SIPA Internship Program
Internships are an integral part of the student experience at SIPA. Students in most two-year MPA and MIA programs have a degree requirement to conduct a relevant, eligible internship along with submitting completed paperwork to the Career Advancement Center.
Some students may be qualified to request a waiver of their SIPA internship requirement through submitting the proper form and supporting documents. (Please see “Waiving the Internship Requirement” section below for more details). In addition, all students are encouraged to explore internships as part of their education and career development.
Please note that it is the student's responsibility to check in with the CAC, ISSO, and OSA offices given any questions regarding the Internship Course/Registration/Requirement/Work Authorization. Internship course planning can be conducted by scheduling a meeting with a CAC Advisor.
Internship Program Resources
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SIPA students in the four-semester MIA and MPA programs are required to complete an internship as part of their academics.
Students in these programs must fulfill their internship requirement during their first summer following two semesters of full-time enrollment. For J-term students, this means the internship is completed during the second summer.
Students who are required to complete an internship as part of their degree program must register for and complete the SIPA U9013 internship course at 0, 1.5, or 3 credits. (Please see “How to register for an internship course” section below for more details). Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding the details below regarding internship eligibility, course registration, and internship course requirements.
If you have any questions about the internship requirement or internship program, email [email protected].
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Prior to registering for the internship course, students should ensure that their internship meets the minimum criteria for what constitutes an internship.
Qualifying internship criteria:
- The internship is related to your program, concentration, and/or specialization
- The work is substantive and professional in nature (perhaps with some administrative tasks, but mostly field related work depending on the organization and the nature of the position).
- Please note that the following opportunities are ineligible to be counted as an internship:
- Casual worker (on-campus) positions
- Language training
- Language studies, or other coursework
- Please note that the following opportunities are ineligible to be counted as an internship:
- The internship is not conducted in a family-owned organization/business or one’s own organization/business/foundation/start-up, etc.
- The internship is completed during your degree program (internships completed before matriculation into SIPA are ineligible)
- The internship includes at least 120 hours of work at the internship (to fulfill the requirement for the 0 credit option and/or for the 1.5-credit option in SIPA U9013) or at least 240 hours of work at the internship (for the 3-credit option in SIPA U9013)
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Internship courses are available to all students in MIA/MPA programs with internship course degree requirements and elective credit course options. However, they are also open to MPA-DP students seeking elective credit (outside of their summer field placement opportunity). MPA-DP students may complete up to 3 credits of elective internship coursework.
International students should be aware of special regulations when seeking paid internships in the United States.
Please keep in mind that International students CANNOT begin internship work until their CPT Request Form has been approved by both CAC and ISSO with provided necessary paperwork. Please carefully review the International Student Work Authorization section of the CAC website for details before beginning an internship in the U.S.
For any student pursuing Academic Training (AT), instead of CPT, please check in with your program or advising dean on how to proceed with this process. The CAC does not manage the Academic Training (AT) internship process.
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All SIPA students who are fulfilling the SIPA internship requirement or completing the internship elective courses must register in the appropriate section of SIPA U9013 (the SIPA internship course). Students have three internship course options available to them and should consult with their academic advisor and ISSO (if applicable) when making a course selection.
Internship courses are offered at 0-, 1.5-, and 3-credits:
- The 0-credit internship course is SIPA U9013 section 003. Students in this course must complete a minimum of 120 internship hours.
- The 1.5-credit internship course is SIPA U9013 section 001. Students in this course must complete a minimum of 120 internship hours.
- The 3-credit internship course is SIPA U9013 section 002. Students in this course must complete a minimum of 240 internship hours.
- Most students may receive a maximum of three (3) credits total throughout the duration of their degree program.
Course Registration Processes:
- Students are responsible for reaching out to the CAC to ensure that their internship course planning and registration best suits the students academic and professional pursuits.
- Once registered to an internship course, students are responsible for reading the provided Internship Syllabus on Courseworks, and check in with the CAC if they have any questions. Students are expected to follow SIPA Connect Instructions for submitting course paperwork, and ensure all items are submitted by provided deadlines on the syllabus.
