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Full-Time Enrollment Requirement and Advanced Standing Policy
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Full-Time Enrollment
In addition to requiring 54 points of credits for graduation, both the MIA and MPA degree programs require students to enroll full-time for four semesters. Students who make arrangements for advanced standing based on graduate degrees completed before enrollment at SIPA may reduce their period of study to three semesters of full-time enrollment. Below are procedures for requesting advanced standing.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing for the MIA and MPA degree is awarded based on graduate degrees completed before enrollment at SIPA in fields relevant to the MIA & MPA degrees.
Examples include MBA, JD, MPH and master's degrees in political science, economics, history, urban planning, sociology and/or anthropology; although the associate dean for students may accept advanced standing from other graduate degrees at her discretion.
The amount of advanced standing granted depends upon assessment by
the dean's office of the quality and relevance of the work. Advanced
standing will not be given for language courses and advanced standing
will only be awarded for postbaccalaureate courses that were part of
a completed graduate degree, with the exception of relevant postbaccalaureate
courses taken at Columbia University. At the discretion of the associate
dean, relevant postbaccalaureate classes completed at Columbia University
may count toward advanced standing; but in no circumstance, will advanced
standing beyond 12 credits be awarded.
Students must have a grade of B or better in courses for which
they seek advanced standing credit.
Requests for advanced standing are evaluated by the Student Affairs
Office. No evaluation can be performed until initial orientation/registration.
All advanced standing requests must be received by:
- October 15 for students who begin in the fall term
- March 1 for students who begin in the spring term
No requests for advanced standing will be accepted after those dates.