SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

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Master of Public Administration and Law

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MIA and JD
Joint Degree (School of International & Public Affairs - Law School)
30 SIPA credits + 83 Law School credits 10 of the 83 credits required for the JD can be taken at SIPA
3 semesters in residence at SIPA + 5 semesters in residence at the Law School

MPA/J.D. Dual Degree Curriculum Overview

Dual-degree students are required to fulfill the MPA and JD core requirements outlined below. Dual-degree candidates must complete a minimum of 3 semesters in residence at SIPA and fulfill all MPA core requirements. Dual-degrees do not need to complete a policy concentration or specialization.  The second professional degree will be accepted toward the MPA in lieu of a policy concentration. 

Core Requirements – SIPA

  • PUAF U6110 Politics of Policymaking (4 credits)
  • SIPA U6000 Management for International and Public Affairs (3 credits)
  • SIPA U4200/U4201 or U6400/U6401 Economics for International & Public Affairs I/II
    (6 credits)
  • SIPA U6500 Quantitative Methods (3 credits)
  • Financial Management Requirement:
    (students must take one of the following courses)
    • SIPA U6310 Budgeting for Non-Profits (3 credits)
    • SIPA U6320 Budgeting for Government (3 credits)
    • SIPA U6200 Accounting for International and Public Affairs (3 credits)
    • INAF U6022 Economics of Finance (3 credits)
  • Capstone Courses:
    • Capstone Workshop course number TBA (3 credits)
  • SIPA U4040 Professional Development (.5 credit)
  • Internship (1.5-3 credits)

General Requirements for the J.D. Degree for Law students Approved to Pursue the Joint JD/MPA Degree with SIPA

  • 83 academic points (10 of which can be taken at SIPA)
  • 5 terms of full-time residency
  • 2 writing credits, at least one of which is a major writing credit
  • 40 hours of certified pro bono work
  • All required courses (Legal Methods, Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Legal Practice Workshop, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Professional Responsibility, 1L Elective )

For a full explanation of J.D. requirements, students should visit: www.law.columbia.edu/academics/registrar/gradreq

Contact Information

School of International and Public Affairs
www.sipa.columbia.edu

Office of Admissions
408 IAB, 212-854-6216
www.sipa.columbia.edu/admissions/
Matt Clemens, Director, Admissions
mc2793@columbia.edu

Office of Computing
1513B IAB, 212-854-8347
www.sipa.columbia.edu/sipac/
Harpreet Mahajan, Director
mahajan@columbia.edu
Office of Student Affairs
612 IAB, 212-854-8690
www.sipa.columbia.edu/prog/
Caroline Kay, Assistant Dean
cck11@columbia.edu
Claudio Vargas, Assistant Director,
Financial Aid
csv3@columbia.edu
Office of Career Services
420 IAB, 212-854-4613 
www.sipa.columbia.edu/ocs/
Meg Heenehan, Director 
mh374@columbia.edu

Columbia Law School
Most Student Administrative Offices in William & June Warren Hall
1125 Amsterdam Ave. (115th St.) 5th Floor
www.law.columbia.edu

Office of Admissions
Suite 513, Wm & June Warren Hall
Admissions@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2670
212-854-1109 (Fax)

Law School Financial Aid
Suite 509, Wm & June Warren Hall
Financial_Aid@law.columbia.edu
212-854-6522

Student Services
5th Floor, Wm & June Warren Hall
Student_Services@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2395
Information Technology Department
Jerome Greene Hall 731 or 216I
helpdesk@law.columbia.edu
212-854-1370
 Registration Services
Suite 500, Wm & June Warren Hall
Registrar@law.columbia.edu
212-854-2668

Office of Career Services
Jerome Greene Annex (next to Faculty House)
careerservices@law.columbia.edu
212-854-5672