Home > Resources and Services > Student Affairs > Graduation Requirements
Degree Requirements
Back to Student Affairs
In addition to the credit, residence and GPA requirements, each program has its own curricular requirements. Please click on the program links in the table below to go directly to the sections for these degree requirements.
| SIPA Degree Program Requirements at a Glance | |||||
Degree / Program |
Credits at SIPA |
Program Duration in Semesters / Terms |
Minimum |
Internship Requirement |
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement |
MIA |
54 |
2 years |
3.0 |
Yes |
Yes |
MPA |
54 |
2 years |
3.0 |
Yes |
No |
PESP |
54 |
12 months (Summer, Autumn and Spring terms) |
3.0 |
No |
No |
MPA DP |
54 |
2 years
|
3.0 |
Yes |
No |
EMPA |
54 |
Part-time completed in 2- 3 years |
3.0 |
No |
No |
PEPM |
52 |
14 month program (Summer, Autumn, Spring and Summer terms) |
3.0 |
Yes |
No |
Columbia Dual Degree Program MIA
|
30 or 45 SIPA core credits – depends on professional school |
2 or 3 terms for SIPA – varies for other professional schools |
3.0 |
Yes |
Yes |
Columbia Dual Degree Program
|
30 or 45 SIPA core credits – depends on professional school |
3 terms for SIPA – varies for other professional schools |
3.0 |
Yes |
No |
30 SIPA core credits |
1 year at SIPA (2 terms) and 1 year abroad |
3.0 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
International Dual Degree |
30 SIPA core credits |
1 year at SIPA (2 terms) and 1 year abroad |
3.0 |
Yes |
No |
60 + successful dissertation defense |
Designed and supported as a 5-year program |
3.3 |
No, but 6 terms teaching and research required |
No |
|
Students enrolling in the two-year MIA or MPA programs with an advanced degree in a related discipline such as law, business, economics and political science may apply for advanced standing thereby reducing their course of study at SIPA to 3 semesters. However, only courses from completed graduate degrees with a grade of B or better will be considered for advanced standing. A limited exception to this policy will be made for students who have accumulated graduate credits in another Columbia University school and wish to apply to the SIPA degree, provided these courses have not already been applied to another earned Columbia University graduate degree. In no case will advanced standing exceed 12 credits.
Full-Time Enrollment Requirement and Advanced Standing Policy
Two-year MIA and MPA Students
All two-year MIA and MPA Students must complete Core, Concentration, and Specialization requirements as described below.
- Core requirements
MIA Core Requirements (PDF)
MPA Core Requirements (PDF)
Degree Audit Report (DAR)
Students can use the Degree Audit Report (DAR) in Student Services Online
The DAR is an unofficial guide to the MIA and MPA core. The Degree Audit Report cannot be utilized by dual degree students. Dual degree students should see the administrative coordinator in the Student Affairs Office.
To request revisions to the Degree Audit Report, please fill out the Degree Audit Report Correction Form and submit the form to the Student Affairs Office.
Degree Audit Report Correction Form (PDF)
2. Concentrations
Concentration audit forms are designed to assist students and concentration directors in determining if the concentration requirements have been met. All students must complete one concentration to graduate except for PhD students and those pursuing dual degrees with other Columbia University schools.
Students are required to meet with their concentration director once per semester at SIPA to ensure they are fulfilling the appropriate concentration requirements. Prior to their final semester, students should download the concentration audit form, meet with their concentration director and return the signed audit form to the Office of Student Affairs.
Concentration audit form deadlines are August 1st for October graduation; November 1st for February graduation; and January 27th for May graduation.
| Economic and Political Development (EPD) Audit Form (PDF) Jose Ocampo Jao2128@columbia.edu 1315 IAB 212-854-6339 |
| Energy & Environment (E&E) Audit Form (PDF) Ellen Morris em2507@columbia.ed Room 901-c, IAB 212-851-9554 |
| Human Rights Program (HR) Audit Form (PDF) Elazar Barkan eb2302@columbia.edu 1130 IAB 212-854-9463 |
| International Finance & Economic Policy (IFEP) Audit Form (PDF) Merit Janow mj60@columbia.edu 927 IAB 212-854-1724 |
International Security Policy (ISP) Audit Form (PDF) |
| Urban Policy and Social Policy (USP) Audit Form (PDF) Ester Fuchs ef25@columbia.edu 1430A IAB 212-854-3866 |
MPA in Development Practice (MPA-DP) Audit Form (PDF) |
3. Specializations
Specialization audit forms are designed to assist students and specialization directors in determining if the specialization requirements have been fulfilled. All students must complete at least one specialization to graduate except for PhD students and those pursuing dual degrees with other Columbia University schools. Students can fulfill the requirements of more than one specialization.
Students are required to meet with their specialization director once per semester at SIPA to ensure they are fulfilling the appropriate specialization requirements. Prior to their final semester, students should download the specialization audit form, meet with their specialization director and return the signed audit form to the Office of Student Affairs.
Specialization audit form deadlines are August 1st for October graduation; November 1st for February graduation; and January 29th for May graduation.
Specialization Audit Forms
| Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis (APEA) Audit Form (PDF) Sharyn O'Halloran so33@columbia.edu 707 IAB 212-854-3242 |
| Applied Science Audit Form (PDF) Ben Orlove bso5@columbia.edu 1408 IAB 212-854-4445 |
Conflict Resolution (ICR) Audit Form (PDF) |
| International Media, Advocacy and Communication (IMAC) Audit Form (PDF) Anya Schiffrin acs76@columbia.edu 1319 IAB 212-854-3239 |
| International Organization (IO) Audit Form (PDF) Dirk Salomons ds20022@columbia.edu 1133 IAB 212-854-8825 |
| Management (MGMT) Audit Form (PDF) Sarah Holloway smh124@columbia.edu 1317 IAB 212-854-3357 |
Regional Specialization Audit Forms
African Studies Audit Form (PDF) Jinny Prais |
East Asian Studies Audit Form (PDF) Kim Palumbarit |
| East Central Europe Studies Audit Form (PDF) John S. Micgiel jsm6@columbia.edu 1228 IAB 212-854-4008 |
European Studies Audit Form (PDF) Lily Glenn 1203 IAB 212-854-5804 |
Latin American Studies Audit Form (PDF) Eliza Kwon |
Middle East Studies Audit Form (PDF) Astrid Benedek |
Russian and Post-Soviet East-Central Europe Studies Audit Form (PDF) Lydia Hamilton |
South Asian Studies Audit Form (PDF) William Carrick |
United States Audit Form (PDF) |
Application for Degree
All graduating students are required to submit the on-line Application for Degree prior to the last semester of coursework.
Dual degree students need to submit a separate form to each school.
Application deadlines and conferral dates are August 1st for October graduation; November 1st for February graduation; and December 1st for May graduation.