SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

INAF U4410y Political, Social & Economic Development in Brazil 1.5 pts. This course is set-up in a form of a practicum where major activists concerned with Brazilian political, social and economic development will be asked to address a policy problem and discuss their proposals for effective changes. Other speakers will analyze the government's policies but will also discuss major new reports or studies, and bring to our attention key issues that are not yet on the policy agenda. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Latin America. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6032y Investing in Emerging Markets 1.5 pts. The past few years have played host to a seismic shift in influence in the world economy, as emerging markets have risen in prominence. Indeed, Emerging markets now make up over 30% of the global economy. They have overtaken the US as well as the European Union as the largest economic zone in the world. More importantly, they contributed over 50% of global nominal growth in US dollar terms in the last three years, and are likely to represent even more in the coming quarters as growth slows in the developed world. As a result, emerging markets have moved center stage not only in the economic arena, but also in the business as well as in the investment world. Through a mix of analytical overview and case studies, the class will discuss the rise of emerging markets and its consequences from an investment point of view. It will explore current themes and developments in the financial markets of the emerging world. The goals of this class are to provide students with a solid understanding of emerging markets and give them tools that will help them understand the challenges and opportunities that investing in this sector may represent. The first two classes will focus on macroeconomic aspects, seen through the lenses of a 'public market' investor. The following two sessions will concentrate on emerging market investing: why build an allocation to emerging markets and how to invest. In the last three classes, we will discuss several investment themes that are likely to have a major impact on the investment and business world in the coming years. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: E&E- IEMP. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6051y Infrastructure Investment and Development 1.5 pts. Key question: How to harmonize the diverse objectives of private investors, public sector officials, multilateral institutions and other key actors in the development of international infrastructure projects. This course will examine the principles underlying global infrastructure investment and explore effective strategies to encourage development of facilities for transportation, water, energy, healthcare and education. The classes will focus primarily upon three or more specific case studies of recent projects. Subjects of examination will include Linha Quatro of the Metrô de São Paulo, the Kenya-Uganda Rift Valley Railway and the Guangdong Province water system. The projects will be examined from the perspectives of financial investors, industrial operators, creditors, including commercial banks and multilateral institutions, government policymakers and the public. Issues discussed will include risk allocation, delivery methods and the evolving cast of global investors. Course dates: 1/23/2012 - 3/5/2012SIPA: EPD. SIPA: IFEP- Economic Policy. SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6151y Human Rights and Children 1.5 pts.

This course is designed to introduce international law and standards on children's rights, analyze the ways in which they have been implemented (or ignored), and consider ways in which these rights can be achieved. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the leading international treaty on children's rights, has been in effect for twenty years and sets forth states' obligations to enforce these rights. The course will focus on five substantive areas: children and armed conflict, including the use of children as soldiers and attacks on education; worst forms of child labor, including child trafficking; juvenile justice; right to health; and migrant children. Class discussions will include how to identify violations of children's rights, how to form a strategy to eliminate or ameliorate them, how to raise national and international consciousness of these abuses, and how to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and advocacy undertaken. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6166y African Institutions 1.5 pts. The course seeks to give you the perspective and analytical capability to deal with in-depth consideration of the complex challenges facing Africa's regional and sub-regional institutions. In particular, the course aims to enable you: a) to acquire knowledge and understanding of the recent history and contemporary developments of selected African organizations; and b) to examine the context and consequences of current and emerging global political and economic challenges for African institutions. The course will seek to challenge you to approach these issues through the prism of African and international decision-makers, and to be able to offer them policy relevant recommendations. SIPA: Africa. SIPA: Intl Org. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6166y African Institutions 1.5 pts. The course seeks to give you the perspective and analytical capability to deal with in-depth consideration of the complex challenges facing Africa's regional and sub-regional institutions. In particular, the course aims to enable you: a) to acquire knowledge and understanding of the recent history and contemporary developments of selected African organizations; and b) to examine the context and consequences of current and emerging global political and economic challenges for African institutions. The course will seek to challenge you to approach these issues through the prism of African and international decision-makers, and to be able to offer them policy relevant recommendations. SIPA: Africa. SIPA: Intl Org. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6216x and y Communique 1.5 pts.

