SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

SIPA/LKY MPA Dual Degree Program

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Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY) launched a new master of public administration dual degree program in 2007. Students have the opportunity to study in Singapore and New York and obtain MPA degrees from both SIPA and the LKY in the same amount of time it takes to earn one degree.

The program combines the research and educational strengths of the two schools to create a course of study that gives students a breadth of knowledge with a truly global reach. It will expand the Global Public Policy Network to include its first graduate program in Asia, building on current partnerships with LSE in London and Sciences Po in Paris. The first class of students will be admitted to the dual degree beginning in 2007-08.

The LKY is at the cutting edge of public policy education in Asia, with faculty from around the world and alumni in 26 different countries. The new program will combine an academically rigorous curriculum with practical experience aimed at solving real world problems.

Admission Process

To be eligible to apply, students apply in the spring term of their first year to complete the dual degree at the partner institution in their second year. They are expected to fulfill the equivalent of all coursework for both degrees, and will be set on an intensive academic course that will allow them to do this in two years.

Note: Currently enrolled SIPA students should note that they are required to register for at least 16 credits each semester during their first year. Please see sample table of course requirements below.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Students pay the tuition and fees at the school where they are in residence (e.g., if you are attending LKY, you will pay LKY tuition and fees, and similarly at SIPA). Dual Degree students will pay one year each of SIPA and LKY tuition and fees. Students who begin the dual degree at SIPA will be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance and pay those fees during the semesters they are at LKY to maintain their insurance coverage. Students who begin at LKY will be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance or have comparable insurance coverage when they are at Columbia during their second year.

Note: US students using federal or private education loans must have the financial aid component managed by the school where they are paying tuition SIPA or LKY respectively.

LKY MPA:  S$6,000  (roughly US $4,000; 2007-08 tuition)

Columbia MPA:  $38,449  (2007-08 tuition, fees, health fees and insurance)

Columbia Fees | LKY Fees

Curriculum

The First year Core Requirement

Students will complete the core curriculum at their home institution and then pursue an area of specialization at the partner institution in their second year. The program would normally be completed in two years. Over the course of the program, students study at both SIPA and LKY are expected to complete a minimum of 71 points over the course of the two years. Instruction is offered in English at both institutions.

Columbia Core Courses | LKY First Year Requirements

Example of Curriculum for Students beginning their dual degree at SIPA

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
(min. 16 points)	(min. 16 points)
Politics of Policy Making I (3 pts) Public Management and Institutional Analysis (3 pts) Microeconomics and Policy Analysis I (3 pts) Quantitative Techniques I (3 pts) Professional Development (1 pt) Elective or Concentration 1 (3 pts)	Politics of Policy Making II (1 pt) Microeconomics and Policy Analysis II (3 pts) 1 course from Financial Mgmt options (3 pts) Elective or Concentration 2 (3 pts) Elective or Concentration 3 (3 pts) Elective or Concentration 4 (3 pts)

Students specialize in their second year:

The Second year concentrations  at SIPA (for students who did their initial core year at LKY)

• Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis*
• Economic and Political Development (EPD)
• Environmental Policy Studies (EPS)
• Human Rights (HR)
• International Economic Policy (IEP)*
• International Energy Management and Policy (IEMP)*
• International Finance and Policy (IFP)*
• International Media and Communications (IMC)
• International Security Policy (ISP)
• Management and Institutional Analysis*
• Social Policy
• Urban Policy

* Please note that concentrations with an * require students to complete calculus-based economics and 2 semesters of statistics during their first year at LKY.

The Second Year concentrations at LKY (for students who did their initial year at SIPA)

• Economic Analysis and Policy
• Development Studies
• Social and Environmental Policy
• International Relations and Security Studies
• Public Management and Governance

For further information, please contact:

At SIPA
Tan Nguyen, Program Coordinator for the GPPN, tn2102@columbia.edu
Stefan Brown, Assistant Dean, asb167@columbia.edu

At LKY
Ruth Choe, Manager, Programme (MPP and PhD), sppcckr@nus.edu.sg

Application forms for all the dual degree and exchange programs are available here.

Note: MIA students are currently eligible to study at LKY on an exchange program.