- Students may register for SIPA U9013 courses via SSOL during the open registration periods.
- Summer Internship Notes:
- Students completing summer internships must be registered for the SIPA U9013 course in the preceding spring semester. SIPA does not offer summer internship courses. Students who secure internships after the spring registration period has closed should contact their advising dean for assistance with course registration.
- Students should review the SIPA Registration webpage for more information.
- No changes can be made to registration retro-actively. Once a student commits to a registration credit amount for their internship course, changes cannot be made.
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Internship courses at SIPA are graded as Pass/Fail. In order to secure a passing grade, students must ensure that they meet all of the course requirements outlined below:
- Complete the minimum required hours of internship work (120 for 0 and 1.5 credit courses; 240 for the 3 credit course)
- Complete New Experience in SIPA Connect (Basic information for internship opportunity)
- Complete the internship report on SIPA Connect
- Retrieve an internship evaluation from the internship supervisor on SIPA Connect
Students who fail to meet all of the course requirements may receive a Credit Pending (CP) until they complete the necessary steps to successfully pass the course.
Failure to successfully complete the internship course may result in a delay of degree conferral, and internship grading. Students are responsible for tracking their course progress and communicating with their internship supervisor to make sure that they have all internship paperwork completed.
Students are responsible for reviewing the Internship Course Syllabus on Courseworks, and ensuring they understand how the internship course works, and when to submit all internship items in a timely manner.
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To start, students should complete their Internship Report by accessing SIPA Connect.
If you complete more than one internship, you will create more than one experience.
Step 1: Click on “Experiential Learning” on the left-hand navigation pane in SIPA Connect. [View Screenshot] Step 2: Select “+New Experience” on the upper right-hand corner of the page. [View Screenshot] Step 3: Complete the form and save. [View Screenshot] Step 4: Click “Submit for Approval” at the top right of the page and click “OK” on the confirmation pop-up. [View Screenshot] Step 5: After submitting the initial approval, the student now has access to edit the required Internship Report and can share the Supervisor Evaluation Survey. Click on Documents and Forms tab to access the forms. [View Screenshot] Step 6: Click on the ellipsis and then click on “Complete Form” to complete the Internship Form. Fill out the form and click “Save”. [View Screenshot] NOTE: The responses will not autosave. Do not leave the page until you finish answering all questions and click “Save”.
Most Internship Report responses must be in paragraph form with a minimum of THREE (3) full sentences per question. All responses should be written in a professional tone. Your report will NOT be approved if there is not enough information and/or if the information is not written in the proper tone.
Students are strongly encouraged to write out their responses to the questions in a Google Doc or Word document prior to submission via SIPA Connect to prevent loss of work in the event of a technical disruption. CAC will not provide exceptions for missing work due to technical issues.
Step 7: When the form is saved, the student can edit the form until submitted for final approval. [View Screenshot] Step 8: Once the Internship Report is completed and submitted for final approval- click on the ellipsis for the “Supervisor Evaluation Survey of Student” and then click “Share.” Please note that it is the student's responsibility to ensure that their internship supervisor completes their evaluation in a timely manner, which can encompass: Following up with supervisor, Obtaining confirmation emails of completion, etc.
When the form is completed by the supervisor, the status will change to Completed. [View Screenshot]
IMPORTANT: Please notify your supervisor that the email will be sent by 12Twenty SIPA Connect so they can properly fill out the survey. Providing your supervisor with your UNI and degree may assist in this process of completion. On occasion, the survey may be marked as “spam” by the supervisor’s email system, so students should also remind their supervisor to check their spam folder if they do not receive the survey email after sharing the survey.No edits will be accepted once the Supervisor Evaluation Survey is submitted and the Experiential Learning submission is marked as “Completed” by the CAC.
Internship reports and the Supervisor Evaluation Survey of Student must be completed near the end of the student’s internship experience and before the deadlines outlined in the SIPA U9013 internship course on Coursework and the academic calendar.
