SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

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International Affairs and Law

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MIA and JD:
30 SIPA credits, 83 Law School credits
(10 of the 83 credits required for the JD can be earned in SIPA courses)
2 semesters in residence at SIPA, 6 semesters in residence at the Law School

MIA/JD Dual Degree Curriculum Overview

Dual degree students are required to fulfill the MIA and JD core requirements outlined below. Dual degree candidates must complete a minimum of 2 semesters in residence at SIPA and fulfill all MIA core requirements. Dual degrees do not need to complete a policy concentration or specialization.  The second professional degree will be accepted toward the MIA in lieu of a policy concentration.

Core Requirements – SIPA MIA Degree

SIPA MIA Degree Core Requirements
  • U4200/U4201 Economics or U6400/U6401 Economic Analysis (Fall & Spr: 6 credits)
  • U6500 Quantitative Analysis (Fall or Spr: 3 credits)
  • U6800 / U6804 Conceptual Foundations (Fall: 4 credits)
  • Interstate Relations (Fall or Spr: 3 credits)
  • Management
    Students may choose from:
    • SIPA U6002 Governance and Public Management in Developing Countries (Fall)
    • SIPA U6003 Analysis of Public Sector Organizations (Fall)
    • SIPA U6005 Effective Management in the Public Service (Fall or Spr)
    • SIPA U6006 Strategic Thinking and Planning for General Managers (not offered in 2012-2013)
    • U6010 Enterprise Strategy for Leaders (Fall or Spr)
    • U6008 Fostering Innovation and Driving Improvement in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors (Spring)
    • SUMA K4100 Sustainability Management (Fall or Spr)
  • Financial Management (Fall or Spr: 3 credits)
    Students may choose from:
    • SIPA U6200 Accounting for International and Public Affairs (Fall & Spr: 3 credits)
    • INAF U6022 Economics of Finance (Spring: 3 credits)
    • SIPA U6310 Nonprofit Financial Management (Fall: 3 credits)
    • SIPA U6320 Budgeting for Government (Spring: 3 credits)
  • U4040 Professional Development (Fall: .5 credit)
  • U9013 Internship (Fall or Spr: 1.5 or 3 credits)
    Students are required to complete an internship as part of the core curriculum; however, they are not required to register for internship credit.  Students may register for internship credits either in the semester they are completing the internship or anytime after the internship is completed. Maximum of 3 credits allowed.
  • Workshop (Fall or Spr: 3 credits)

    Students should plan to do their Workshop in their final semester.

Foreign Language Proficiency

Proficiency in a language other than English is required for graduation from SIPA. This requirement may be met in any of three ways:

  1. As a native speaker of a language other than English, who can also read and write that language.
  2. By passing a language proficiency test.
  3. By achieving a grade of B or better in an Intermediate Level II (fourth semester) language course at Columbia.

Note: Students may pursue any language course they wish at SIPA. However, elementary I or II courses cannot count toward the SIPA degree requirement of 54 points.

Core Requirements for the JD Degree

JD Degree Core Requirements
  • 83 academic credits (10 of which can be earned in SIPA courses)
  • 6 semesters of full-time residency
  • 2 writing credits, at least one of which is a major writing credit
  • 40 hours of certified pro bono work
  • All required courses (Legal Methods, Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Legal Practice Workshop, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Property, 1L Elective and Professional Responsibility)

For a full explanation of JD requirements, students should visit www.law.columbia.edu/academics/registrar/gradreq

Advising
Although students are enrolled full-time at one school or the other in any given semester, they should contact advisors at both schools at least once per semester to ensure that their study and enrollment plans are in accordance with program guidelines. A planning sheet is available for students to help them map out their course of study. 

The primary faculty and administrative contacts are listed below.

Contact Information

School of International and Public Affairs

Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
International Affairs Building, Room 408
212-854-6216


Grace Han, Executive Director
gh2122@columbia.edu

David Sheridan, Director, Financial Aid
ds3118@columbia.edu

Office of Computing
International Affairs Building, Room 1513B
212-854-8347


Harpreet Mahajan, Executive Director
mahajan@columbia.edu

Office of Student Affairs
International Affairs Building, Room 612

212-854-8690

Leah Gunn Barrett, Assistant Dean
leahgunn.barrett@sipa.columbia.edu

 Office of Career Services
International Affairs Building, Room 420
212-854-4613 

Meg Heenehan, Executive Director 
mh374@columbia.edu

Columbia Law School
Office of Admissions
Wm & June Warren Hall, Suite 513
Admissions@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2670
212-854-1109 (Fax)

Law School Financial Aid
Wm & June Warren Hall, Suite 509
Financial_Aid@law.columbia.edu
 212-854-6522
Student Services
Wm & June Warren Hall, 5th Floor
Student_Services@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2395
 Information Technology Department
Jerome Greene Hall 731 or 216I
helpdesk@law.columbia.edu
212-854-1370
Registration Services
Wm & June Warren Hall, Suite 500
Registrar@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2668

Office of Career Services
Jerome Greene Annex (next to Faculty House)
careerservices@law.columbia.edu
212-854-5672