This two-hour weekly class will produce content for the print and online editions of Communique, SIPA's online newspaper. Professor Liza Featherstone will help SIPA students conceive and report stories about international affairs and the Columbia community. Students will develop reporting, writing and editing skills. Some will also contribute to the Communique blog, and we as a class will work to better define and help execute the online presence of the publication. Those who are interested will also have the opportunity to work on humor and first-person writing. While the course will be rigorous, bringing higher standards to Communique, it will also allow students considerable freedom to pursue their particular interests, whether those be feature writing, opinion writing, profiles, investigative reporting, spot news, or line editing. Since this is a journalism class, we will naturally be reading some of the masters of the craft, including George Orwell, Joan Didion and Alice Steinbach. We will also learn how to think hard about our readers. Some of those considerations will be timeless: we'll be asking who they are, what they want to know, what we have to offer them and above all, how to get and keep their attention. But we will also be learning to work in the contemporary media environment: strategizing how to keep our print product relevant in the age of Twitter, Facebook and tumblr. All levels of journalistic experience welcome. SIPA: IMAC. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6227y Communique (Spring Semester) his two-hour weekly class will produce content for the print and online editions of Communique, SIPA's online newspaper. Professor Liza Featherstone will help SIPA students conceive and report stories about international affairs and the Columbia community. Students will develop reporting, writing and editing skills. Some will also contribute to the Communique blog, and we as a class will work to better define and help execute the online presence of the publication. Those who are interested will also have the opportunity to work on humor and first-person writing. While the course will be rigorous, bringing higher standards to Communique, it will also allow students considerable freedom to pursue their particular interests, whether those be feature writing, opinion writing, profiles, investigative reporting, spot news, or line editing. Since this is a journalism class, we will naturally be reading some of the masters of the craft, including George Orwell, Joan Didion and Alice Steinbach. We will also learn how to think hard about our readers. Some of those considerations will be timeless: we'll be asking who they are, what they want to know, what we have to offer them and above all, how to get and keep their attention. But we will also be learning to work in the contemporary media environment: strategizing how to keep our print product relevant in the age of Twitter, Facebook and tumblr. All levels of journalistic experience welcome. SIPA: IMAC. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6370y (Section 001) Women & Global Leadership 1.5 pts. This practicum will explore the progress of women's leadership on a global scale. We will look at women's leadership in both the public and the private sphere. In addition to understanding the current status of women's leadership around the globe, we will examine the competitive advantages successful integration of women brings about for a country or a company. Finally, we will look to understand the obstacles which have inhibited women's further progress in both of these arenas. The course will be taught in an interactive seminar format. Course dates: 1/19/2012 - 3/1/2012SIPA: EPD. SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Gender Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6373y Gender Policy Practicum The Gender Policy Practicum creates a forum in which policy experts from different academic disciplines and fields of practice can share their experiences and perspectives with SIPA students. Through the Practicum, students will explore gender integration in various SIPA concentrations and specializations, as well as in multiple arenas of policy development and implementation. Students will be introduced to current trends and debates related to the promotion of gender equality in different fields of policy practice and will be encouraged to think critically about these issues and their relevance to their academic and professional goals. Course dates: 3/8 - 4/26SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Gender Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6406x International Response to Landmine Challenge 1.5 pts. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction effectively seeks to permanently eliminate landmines. The origins, negotiation, and implementation of this December 1997 international agreement forms the substantive core of this course. The course will continue by examining the operationalization of the Convention. What programs have been implemented and which have proved to be successful? What is the geographic scope of the humanitarian threat posed by landmines in October 2004? What roles are states, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations playing? As a practical example of global humanitarian intervention by the international community, what challenges remain and how best can they be tackled? Finally, how "successful" has the Ottawa Convention been? COURSE START DATE 10/28/11; COURSE END DATE 10/29/11SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Intl Org. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6490y International Humanitarian Law 1 pt. The overall aim of the course is to help students to understand the system of international humanitarian law and to obtain the professional skills and insight to use that knowledge in the context of complex humanitarian operations. Upon completing the course, students should understand the historical development and system of international law applicable in armed conflict situations, be familiar with the basic principles of international humanitarian law applicable to all armed conflicts including the basic rights of those who support victims in wars and conflicts, be able to analyze specifically the law guiding humanitarian operations, understand the rapid development of the law in responding to changes in warfare strategies in tactics and understand basic responses to serious violations of the law. Course dates: April 13th & 14th, 2012SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6497y Humanitarian Crisis-East Congo 1 pt. The overall aim of the course is to help students to understand the situation in Eastern Congo and how humanitarian organizations intervene. Upon completing this course students should: 1. Understand the historical development and current status of the conflict in Eastern Congo. 2. Be familiar with the basic operations, dilemmas, as well as achievements and shortcomings of several humanitarian NGOs active in Eastern Congo. 3. Understand the breakdown of state or better administrative institutions, in particular the education and health systems. Course dates: March 30 & 31, 2012SIPA: Africa. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U6561y Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding & Development 1.5 pts.Not offered in 2012-2013. Course objectives are to to become acquainted with conflict environments and the broad range of actors and approaches, notably within the UN, involved in promoting development in crisis and post-conflict situations; To engage the students in the policy and programme elements of a development-oriented response to conflict and post-conflict and to introduce them to the research and policy development and programming methods of the United Nations or other international organisations; to introduce students to what it feels like to work with these issues daily, within the UN or other work environments, and to guide them through the complexities of the ogranisations' policy-setting and decision-making arrangements; to become familiar with the case studies, and through this, develop practical understanding of the issues and the tools available to the international community. