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Concentrations
In addition to fulfilling all core requirements, MIA and MPA students must also satisfy the requirements of both a policy concentration and a specialization.
Students choose one of the following six concentrations: Economic and Political Development, Energy and Environment (includes tracks in energy and environment), Human Rights, International Finance and Economic Policy (includes tracks in finance and economic policy), International Security Policy, or Urban and Social Policy.
Students can choose a specialization in regional expertise (8 different regions/countries) or one of the following: Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis; Applied Science; International Media, Advocacy and Communications; International Organization; or Management. Regional specializations are offered in the following areas: Africa, East Asia, East Central Europe, Europe, Latin America, The Middle East, Russia, South Asia, and the United States.
Students might, for example, combine a policy concentration in International Finance and Economic Policy with a regional specialization on East Asia, or a concentration in Human Rights with a specialization in International Media, Advocacy and Communications. It is possible to meet the requirements for the concentration and specialization by double-counting courses to fulfill requirements; for example, an economics course on Latin America could be counted toward a policy concentration in Economic and Political Development and a regional specialization in Latin America.
Policy Concentrations (choose one):
All students choose one concentration consisting of 5 courses: a policy field in which they wish to focus their studies at SIPA.
- Economic and Political Development (EPD)
- Energy and Environment (EE)
- Human Rights (HR)
- International Finance and Economic Policy (IFEP)
- International Security Policy (ISP)
- Urban and Social Policy (USP)
Specializations (choose one):
All students also choose one specialization consisting of 3 courses: a skill or area of specialized knowledge to pair with their policy concentration.
- Regional Specialization: Africa, East Asia, East Central Europe, Europe, Latin America,
Middle East, Russia and the Former Soviet States, South Asia, United States - Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis (APEA)
- Applied Science (AS)
- International Conflict Resolution (ICR)
- International Media, Advocacy and Communications (IMAC)
- International Organization (IO)
- Management
Co-Curricular Programs (not part of degree requirements)
- Gender Policy (GP)
- Humanitarian Affairs Program (HA)
- UN Studies Program (UNSP)
For students who entered SIPA prior to fall 2009, please contact the Office of Student Affairs for information about the previous curriculum.
Office of Student Affairs
6th floor, Mail Code 3328
New York, NY 10027
212-854-8690
212-854-1657 (fax)
sipa_osa@columbia.edu