SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

SIPA/Sciences Po Dual Degree Program

Back to MPA Dual Degree Programs

The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) is an innovative two-year program designed to prepare its graduates for leadership roles in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. The program's curriculum emphasizes global interconnections of issues, a multidisciplinary approach, and leadership in this changing, uncertain world. It is a unique opportunity to study public administration in two different cultural and academic contexts, allowing students to tap into the rich resources of two venerable institutions across the Atlantic. The program is taught entirely in English, with optional French language modules in Paris.

Admission Process

To be eligible, students must have been accepted to either SIPA or Sciences Po, and have the option to apply in the spring semester of their first year to complete the dual degree at the other institution in their second year. Applicants for the dual degree program must provide a statement of their professional goals and how they relate to the dual degree. Candidates must demonstrate strong academic performance at their first institution, and have successfully completed their first year of study, before enrolling at the partner institution. At the end of two years, two distinct MPA degrees are awarded to the student by each school for successful completion of all degree requirements.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Students doing a dual degree with Sciences Po and SIPA pay tuition to their home institution for both years of study. The home institution serves as the administrator of that student's financial aid and/or fellowship support for both years. 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 Sciences Po to maintain their insurance coverage. Students who begin at Sciences Po will be enrolled in Columbia University health insurance or have comparable insurance coverage when they are at Columbia during their second year.

Note: U.S. students using federal or private education loans must have the financial aid component managed by the school where they are paying tuition—SIPA or Sciences Po respectively.

Sciences Po MPA:  €21,500 (2007-08 tuition figures)

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

Columbia Fees | Sciences Po MPA Fees

Curriculum

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. Instruction is offered in English at both institutions. At Sciences Po there will be the opportunity for French language courses for students who wish to pursue them.

Columbia Core Courses | Sciences Po MPA First Year Requirements

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

• 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 Sciences Po.

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

• Governing the Economy
• The Reform of Welfare Systems
• Security and Public Policy
• Territorial Economic Development
• Education and Training, Innovation and Research and
• Risk Management: Science, Technology and Environmental Policy.

In addition, all students will complete a capstone project, a client-oriented task force in public policy analysis, strategy and implementation.

For further information, please contact:

At SIPA

Tan Nguyen, Program Coordinator for the GPPN, tn2102@columbia.edu
Mona Khalidi, Assistant Dean, mk2388@columbia.edu

At Sciences Po

Emily Myers, Student Affairs, mpa@sciences-po.fr

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