Academics: Programs
The Institute organizes a wide range of activities during the academic year including an informal lunchtime brown-bag lecture series; evening lectures by distinguished policy makers and visiting dignitaries; and ad hoc panel discussions in response to current critical issues. For more information, please consult the Events Calendar.
MIA Regional Concentration in Western European Studies
Certificate in Western European Studies
Annual Graduate Student Conference
MIA Regional Concentration in Western European Studies
Courses: MIA candidates who elect to pursue a regional concentration in Western Europe must take for graded credit at least six courses (18 points) distributed as follows:
Two or more courses (6 points) in a modern West European field.
Four additional courses (12 points) from other departments or disciplines listed among the approved courses for the concentration.
The total of six courses must include one seminar or colloquium (3 or 4 points) and must represent at least three different disciplines. Language courses cannot be counted toward the concentration.
Language Requirement: Students must fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating a reading knowledge of one Western European language.
For more information on courses offered by the Institute, please see our Courses.
Certificate in Western European Studies
Drawn up with the help of an assigned adviser and with the approval of the West European Center director, the certificate requires the completion of eight courses (24 points) taken from listed offerings in the various disciplines. The 24 points should be distributed as follows:
At least two courses (6 points) must be research seminars and colloquia.
At least two courses (6 points) must be in the candidate's chosen discipline.
The remaining four courses (12 points) must represent at least three other departments or schools from among the various Institute course listings. Language courses cannot be counted towards the certificate. In addition, the candidate must satisfy all requirements for an advanced degree or already possess such a degree from his or her department.
Language Requirement: The candidate for the certificate must have a reading knowledge of a minimum of two Western European languages and written and oral proficiency in at least one of the two. The candidate demonstrates knowledge of chosen languages in one of the following ways: (1) by taking a proficiency examination; (2) by earning the grade of B (3.0) or better in a language course taken while in residence that is at the level of at least the second half of the intermediate year; or (3) by being a native speaker of a European language (for foreign students only). It is expected that most candidates will demonstrate fluency in one of the two languages upon entering the program by passing the proficiency examinations, both written and oral, that are administered by SIPA in a number of languages at the beginning of each term.
Modern Western European languages offered at Columbia include Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. No course credit toward the certificate or concentration is given for introductory, intermediate, or advanced language study.
Certificate Essay: In consultation with the faculty adviser, all students must complete a satisfactory essay embodying the results of research on a topic relating to Western Europe. Usually this essay evolves from work done in a seminar and/or colloquium conducted by a member of the Institute faculty. Each essay must be an original piece of research, interpretation, or analysis based on primary source material and be modeled on a journal article. Essays generally range in length from 25 to 50 pages. The essay and the recommendation of the sponsor must be submitted to the director for approval by the date specified by the Institute each term.
Annual Graduate Student Conference
For the past 18 years the Institute has sponsored the only conference in the United States run by graduate students for their peers in Western European affairs. Papers presented at the conference are published in an edited volume.