SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Frequently Asked Questions for Current Students

Internships

What is the internship requirement for MIA and MPA students?

• MIA and MPA students are required to complete one internship as part of the core requirement.  To verify completion of the internship, students are required to submit an internship report and supervisor evaluation. 

  Students are required to work a minimum of 120 hours in one internship position to fulfill the internship requirement.   Students have 4 options:

  1) Earn 1.5 credits for 120 hours of an internship. 

  2) Earn an additional 1.5 credits for a second internship after completing an additional 120 hours (for a total of 3 credits).

  3) Earn 3 credits for an internship after completing 240 hours. Once you have earned the maximum three credits, you may continue to participate in internships on a non-credit basis for added experience.*

  4) Earn no credit for completion of the internship. Students are still required to submit the internship report and supervisor evaluation, but will not register for credit.

  * Returning students may still choose to receive 3 or 6 credits during the 2009-2010 academic year.

• PEPM MPA candidates
  A 6 credit summer internship is required of all students in the PEPM program. The PEPM department will register all students for the course at the end of the spring semester and the internship will be undertaken during the summer, before August completion of studies. For further information on the PEPM internship requirement, please contact the PEPM office.

How do I know if my internship will count for credit?

• An internship will count for academic credit if:
• It is related to your concentration.
• The work is substantive (in many cases, a percentage of the student's time may be involved in administrative tasks, depending on the organization and the nature of the position).
• It is a practical, professional experience and not purely academic.
• Is conducted in an organization other than a family-owned organization/business.

• If you are unsure whether a position will count for internship credit, please see a counselor at OCS before accepting the position.

How am I awarded credit for my internship?

• Students who want to earn internship credit will register for SIPA U9013 in the fall or spring semester (SIPA does not have summer registration).  Students have the option of registering for 1.5 or 3 internship credits. Please look in the Registration Guides for the call numbers for SIPA U9013 Internship and register the same way you register for all SIPA courses.  Registration and OCS internship paperwork deadlines are also listed in the Registration Guide.
• Students are required to fulfill the required minimum number of internship hours (120 hrs for 1.5 credits and 240 hrs for 3 credits).
• To verify completion of the internship, students are required to submit an internship report and supervisor evaluation to the Office of Career Services. Once this is completed, OCS will post the grade of Pass for U9013 Internship.

            * Returning students may still choose to receive 3 or 6 credits during the 2009-2010 academic year.

• You must complete the online internship report form. To access the internship report form login to SIPAlink with your username and password and click on Internship Report Database. There will be a link to create a new internship report. Complete all the required fields and click [Save].
• Your internship supervisor must submit directly to OCS a Supervisor Evaluation Form, which is a detailed evaluation of your work and performance during the internship. Supervisor Evaluation Forms are available online at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/forms.html and in hard copy in Room 420.

When do I register for an internship and submit my paperwork?

• If you do your internship during the fall or spring semesters, we recommend you register your internship during that semester. There is no registration in the summer. Therefore, if you do a summer internship, we recommend you register for internship credit in the fall semester immediately following the internship. The call numbers and registration and paperwork deadlines are listed each semester in the MIA and MPA Registration Guides.
• The only exception is for International students doing a paid internship in the United States. In order to receive authorization to work, the student must register during the semester in which he/she is doing the internship and complete the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) form. International students pursuing a paid internship in the United States during the summer must register in the prior spring semester or pre-register for the fall. Please see http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/international_students.html for more information.

How is the internship graded?

• All internships are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Can I satisfy the internship requirement and not register for credit?

• A student who completes an internship and submits the required internship report and supervisor evaluation may choose not to register for credit. In this case, the student must indicate on the internship report that he/she does not wish to register for internship credit. OCS will prepare a memorandum to the Office of Student Affairs confirming that the student has satisfied the internship requirement and the Degree Audit Report will be updated.

• The only exception is for international students doing a paid internship in the United States.  In order to receive authorization to work, the student must register during the semester in which he/she is doing the internship and complete the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) form.  International students pursuing a paid internship in the United States during the summer must register in the prior spring semester or pre-register for the fall.

Can I waive the internship requirement?

• Students who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible to waive the internship requirement:
• Students on leave from their jobs.
• Joint-degree students who complete an internship in another program.
• Students who have worked on a full-time, professional basis for a minimum of four years in a field relevant to their concentration and career goals.
• To request a waiver, complete the Internship Waiver Form available at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/forms.html or in hard-copy in Room 420 and submit it to OCS with a current copy of your resume.
• Please note that if you waive the internship requirement you will not be awarded any internship credits.

Professional Development

What is the Professional Development Course?

• Professional Development is a one-credit course that is mandatory for all MIA and MPA students. The class is offered in the fall semester only and should be taken in your first year at SIPA. The course is offered by the Office of Career Services (OCS) and teaches skills needed to compete effectively in the international and public affairs job markets. Topics such as resumes, cover letters, job search tactics, successful interviewing, networking, and salary negotiation are covered in the course.

Can I waive Professional Development?

