MPA in Economic Policy Management
Deadlines: Summer 2026
Early Action and JJ/WBGSP Applicants:
November 1, 2025
Fellowship Consideration:
December 20, 2025
Final Application:
February 15, 2026
Program Length
1 Year
Degree Awarded
MPA
STEM-DESIGNATED
Yes
Become a highly accomplished policymaker and professional in market economies.
Students in the one-year, STEM-designated MPA-EPM program acquire the skills required to become highly accomplished professionals in economics, finance, and related fields. It combines the analytical rigor of the social sciences with the practical insights of economics and management, providing an in-depth examination of real-world policy successes and failures.
The MPA-EPM is a STEM-designated one-year program
The MPA-EPM, a STEM-designated degree program, equips professionals with the skills they need to become highly accomplished professionals in economics, finance, and related fields.
A Legacy of MPA-EPM: Three Generations of Graduates
Who It's For
This program is designed for professionals who want to develop or deepen their expertise in economics, finance, and related fields. It is an ideal fit for those working in government, international organizations, the private sector, or nonprofits who are striving to join an international community of peers committed to excellence, leadership, and impact in the ever-changing global landscape.
Career Paths
Graduates equipped with cutting-edge analytical and problem-solving skills transition into careers offering a wide range of opportunities across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Many also return to higher-level positions within their respective government agencies. Recent employers include the World Bank, the United Nations, Goldman Sachs, SMBC, Deloitte, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the University of Cambridge. The STEM degree allows international students to apply for an additional 24 months of OPT after their first year of standard OPT (for a total of three years).
Curriculum
Condensed into a dynamic one-year program, the MPA-EPM curriculum encompasses advanced micro- and macroeconomics, quantitative methods, management and leadership, and specialized topics such as economic development, energy and climate change, finance and technology, and social impact. Each course is built around real-world examples and case studies and emphasizes active learning. Students may choose additional elective courses offered at SIPA and other graduate schools at Columbia.
MPA-EPM students must choose one of three curricular focuses:
MPA-EPM students choose one of three curricular focuses:
The Economic Policy Management focus (EPM) builds students' technical competence in economic management and policymaking, enabling them to apply their expertise to issues such as poverty, labor markets, and education.
The Climate, Energy & Environment focus (CE&E) trains students in the fundamentals of the energy sector and climate policy, including international energy systems and business organizations involved in the production, transportation, and marketing of energy products.
The Central Banking and Financial Markets focus (CBFM) explores the latest techniques and trends in capital market development and macroprudential policy. It is ideal not only for central bankers and financial regulators, but also for professionals in investment, policy, and international development who seek a deeper understanding of financial systems.
Explore the MPA-EPM Curriculum »
Explore our Tuition and Fees »
Newsletter: Fall 2025 - Winter 2026 »
Program Information
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All MPA-EPM students take six courses in each of the program’s three semesters. Courses in the three focus areas are identical in the first semester but then diverge in the second and third semesters.
Visit the SIPA Bulletin for detailed information regarding each focus area.
To discuss the possibility of waiving any core requirements, contact the MPA-EPM program office.
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In addition to SIPA’s general admission requirements, the MPA-EPM program requires the following:
- Meaningful professional exposure to economic policymaking, preferably in a public agency or nongovernmental organization
- At least two years of work experience (preferably)
- An undergraduate degree with a record of superior academic accomplishment, and preferably with strong economics content
Ready to Apply?
Employment Statistics
Employment information as reported by the graduates six months after graduation. In 2025, 23 students graduated from the MPA-EPM program, 20 reported.
Employed/Further Study
Seeking Employment
Not Seeking Employment
SIPA’s MPA-EPM is a participating program in JJWBGSP. A JJWBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.
Register for more Information
If you would like to learn more about the MPA In Economic Policy Management (MPA-EPM), join our information session and meet the team. We will present information and answer questions about academics, student life, and admissions for the Program.
Contact Us
Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs
420 West 118 Street | Suite 1303
+1 212-854-6982
[email protected]