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Human Rights. SIPA: ISP. SIPA: ICR. SIPA: UN Studies. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8092y Government use of financial instruments 1.5 pts. The menu of financial instruments available to governments is large and growing. Borrowing, asset sales through equity issuance or trade sale, leasing, asset acquisition and a wide range of derivatives are widely used. The opportunities provided by financial markets can greatly expand what a government can do to serve its public. They can also allow governments to take action, intentionally or through misunderstanding of the implications of the steps they are taking, to impose large costs on the public. In this course we will bring together the objectives of governments and the opportunities provided by a range of financial activities and explore the relationship between the two. The emphasis will be on practical decision-making in the environment in which officials operate with examples from experience in both industrialized countries and emerging markets. Students should expect to sharpen their understanding of how to think broadly about financial decisions in a public sector setting, not to learn cookbook approaches to specific transactions. Students should have basic coursework in economics, quantitative analysis and corporate finance or other finance courses that make concepts like present value, mean-variance and option value familiar. Course dates: 1/19/2012 - 3/1/2012SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: Management. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8104y Role of the Local Financial Sector in Development 1.5 pts.Not offered in 2012-2013. This course will examine the historical role, impact and potential of the local financial sector as a vehicle for enhancing sustained development in Developing Countries. We will also examine the historical and prospective role of multilateral institutions' impact on this sector. We then will look at the obstacles to realizing the sectors sustainable development potential as well as the enhancements in banking techniques and analytics that may make realization of this potential more likely. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8210y Managing Political Risk I 1.5 pts. The first module of "Managing Political Risk" will focus on building a solid theoretical foundation to analyze political risk, andexaminethe value of having a structural view for identifying and monitoringpolitical risks. The course will explore how political science theory can serve as a basis to study how politics influences a variety of macroeconomic indicators, portfolio investment (financials) and fixed investment (corporates), by introducing a range of analytical tools to explore a variety of case studies. SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: IFEP- Economic Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8211y Managing Political Risk II 1.5 pts. Prerequisites: INAF U8210 "Managing Political Risk" module two will utilize the theoretical framework of module one and focus on strengthening the skills necessary to deliver solid political risk analysis that is relevant for investors and policy makers. It will aim to answer questions such as: Why has the political risk industry blossomed and how is political risk analysis executed in practice? Where does understanding political risk create value? SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: IFEP- Economic Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8385y Managing Global Political Risk 1.5 pts.Not offered in 2012-2013. In recent years investors have recognized that politics can matter at least as much as economic fundamentals. As the relevance of political factors has become more apparent to investors, so has the general lack of comprehensive and systematic tools for evaluating them. MGPR examines the process of identifying and managing political risk in a range of environments. Particular attention is given to applying frameworks for measuring and mitigating risk in emerging market countries where social and political instability impact investors and Western policy makers. We consider a range of analytical tools and approaches including index/framework construction, scenario planning, and the role of political institutions. Throughout the course we include a broad scope of individual cases that range from big picture transnational themes like terrorism and arms proliferation, to more micro cases on individual countries, firms, and even specific plant sites at the local level. Throughout the course students will "cover" individual emerging market countries and will use the "analytical toolkit" from the course to identify key political risks, and to develop strategies for mitigating these risks. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: IFEP- Economic Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8689y Future of Global Financial Institutions 1.5 pts. In today's global world, there is no aspect of business that is not directly or materially affected by the giants of the financial services sector. The study of international commerce, then, should include an understanding of the current and future role of global financial institutions, key drivers influencing the industry, and strategic challenges and opportunities facing today's financial services' CEOs. This course will provide a student, without a financial institution background, with critical fundamentals to apply to their own experiences. Course Dates: 1/19-3/1SIPA: EPD. SIPA: IFEP- Finance. SIPA: IFEP- Economic Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8792y Women & Nonprofit Management 1.5 pts. This course is designed as an introduction to the dynamic world of non-profits as seen through the eyes of women leaders in the field. Non-profits play a vital role in our society. Their missions are as diverse as the varied needs of the communities they serve and include many organizations founded by women such as: the American Red Cross, the Girl Scouts, the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, the first settlement houses, Inwood House as well as a host of other large and small organizations all working to improve the circumstances of individuals, social groups, states and countries. The course will introduce students to the history of women's leadership in the non-profit arena as well as to a number of women who currently lead non-profits. Women's leadership styles, the importance of the mission statement and methods of managing will be discussed as well as the opportunities available in the non-profit world to make an impact. The class will be highly interactive, and a number of leaders of non-profit organizations will speak on a variety of topics. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Management. SIPA: Gender Policy. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8882y Practicum on Education in Emergencies 1.5 pts. This course will focus on preparing students to understand the importance of education in the "emergency" settings; to reflect on the ways in which education interfaces with protective or non-protective forces in these settings; and to articulate the best practices and minimum standards for implementing education programming across these settings. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Humanitarian Affairs. SIPA: Short Courses.