• Students who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible to waive Professional Development:
• Students on leave from their jobs.
• Students accepted into a doctoral program (acceptance letter is required).
• Students who have worked on a full-time, professional basis for a minimum of four years in a field relevant to their concentration and career goals.
• To request a waiver, complete the Professional Development Class Waiver Form available online at http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/current_students/forms.html or in hard copy at OCS office, Room 420. The form must be submitted to OCS together with a current resume and a copy of your SIPAlink Profile page. Once reviewed, OCS will contact you regarding your waiver status.
• If you are granted a waiver, we recommend that you make an appointment with a counselor at OCS to review your resume and job search strategy.

Full-Time Recruitment

Who is eligible to participate in the Full-time Recruitment Program?

• In order to be eligible for the Full-time Recruitment, you must be a matriculated student at SIPA planning to graduate in the current academic year. For individual position eligibility, you must meet the employer’s eligibility requirements, which could include a minimum GPA and/or citizenship status. If you have an F-1/J-1 visa and you plan on accepting a paid position in the United States, you must process optional practical training (OPT) through the International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO).

How long do I have access to the Full-time Recruitment Program?

• As an October or February graduate, you will still be eligible to continue to participate in Full-time Recruitment throughout the academic year. All October, February and May graduates' access to On-Campus Recruiting will continue through the summer until August 1st. At that time your student access will change to alumni access and you will officially be considered an alumna/us in the system. Please be aware, however, that as an alumna/us you will have lifetime access to job postings on SIPAlink.

I am interested in obtaining a position at either a finance firm or a consulting company, and I notice that several of the employers are coming to Columbia Business School to recruit. May I attend their presentations at the Business School?

• Unfortunately, unless SIPA students have been specifically invited to a joint presentation at the Business School, you are not allowed to attend. Each professional school at Columbia University is a separate entity, and they operate independently of each other. Therefore, the Business School will only allow students from other Columbia University graduate schools to attend their presentations if the employer has confirmed that a joint presentation will be held. If there is a joint presentation, it is advertised in OCS Career Newsletter and on-line through SIPAlink. You are required to sign up in order to attend as there is a limited number of invitations. If you do not see a presentation advertised through SIPA OCS, you are not able to attend.

How do I enhance my job search and interviewing skills?

• OCS offers dozens of different workshops for students' professional development, such as case interviewing techniques, how to market yourself, and job-search tips for international students. We hold a one-credit course, mandatory for all students, that teaches the fundamentals of the job search. You may also schedule a mock interview session or an appointment with an OCS counselor. Please take advantage of our services to practice your interviewing skills and enhance your job search techniques.

SIPAlink

What is SIPAlink?

• The Office of Career Services (OCS) uses the online SIPAlink system to post all job and internship opportunities. All activity between students and employers who recruit SIPA students is conducted through this system. SIPAlink enables students to search and apply for opportunities online; manage multiple resumes, cover letters, and other employment related documents; schedule on-campus interviews; sign up for career events and employer information sessions and maintain an online personal calendar.

How do I register?

• Go to http://sipa.columbia.edu/resources_services/career_services/
• Click on [For Current Students]
• Go to [Find a job or internship (SIPAlink)]
• Click on the [SIPAlink] logo
• Go to [Click Here to Register] link
• Complete your profile
• Resume is not required during the registration, but you will have to upload it into the system before you can apply for positions

How do I search for a job or internship on SIPAlink?

• Put your cursor over Jobs and select Job Search.
• Fill in the search criteria to narrow down your job search OR just click the Search button (without entering any search criteria) to view all current jobs and internships.
• Click on the Job ID to see the specifics of the position and how to apply.
• You can save your search and choose to be emailed about new jobs by clicking on Save Search.

What do I do if I forget my password in SIPAlink?

• Go to https://www.myinterfase.com/cusipa/student/ and click [Forgot Your Password?]. The system will email you your login information.

Acap (Alumni Career Advisory Program)

Why use ACAP?

• To obtain valuable career information and feedback from SIPA alumni.
• To enhance your current knowledge of a field or sector.
• To gain exposure to new career paths.
• To develop your professional network.
• To discuss other working world-related issues.

Who are ACAP mentors?

• SIPA graduates working in a wide variety of fields.
• Recent graduates, as well as those who are more experienced.
• Alumni who hold positions ranging from entry level to executive.

How to select ACAP mentors?

• Begin by researching careers or jobs that interest you and target organizations and geographic regions.
• Visit http://www.alumniconnections.com/SIPA.
• Log in using your UNI and password.
• Narrow your search to alumni whom you would like to contact.
• Research the specific organization the alum is working with, and learn more about the type of position he/she holds.

How to contact alumni and conduct informational interviews?

• The purpose of networking phone calls or meetings is not to ask for a job, but to ask for career and job hunting advice and contacts.
• You should always have your resume ready to send before you contact anyone about your job search. Do not send your resume unless you are asked.
• Do not ask an alum to forward your resume to someone else without first establishing a relationship with him/her.
• You should be well prepared for your informational interview. Since you will be taking the lead, decide what kind of information you would like to gather, and prepare questions in advance.
• Dress professionally and be on time.
• Be honest about your background and skills. Promise only what you can deliver.
• Always follow up a networking meeting or interview with a thank you letter within two days of the interview.
• When you receive a job offer, send a note of thanks to your networking contacts for their help in the process. Even if they might not have provided you with that specific job, their advice helped you become a successful interviewer.