scores can be submitted with approval of the Office of Admissions. Six credits in the principles of macroeconomics and microeconomics are strongly recommended. A high level math class is also highly recommended. The application deadline for fall admission is January 5. Students are encouraged to apply early. The School prefers to accept students for September (fall) matriculation; however, applications for admission to the spring semester (starting in January) are also accepted. The January application deadline is October 1. Fellowships are not awarded to January entrants. All qualified applicants receive consideration for admission without regard to race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.
Faculty Heads and Specializations
- ADMINISTRATION
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John H. Coatsworth, Ph.D., Dean.
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Patrick Bohan, M.A., Associate Dean.
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Robert Garris, Ph.D., Associate Dean.
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Cassandra Simmons, Ph.D., Associate Dean.
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Meg Heenehan, M.Ed., Director, Office of Career Services.
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Matt Clemons, M.B.A., Director, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
- CONCENTRATIONS/SPECIALIZATIONS
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Students choose a policy concentration and pair this with a specialization. Specializations are either functional or regional in nature.
- Concentrations
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Economic and Political Development, Energy and Environment, Human Rights, International Finance and Economic Policy, International Security Policy, and Urban and Social Policy.
- Functional Specializations
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Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis, Applied Science, Communications and Media, International Organizations, and Management.
- Regional Specializations
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Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Russia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe, Southern Asia, and the United States.
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Applicants should note that M.P.A. D.P. students do not choose from the above list of concentrations and specializations. The M.PA. D.P. program is designed to train aspiring practitioners to understand and manage approaches to sustainable development challenge and integrates insights from a range of disciplines, including the natural and health sciences.
Correspondence and Information
Columbia University
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Mail Code 3325
School of International and Public Affairs
420 West 118th Street, Room 408
New York, New York 10027
Telephone:
212-854-6216
Fax:
212-854-3010
Email:
sipa_admission@columbia.edu
