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The SIPA Dual Degree Bachelor’s/Master’s Five Year Program with Columbia Undergraduate Schools
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The Five Year Dual Degree Program with Columbia College, Barnard, the School of General Studies and the School of Engineering gives a select few student enrolled in Columbia’s undergraduate colleges the opportunity to earn a Master of International Affairs (MIA) or Master of Public Policy (MPA) degree in conjunction with their undergraduate degree.
Students accepted into this combined Bachelor’s/Master’s program will take SIPA graduate courses during their senior year of undergraduate studies, in addition to their college requirements, which at this point should be minimal, while remaining registered officially at their college. During their fifth or last year, students will matriculate at SIPA.
Application
Interested applicants must consult with the Dean’s Office of the applicant’s college to obtain their approval regarding eligibility. Once approved to apply to the Five Year Program, students must complete the online application. The application deadline, in early January, is the same for Five Year Program applicants as it is for all other SIPA applicants. However, applicants to the Five Year Program do not have to take the GRE or pay the application fee. Admitted students do not need to pay the SIPA deposit.
Advanced Standing
Most graduate level courses completed as an undergraduate in the dual degree program may be applied toward the 54 credits required for the MIA or MPA degree, up to a total of 24 credits of advanced standing. Students must then complete at least 30 credits as SIPA students and meet the overall requirements for the MIA or MPA degree.
Registration
While in residence at college, students may cross-register for SIPA courses. Your dual degree student advisor, Dean Barrett (geg41) will help you with this process.
While in residence at SIPA during your fifth and final year, you may register online for SIPA courses during the normal registration period.
Tuition
Students pay the tuition and fees of the schools in which they are registered each term. SIPA has a flat tuition rate for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 credits per term. More information is available at: http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/financial_aid/tuition_fees.html
Financial Aid
Students are granted institutional financial aid by the school in which they are registered each term. You should follow the procedures and deadlines in each school as they will be different. To plan for optimal aid, students must consult as soon as possible with the financial aid offices at both schools.
SIPA Assistantships and Scholarships
Five Year students may apply for merit-based Assistantships and Scholarships after completing at least one semester of study at Columbia – the Fall semester of their fourth year - but cannot receive an award until they have completed two semesters at Columbia. To be eligible for these awards, students must have at least a 3.4 GPA.
The SIPA Assistantship and Scholarship applications are available on-line in January and applications are due at the end of February for the next academic year’s awards. Please see: http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/student_affairs/funding.html
Housing
Housing for Five Year Program students is guaranteed during their fifth and final year at SIPA. All housing is graduate housing.