Alma Mater – Columbia University

Five-Year Joint Degrees

SIPA offers a program for Columbia undergraduate students, a five-year joint degree program, which leads to a BA and an MIA or MPA degree in five years. 

Columbia College and General Studies 5-Year Programs: Students interested in pursuing the five-year joint degree program with Columbia College and General Studies should contact  Dean Karina Nguyen.

GAPP 4+1 Pathway: Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) majors interested in combining their BA with an MIA or MPA in five years should contact GAPP advising at [email protected].

Barnard College 4+1 Program: Students interested in pursuing the five-year joint degree program with Barnard College should contact Tsuya Yee, Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

MIA/MPA and BA

SIPA’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA) manages the School’s Five-Year Program.

The Dual Degree Program with Columbia College, Barnard, and the School of General Studies gives exceptional students the opportunity to earn their undergraduate degree and a Master of International Affairs (MIA) or Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in just five years.

Students accepted into this combined bachelor’s/master’s program take SIPA graduate courses during their senior year of undergraduate studies, in addition to any remaining courses needed to complete their bachelor requirements. During their fifth/last year, students matriculate at SIPA and spend two semesters completing their master’s requirements.

Fifty-four credits are required for the MIA or MPA degree. Students may complete up to 24 credits of advanced standing during their senior (fourth) undergraduate year, then complete at least 30 credits (two academic semesters) during their fifth year as students-in-residence at SIPA to meet the overall requirements for the MIA or MPA degree.

GAPP 4+1 students follow a modified version of this structure. See the GAPP 4+1 Pathway section below for details specific to that track. 
 

Admissions

The following applies to the Columbia College, General Studies, and Barnard Five-Year Programs. GAPP majors should refer to the GAPP 4+1 Pathway section below instead.

The SIPA Five-Year Program is designed for outstanding students who are passionate about and committed to public administration, foreign service, or international relations. Prospective students should consider the following:

  • Applicants will have completed most of their requirements for their undergraduate major at the end of their junior year.
  • Applicants must consult with the Dean's Office of the applicant's college to obtain their approval regarding eligibility and confirm they are on track to complete their bachelor requirements within a year of being admitted to the program. All students who are admitted to the five-year program must have their bachelor’s degree conferred prior to their first semester in residency at SIPA.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to highlight in their applications whatever background they have in economics, modern languages, political science, statistics, and mathematics.

GAPP 4+1 Pathway

Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) majors in good academic standing may continue directly into SIPA’s MIA or MPA program through a streamlined version of the Five-Year Joint Degree program, distinct from the process described above for Columbia College, General Studies, and Barnard students outside the GAPP major:

  • Streamlined application — no GRE, application fee, or SIPA deposit required.
  • Course flexibility: Qualifying GAPP coursework may count toward MIA/MPA core course requirements through waivers and substitutions.
  • More room to explore: Take advantage of additional graduate-level elective space to pursue concentrations, minors, and courses across Columbia’s graduate programs.
  • A select number of GAPP majors who demonstrate financial need and outstanding academic achievement will be considered for dedicated scholarship funding.

Eligibility 
Rising seniors majoring in Global Affairs and Public Policy who meet the following criteria are eligible for guaranteed admission to the SIPA Five-Year Program:

  • Have been enrolled in Columbia College or General Studies for at least four semesters, or the equivalent
  • Have completed at least 93 credits but no more than 100 credits
  • Have completed the Columbia College or General Studies Core Curriculum requirements
  • Have typically earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5

Students interested in this pathway should contact [email protected].
 

Tuition and Financial Aid

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 16.5 credits per term.

Students are granted institutional financial aid by the school in which they are registered each term. Students 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. 

A select number of GAPP majors who demonstrate financial need and outstanding academic achievement will be considered for dedicated scholarship funding. For information, contact [email protected].
 

SIPA Teaching Assistantships

Five-Year students may apply for merit-based Teaching Assistantships after completing at least one semester of study at SIPA — the Fall semester of their fourth year. Students must be in good academic standing. Other conditions may also apply.

The SIPA Assistantship application is available online in January. Explore Funding for Current Students.