Spring Term Entry
STEM-Eligible
MPA is STEM-eligible
Deadlines: Spring Term 2027
Application deadline:
October 15
Program Length
24 months (standard) or 16 months (accelerated)
Degree Awarded
MPA and MIA
Compare SIPA’s Spring-term Entry Options
Standard track
Take the full two years to complete your degree, but with the flexibility to begin in January. Spring term entrants enjoy two summer internship cycles and two cohort experiences. Graduate in 24 months in December.
Accelerated track
Accelerate your time to graduation. Accelerated spring term entrants enjoy a faster time to degree completion, full integration with fall cohort by graduation, one summer with two intensive academic sessions (Summer A/B). Internship completed concurrently with courses. Graduate in 16 months in May.
Spring term students receive unique advantages.
Our spring-term option (also known as “January term” or “J-term”) offers an opportunity to start learning sooner and finish faster.
- Two Internship Opportunities: Even if you start in January, school's out for the summer. That means more time to apply SIPA skills through internships and hands-on experience — with two full summers ahead before graduation.
- Career Support: Professional development training from the Career Advancement Center in the first semester will ensure incoming spring-termers are well-prepared for summer internship applications.
- Two Cohorts: You arrive on campus with a smaller cohort, but a smaller cohort means you can better integrate yourself and make friends faster. Ride into the fall semester knowing your classmates well, and meet a whole new batch come September.
- Rolling Admissions: Decisions are released two weeks after a fully completed application is submitted.
Spring term is for people ready to make a difference, starting now.
Explore our Tuition, Fees, and Funding »
Spring Accelerated 16-Month Entry with Summer Sessions A & B
Sample course plans are subject to change.
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Semester / Course Credits Spring I
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Concentration I 3 Concentration II 3 Core Course 3 Elective/Minor I 3 Professional Development N/A Semester Total 15 Summer A Required
Core Course 3 Core Course 3 Semester Total 6 Summer B Required
Core Course 3 Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Semester Total 6 Fall I
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Capstone Preparatory Workshop 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Concentration III 3 Elective/Minor II 3 Internship N/A Semester Total 13.5 Spring II
Capstone Workshop 3 Concentration IV 3 Concentration V (*Data-intensive) 3 Core Course 1.5 Elective/Minor III 3 Semester Total 13.5 Program Total 54 -
Semester / Course Credits Spring I
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Concentration I 3 Concentration II 3 Core Course 3 Global Requirement I 3 Professional Development N/A Semester Total 15 Summer A Required
Core Course 3 Elective/Minor I 3 Semester Total 6 Summer B Required
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Elective/Minor II 3 Semester Total 6 Fall I
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Elective/Minor III 3 Capstone/Thesis Preparatory Workshop 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Concentration III 3 Internship N/A Semester Total 13.5 Spring II
Core Course 1.5 Capstone Workshop or Thesis 3 Concentration IV 3 Concentration V 3 Global Requirement II 3 Semester Total 13.5 Program Total 54 -
Semester / Course Credits Spring I
Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Concentration I 3 Concentration II 3 Core Course 3 Elective/Minor I 3 Professional Development N/A Semester Total 15 Summer A Required
Core Course 3 Core Course 3 Semester Total 6 Summer B Required
Core Course 3 Core Course 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Semester Total 6 Fall I
Core Course 1.5 Capstone/Thesis Preparatory Workshop 1.5 Core Course 1.5 Global Requirement I 3 Elective/Minor II 3 Concentration III 3 Internship N/A Semester Total 13.5 Spring II
Capstone Workshop or Thesis 3 Concentration IV 3 Concentration V 3 Core Course 1.5 Elective/Minor III 3 Semester Total 13.5 Program Total 54