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Internships are important, high-impact practices that can significantly enhance career and educational outcomes. However, some students may opt to waive the internship requirement depending on their individual circumstances.
Students who want to waive the internship requirement must complete the Internship and Professional Development Waiver Request Form. Students planning to waive the internship requirement must do so within their first year of study.
Who can waive the internship requirement? Students who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible to waive the internship requirement:
- Students who are on leave from a job. Must include required documentation with waiver request.
- Students who were employed on a full-time, permanent, professional basis for a minimum of four years (internships not included) in a field relevant to student’s concentration and career goals prior to enrolling in SIPA. Must include required documentation with waiver request.
- Dual-degree students who have completed an internship for credit in another program. Must include transcript showing course completion and (for internship) report/evaluation from another program with waiver request.
Can students receive academic credit if they waive the internship requirement?
Students who waive the internship requirement or received academic credit for an internship from their dual-degree program will not be awarded any internship credits.
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SIPA Research Internships provide a valuable opportunity for students to prepare for doctoral studies or a research-intensive career by conducting research on public affairs or policy‐related topics with a full‐time faculty member from SIPA or other Columbia University schools. With permission of the SIPA Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, students also may conduct a research project with a current part-time faculty member from SIPA. A research internship fulfills the MIA/MPA internship requirement, and it can be taken for credits (see below). Interested students are responsible for identifying a full‐time faculty member who is willing to supervise the research internship and for fulfilling steps below. Research internships are approved on a rolling basis, but approval is required before the beginning of the internship.
The CAC does not manage the research internship process. Students with questions about research internships should contact the Office of Academic Affairs at [email protected].
Internship Paperwork Process
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To start, students should complete their Internship Report by accessing SIPA Connect. You will create a new experience for each internship report you submit. If you complete more than one internship, you will create more than one experience.
Step 1: Click on “Experiential Learning” on the left-hand navigation pane in SIPA Connect. [View Screenshot] Step 2: Select “+New Experience” on the upper right-hand corner of the page. [View Screenshot] Step 3: Complete the form and save. [View Screenshot] Step 4: Click “Submit for Approval” at the top right of the page and click “OK” on the confirmation pop-up. [View Screenshot] Step 5: After submitting the initial approval, the student now has access to edit the required Internship Report and can share the Supervisor Evaluation Survey. Click on Documents and Forms tab to access the forms. [View Screenshot] Step 6: Click on the ellipsis and then click on “Complete Form” to complete the Internship Form. Fill out the form and click “Save”. [View Screenshot] NOTE: The responses will not autosave. Do not leave the page until you finish answering all questions and click “Save”.
Most Internship Report responses must be in paragraph form with a minimum of THREE (3) full sentences per question. All responses should be written in a professional tone. Your report will NOT be approved if there is not enough information and/or if the information is not written in the proper tone.
Students are strongly encouraged to write out their responses to the questions in a Google Doc or Word document prior to submission via SIPA Connect to prevent loss of work in the event of a technical disruption. CAC will not provide exceptions for missing work due to technical issues.
Step 7: When the form is saved, the student can edit the form until submitted for final approval. [View Screenshot] Step 8: Once the Internship Report is completed and submitted for final approval- click on the ellipsis for the “Supervisor Evaluation Survey of Student” and then click “Share.” When the form is completed by the supervisor, the status will change to Completed. [View Screenshot]
IMPORTANT: Please send your supervisor your UNI and degree so they can properly fill out the survey. On occasion, the survey may be marked as “spam” by the supervisor’s email system, so students should also remind their supervisor to check their spam folder if they do not receive the survey email after sharing the survey.No edits will be accepted once the Supervisor Evaluation Survey is submitted and the Experiential Learning submission is marked as “Completed” by the CAC.
Internship reports and the Supervisor Evaluation Survey of Student must be completed near the end of the student’s internship experience and before the deadlines outlined in the SIPA U9013 course and the academic calendar.
