Columbia University

Location

Department

Description

Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) educates professionals who work in public, private, and nonprofit organisations through its dual degree and 7 single-degree programmes, which combine training in analytical methods and practical management skills to ensure that graduates are prepared to understand problems and implement solutions. Through social science research and hands-on practice, SIPA’s programme is aimed to improve social services, advocate for human rights, strengthen markets, protect the environment, and secure peace, in graduates' communities and around the world.

The curricula of SIPA’s programmes include:  

1. Master of International Affairs (MIA)
2. Master of Public Administration (MPA)
3. Program in Economic Policy Management (PEMP)
4. Executive MPA (EMPA)
5. MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (ESP)
6. MPA in Development Practice
7. Dual Degree Programme
8. PhD in Sustainable Development

Students combine core skills with a focus on a policy area of their choice, and they typically engage in a practice-oriented capstone or workshop experience toward the end of their studies. The School draws its strengths from the resources of New York City and Columbia University, and has a global reach, with a student body that is 50 percent international, with 15,000 graduates in more than 150 countries (as of July 2009).

Programmes

1. Master of International Affairs (MIA) - The curriculum of the MIA degree programme is designed to provide students with qualitative and quantitative analytical skills and with the hands-on management skills required by leaders in the major fields of international affairs, combined with substantive knowledge of a policy concentration and demonstrated foreign language ability. Among the specialisations offered by the programme is International Media, Advocacy, and Communications (included below with the MPA degree description - it is a specialisation of either degree.)
   
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2. Master of Public Administration (MPA) - The MPA curriculum has been designed to develop public affairs professionals who understand the increasingly complex issues shaping local and national level policies and projects and who have the analytical and managerial skills to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Although the students and faculty in the MPA programme focus on local and national projects, they focus in a global context, drawing on the international strengths of SIPA. Among the specialisations offered by the programme is International Media, Advocacy and Communications. (see below)
   
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   International Media, Advocacy and Communications Specialisation
   
   From the SIPA website "The media play a critical role in international affairs. They shape public opinion and help set government priorities. Knowing how to navigate in the world of mass communications is essential for government officials, academics, and policy advocates. Just as important is understanding how new technologies work and their effect on the media. Beginning in fall of 2009, SIPA will offer a specialization in international media, advocacy and communications aimed at giving our students an understanding of the important role that media play in shaping the international affairs agenda as well as practical help with writing and communications skills. Our courses will be suitable for students who want to work in public affairs and/or communication departments in organizations that are active internationally. They will also help those who plan to work for NGOs or international institutions and government and want to become more media savvy. Students who choose the IMAC specialization will be required to take three courses in this area, but may take more if their schedule permits. We will offer courses on media and development, advocacy and public affairs, writing for the Internet and writing on international affairs. Many of our students pursue careers in public affairs, in journalism and working for government and international organizations. Past graduates are employed by The Economist, Bloomberg, UNICEF [the United Nations Children's Fund], UNDP [the United Nations Development Programme], US Department of State and a number of governments.
   
   Dual Degree with Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
   
   Students who are interested in a career in journalism and intend to write on international affairs may want to explore the option of a dual degree with Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. This two-year degree combines the rigorous demands of SIPA’s MIA program with the world-class journalism education provided by Columbia’s School of Journalism. Students in the dual-degree program graduate with a strong grounding in the SIPA curriculum as well as the writing, reporting and new media skills taught at the School of Journalism."
   
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3. Executive Master of Public Policy and Administration Program (EMPA) - This programme aims to train professionals, who cannot take the time out to pursue full-time study, to be more competent and sophisticated public managers by incorporating broad questions of public affairs and the specific analytic, managerial, and communication skills of management and policy analysis into the curriculum. The EMPA curriculum is designed to strengthen students' analytical and management skills and to deepen their policy knowledge, making them more effective in their chosen careers. Students enrolled in the Executive MPA programme may complete the degree in either two or three years of study, depending on the course load they wish to carry. All students complete a set of core courses and choose between two concentrations. Students in each concentration complete a three-course context of public policy sequence and four concentration courses. Students choose a concentration in Advanced Management and Finance or International Economic Policy and Management.
   
   The Advanced Management and Finance concentration offers courses in public finance, management innovation, nonprofit management and finance, and public sector marketing and communication.
   
   The International Economic Policy and Management concentration consists of courses in international trade and finance, open economy macroeconomics, and international political economy.
   
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4. MPA in Development Practice - The twenty-two month MPA degree in Development Practice is designed to train aspiring practitioners to understand and manage approaches to sustainable development challenges. This cross-disciplinary, academic programme emphasises the development of critical knowledge, skills, and attributes of an effective professional in developing societies.

   Graduates are educated to have the ability to:

   • apply cross-disciplinary knowledge in the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences to problem-solving;
     
   • integrate science and technology in the development of sustainable development policy and implementation;
     
   • communicate effectively with sustainable development practitioners;
     
   • develop effective policy strategies for sustainable development interventions;
     
   • analyse a variety of information and its impact on sustainable development;
     
   •  utilise a variety of management and leadership models for the implementation of effective development interventions.

    

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