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Urban Policy
This concentration is designed to provide students with an understanding of the major issues facing urban environments. Cities are growing at a rapid pace due to trends in immigration, migration, transportation infrastructure and economic development. It is estimated that by 2007 more than half of the world's population will be residing in cities. As a result, traditional paradigms used to study urban issues like city management, urban planning, housing, urban education, and transportation are now being expanded to include innovations in technology and global communication networks.
This trend enables students who are interested in developing urban centers with an opportunity to learn about the economic, social, political and technological forces that shape metropolitan areas around the world.
Coursework in Urban Policy is diverse and draws from offerings at many of Columbia University's professional schools and graduate divisions including: Urban Planning at the School of Architecture, Social Work, Teacher's College, and the Departments of History, Political Science, Sociology and Economics.
In-depth knowledge of a policy arena allows managers and analysts to move confidently into the work force while robust skill-sets help them handle whatever challenges the job presents. Specialized knowledge, continued professional development, and applied skills are a primary focus of the second year. Students are required to take at least 15 points (about 5 courses) in the concentration. Students may develop programs of study along the following three tracks, which draw on the strength of course offerings at SIPA and Columbia:
- Urban Politics, Governance and Management
- Sustainable Urban Development & Environmental Policy
- Economic Development Policy, Urban Planning & Land Use
- Urban Education Policy
- Health Policy
- Social Policy
- Housing Policy
- Criminal Justice Policy
Urban Policy Workshops
One of the many advantages of studying urban policy at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs is the wide ranging availability of urban-oriented workshop opportunities. These workshops are a second-year consultancy project, carrying course credit, in which teams of students working with a faculty member, carry out a real policy project for an external client. Although workshops are offered in many parts of SIPA’s curriculum, the School’s excellent relations with the city of New York both its government agencies and not-for profits organizations, produces a number of exciting and challenging urban-oriented workshops each year. SIPA students work as a team and are expected to produce professional work for their clients. The workshop experience is demanding and exhilarating and has the practical effect of developing professional contacts for our students all across the City. Many SIPA students have been offered jobs by their workshop clients. Included among the workshop projects is an in-depth study of the impact of globalization on small businesses near the two major airports in Queens, for U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks, 6th District. There have been several public-private partnership workshops that work closely with clients to examine pros and cons for their businesses. Some other recent clients include The New York City Economic Development Corporation, the NYC Parks Department, the NYS Wide Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Fire Department of New York and the Office of the Mayor of NYC.