INAF U8912y Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Goals 1.5 pts. It has become vital (because of mass poverty,climate change,biodiversity rapid erosion,water and food crisis,...), to shift to a more sustainable form of development.This will require effectively mobilizing all resources of human societies:scientific and technical resources,as well as behavioral and institutional moving forces.None may be neglected,and the way they are articulated will be decisive. SIPA: Applied Science. SIPA: EPD. SIPA: E&E- Environment Policy. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

PUAF U6440y Econ Dev in NY during Econ Downturn 1.5 pts. This class will explore the challenges, and opportunities, facing New York City's economic development agenda in today's economic and political environment. Class instruction will focus on the real life players, processes and negotiations that shape both large and small development projects across the City. We will then turn to case studies of actual City initiatives and discuss the challenges faced in these projects and how, and why, the City has sought to push these projects forward. Finally, during the last two classes, students will work in teams to develop and present economic diversification goals for the City's economy. Course dates: 3/19/2012 - 4/30/2012SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

PUAF U6460x and y Benchmarking Education and Skills Development 1.5 pts. Benchmarking is the process of continuously comparing and measuring against other organizations' performance, and analyzing the philosophies, practices, and measures that help an organization improve performance. Benchmarking goes beyond competitive analysis and encourages practitioners to examine organizations in markets that are different from their own. Benchmarking goes beyond quantitative analysis, and practitioners will consider organizational dynamics and qualitative characteristics in performance. Using a public sector-based case study with hands-on group activities, as well as various other examples given by the instructors, this course will teach students the benchmarking process along with the different tools and techniques to be used in implementation. COURSE DATES: 11/11/11 & 11/12/11SIPA: EPD. SIPA: Management. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

PUAF U8237y Housing Policy & Equitable Development 1.5 pts. The class is designed to introduce students to housing policy and programs and their impact on communities and cities. Utilizing case studies, lectures, and readings, the class will focus on the problems of housing affordability; the loss, maintenance and/or creation of mixed income housing and communities; and the loss, maintenance and/or creation of segregated housing and geographically segregated communities based on race, ethnicity and/or religion. With New York City as a laboratory for housing policies and programs which have addressed all of these issues in some way over time, the class will compare and discuss other cities which have experienced one or more of these issues and examine how well their policy and program responses successfully addressed them. Other cities to be discussed include New Orleans, Liverpool, Belfast and Leipzig. Students will examine how public policies and programs can both create these problems in cities and also how they can work to resolve them; what tools are most effective; what constraints must be considered; and the impact of unintended consequences. Course dates: 3/9/2012 - 4/27/2012SIPA: Management. SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

PUAF U8241y Global Urban Policy and Development This course will provide an overview of the key worldwide issues and trends, institutions and initiatives, with respect to global urban policy and development. Several sessions will address specific challenges and solutions, including urban economies and metropolitan economic strategy; infrastructure, transportation, land-use, energy, and environment; poverty, informality, jobs, livelihoods, housing, and communities; and inclusive and sustainable economic development. SIPA: USP- Urban Policy Track. SIPA: USP- Social Policy Track. SIPA: Short Courses.

REGN U6120y Crime, Corruption and Transition in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union Organized crime and corruption represent one of the central challenges facing all governments in transition from the planned to the market economy. Over two decades after the fall of Communism, they still form a considerable barrier to economic growth and the consolidation of democratic institutions. Dramatic real-life narrative will enhance the solid theoretical foundations of the course. SIPA: East Central Europe. SIPA: ISP. SIPA: Russia. SIPA: Short Courses.

SIPA U4010x and y (Section 1) Intermediate Excel for International and Public Affairs This 3-week mini-course will focus on basic/intermediate level of Excel functions that are used in statistics and economics courses at SIPA. SIPA: Electives. SIPA: Short Courses.

SIPA U4010x and y (Section 2) Intermediate Excel for International and Public Affairs This 3-week mini-course will focus on basic/intermediate level of Excel functions that are used in statistics and economics courses at SIPA. SIPA: Short Courses.

SIPA U4011x and y Advanced Excel for International and Public Affairs Prerequisites: SIPA U4010 or equivalent This 3-week mini-course will focus on advanced level of Excel functions that are used in statistics and economics courses at SIPA. This course is open to SIPA students only. Students must attend all classes and submit assignments on a weekly basis. This course requires Intermediate Excel 2007 course (SIPA U4010) or equivalent experience with Excel. SIPA: Electives. SIPA: Short Courses.