Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

For more than 60 years, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs has been educating professionals who work in public, private and nonprofit organizations to make a difference in the world. Through rigorous social science research and hands-on practice, SIPA’s graduates and faculty strive to improve social services, advocate for human rights, strengthen markets, protect the environment, and secure peace, in their home communities and around the world. The curricula of SIPA’s seven degree programs all combine training in analytical methods and practical management skills to ensure that graduates are prepared to understand problems and implement solutions. Students combine these core skills with a focus on a policy area of their choice, and they typically engage in a practice-oriented capstone or workshop experience toward the end of their studies. The School draws its strengths from the resources of New York City and Columbia University, and yet has a global reach, with a student body that is 50 percent international; 17,000 graduates in more than 150 countries; and educational partners in global cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Singapore, Beijing, Mexico City, and São Paulo.