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Once the Internship Report is completed, students must then trigger the Supervisor Evaluation Survey by completing the Internship Employer Information Form. Students must include their supervisor’s official work email address on the form. Surveys from personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) will not be accepted. Students are advised to notify their supervisor about the incoming survey so that the supervisor is not caught off guard. On occasion, the survey may be marked as “spam” by the supervisor’s email system, so students should also remind their supervisor to check their spam folder if they do not receive the survey email after the Internship Employer Information Form has been submitted.
Internship reports and Internship Employer Information Forms must be completed near the end of the student’s internship experience and before the deadlines outlined in the SIPA U9013 course and the academic calendar.
Internship FAQs
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Students are responsible for communicating with their supervisor to ensure completion of the Supervisor Evaluation Survey. If you are experiencing difficulty communicating with your supervisor, you may contact the CAC to ask for assistance by emailing [email protected]. As a matter of policy and respect for students’ relationships with their supervisors, the CAC will not email supervisors to remind them to complete the Supervisor Evaluation Survey without the consent of the student.
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Students who are unable to complete the minimum required number of hours for their internship should email [email protected] as soon as possible so they can discuss their options with the Associate Director.
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While reports of internship difficulties are rare, there are times when students experience challenges during their internships. Students facing difficulties with their internship may speak to the Associate Director by emailing [email protected].
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Students considering early termination of an internship should consult with the Associate Director of Student Relations to discuss options for course completion and possible impacts on their degree progress or stipend award(s).
International students working under CPT should also consult with an ISSO advisor to discuss possible visa implications. To set up a consultation with the Associate Director, students should email [email protected]. To consult with ISSO, students should email [email protected] or set up a virtual appointment.
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Students are expected to complete the Internship Report and Supervisor Evaluation Survey of Student towards the end of their internship experience. They can review the Internship Course Syllabus on Coursework to ensure they understand internship paperwork deadlines, and any other internship program related items.
All internship paperwork must be completed by the deadline outlined in the internship course and academic calendar. Students with questions about the deadlines or the completion process should contact [email protected].
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Yes, students completing an additional internship with the same employer will need to complete the required internship paperwork (Internship Report and Supervisor Evaluation Survey) in order to meet the course requirements.
It is the students responsibility to ensure that every semester they are enrolled into an internship course SIPA U9013, they submit required internship paperwork (Internship Report and Supervisor Evaluation Survey) per semester, even if the student's internship experience is extended across multiple semesters. It is expected that every semester a student experience will vary, and the internship report will reflect this.
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Depending on a student’s academic need and internship options, the CAC may approve a student combining internships. Students wishing to combine internships must receive approval from the Associate Director of Student Relations by emailing [email protected].
Students should note that not every request will be approved and exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.
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It is a very rare occurrence that a student is unable to find a suitable internship during their time at SIPA. If a student is worried that they may not be able to secure an appropriate internship, they should consult with the Associate Director of Student Relations to discuss their situation and options for satisfying the degree requirement.
Students with concerns about their ability to fulfill the internship requirement should email [email protected].
It is the students responsibility to ensure they meet their internship requirement in order to graduate on time, and discuss with the CAC how to best fulfill this requirement in a timely manner.
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Students can pursue internships after graduation if they wish. There are fellowships and internships opportunities that are offered for recent graduates to continue learning skills and engage in fieldwork.
Limitations:
- International Students
- Unfortunately due to off campus internship opportunities consisting of a CPT work authorization, this is not possible for international students.
- CPT work authorizations can only be granted when a student is matriculated at SIPA.
- Internship Course registration and CPT work authorizations go hand-in-hand, which means that if students are not matriculated at SIPA, they cannot request CPT work authorization for any internships after graduation.
- International Students
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Yes! Please refer to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Guidebook. You can access the FAQ Guidebook here (Student needs to be logged in with Columbia email in order to access this document).
How to find an answer using the FAQ Guidebook:
- The Question List is noted in the first two pages. Feel free to review, and go to designated page with answers.
- You can utilize the Ctrl+F (Control Find) keyboard shortcut to search for text within the FAQ document.