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Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences Master of Arts
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Public Administration and QMSS
MPA and MA
37 SIPA credits, 30 QMSS credits
Handbook for Students in the SIPA Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences Master of Arts (QMSS) Dual Degree Program
Admission Process
Students must apply separately to and be accepted by both the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (for the QMSS MA program) and to the School of International and Public Affairs (for the MPA program). Each School will use its current selection procedures but will consult on all dual degree applicants. Please consult the SIPA admissions Web site and the GSAS admissions Web site for details.
Dual Degree Curriculum
The dual degree program is completed in five semesters of full-time study and a total of 67 credits. For students not enrolled in the dual degree program, the QMSS MA degree requires 30 credits, while the MPA requires 54 credits. To earn the dual-degree, students are required to complete a minimum of five semesters in residence at Columbia University.
QMSS MA Curriculum
The QMSS curriculum consists of five core courses and five electives, totaling two residence units and a minimum of 30 credits of credit. The core courses are: G4010-a theory and methodology course (4 credits), offered in the fall semester; G4015-a data analysis course (4 credits), offered in the spring semester; G4021/22-a year-long research seminar series (2 credits per semester, 4 credits total); and G5999-the master’s thesis (4 credits). The other 14 credits of credit are earned through elective courses (at or above the 4000 level), two of which much focus on statistics or research methods.
SIPA MPA Curriculum
The MPA program at SIPA is taught in the case method, combining the “hands-on” applied approach influenced by the disciplines of the social sciences. Students must complete 54 credits of coursework to earn the MPA degree. The MPA curriculum for a QMSS MA-MPA dual degree student includes a standard core set of courses (24 credits), and a summer internship (1.5-3 credits). QMSS coursework takes the place of the policy concentration usually required of an MPA student, but dual degree students may opt to use their electives to construct an emphasis though not a formal concentration.
Required MPA core courses include: a course on the political environment of public affairs (4 credits); a year-long course in economic and policy analysis (6 credits); management (3 credits); workshop in public affairs (3 credits); a course in professional development (.5 credits) and a financial analysis requirement (3 credits). A public affairs internship in public service is usually taken in the summer between the first and second years (between the fourth and fifth semesters for dual degree students) (1.5-3 credits). MPA core requirements do not change within the framework of the dual degree, with the exception of the quantitative methods requirement,(SIPA U6500 Quantitative Methods). This requirement is waived for students enrolling first at QMSS because dual degree students will have already gained advanced quantitative skills through QMSS coursework.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The dual degree curriculum is designed such that full-time students are enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) during their first two semesters of study and at SIPA during the final three semesters or visa versa. Students pay tuition accordingly, i.e., to GSAS during the first two semesters and to SIPA during the final three semesters. The school where the student is enrolled during a given semester serves as the administrator of the student’s financial aid and/or fellowship support in that semester.
Fellowships and financial aid are not transferable between schools. Therefore if a student has aid at one school it is advisable to maintain full-time coursework at that school until complete before taking courses through the second school. This will allow the student to maintain financial aid offered by each school during their course of study.
Fellowships
Dual-degree students are eligible to apply for SIPA Continuing Student Fellowships after completing two semesters of study at Columbia. Students who did not complete their first two semesters at SIPA are still eligible to apply for fellowships. The Continuing Student Fellowship Application is available on-line in January. The application is due at the end of February for the next academic year's awards. Dual-degree students who receive SIPA Continuing Student Fellowships must be in residence at SIPA to receive the fellowship award.
Dual-degree students are also eligible to apply for the Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship after their first two semesters of study at Columbia. The FLAS Fellowship is for advanced training in modern foreign languages and is open to US citizens and permanent residents only. The FLAS application is available on-line in January. The application is due at the end of February for the next academic year's awards. Dual-degree students who receive the FLAS Fellowship must be in residence at SIPA to receive the FLAS award.
Information on SIPA Fellowships can be found at: www.sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/student_affairs/fellowship_application.html
MPA/MA Dual Degree Curriculum Overview
Dual-degree students are required to fulfill the SIPA and QMSS core requirements outlined below.
Students enrolling first at QMSS:
Fall Semester, First Year (1 residence unit, 12 credits)
- QMSS G4010: Theory and Methodology of the Social Sciences (4 credits)
- QMSS G4021: QMSS Research Seminar (2 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course I (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Research Methods/Statistics Course I (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-19 credits) paid to GSAS
Spring Semester, First Year (1 residence unit, 15 credits)
- QMSS G4015: Data Analysis for the Social Sciences (4 credits)
- QMSS G4022: QMSS Research Seminar (2 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course II (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course III (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Research Methods/Statistics Course II (3 credits)
- QMSS G5999: Master’s Thesis (4 credits)
Thesis completed during summer between first and second years and retroactive grade change to Spring Semester upon completion.
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-19 credits) paid to GSAS
Fall Semester, Second Year (12.5 credits)
- SIPA U6000: Management for International and Public Affairs (3 credits)
- SIPA U6400: Economic Analysis for International & Public Affairs I (3 credits)
- Professional Development (.5 credit)
- Elective (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Student completing QMSS thesis in addition to coursework.
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA
Spring Semester, Second Year (13 credits)
- PUAF U6110: Politics of Policymaking ( 4 credits)
- SIPA U6401: Economic Analysis for International & Public Affairs II (3 credits)
- Financial Analysis Course: Budgeting, Accounting, or Economics of Finance (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA
Fall Semester, Third Year (12 credits)
- SIPA U9013: Internship (1.5-3 credits)
internship completed during summer between second and third years - SIPA Capstone Workshop course number TBA (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA
MPA & QMSS Degree Awarded
Students enrolling first at SIPA:
Fall Semester, First Year (1 residence unit, 12.5 credits)
- SIPA U6000: Management for International and Public Affairs (3 credits)
- SIPA U6400: Economic Analysis for International & Public Affairs I (3 credits)
- Professional Development (.5 credit)
- Elective (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA:
Spring Semester, First Year (1 residence unit, 13 credits)
- PUAF U6110: Politics of Policymaking ( 4 credits)
- SIPA U6401: Economic Analysis for International & Public Affairs II (3 credits)
- Financial Analysis Course: Budgeting, Accounting, or Economics of Finance (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA
Fall Semester, Second Year (1 residence unit, 13 credits)
- SIPA U9013: Internship (1.5-3 credits)
internship completed during summer between second and third years - SIPA Capstone Workshop course number TBA (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
- QMSS G4010: Theory and Methodology of the Social Sciences (4 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-18 credits) paid to SIPA
Spring Semester, Second Year (1 residence unit, 15 credits)
- QMSS G4015: Data Analysis for the Social Sciences (4 credits)
- QMSS G4022: QMSS Research Seminar (2 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Research Methods/Statistics Course I (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course I (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course II (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit (12-19 credits) paid to GSAS
Fall Semester, Third Year (1 residence unit, 12 credits)
- QMSS G5999: Master’s Thesis (4 credits)
Thesis completed during summer between second and third years - QMSS G4022: QMSS Research Seminar (2 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Social Science Course III (3 credits)
- QMSS Elective – Research Methods/Statistics Course II (3 credits)
Tuition and fees for 1 residence unit paid to GSAS
QMSS MA & M.P.A Degree Awarded
Advising
Although students are enrolled full-time at one school or the other in any given semester, they should contact advisors at both schools at least once per semester to ensure that their study and enrollment plans are in accordance with program guidelines. The primary faculty and administrative contacts for this dual degree are:
Christopher Weiss
Director, Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences MA Program
811, International Affairs Building
420 West 118th Street
New York, NY 10027
212-854-7559
cw2036@columbia.edu
Sharyn O’Halloran
Professor, SIPA
727, International Affairs Building
420 West 118th Street
New York, NY 10027
212-854-3242
so33@columbia.edu
Caroline Kay
Assistant Dean
School of International and Public Affairs
612 International Affairs Building
420 West 118th Street
New York, NY 10027
212-854-8690
cck11@columbia.edu