The Urban Policy focus area is designed to provide students with an understanding of the policy challenges and opportunities that are particular to cities in both the developed and developing world. SIPA focuses on the traditional urban policy fields like city management, urban planning, land use, housing, urban education, transit, as well as the most recent urban policy innovations in environmental sustainability, technological integration, globalization and business development.
More than half of the world’s population resides in an urban areas. Cities now have responsibilities in virtually every policy arena including: infrastructure development, safety and security, environmental sustainability, economic development and job creation, education, healthcare, housing, and social welfare. Global urbanization is guaranteed to continue over the course of the 21st century and this policy track prepares students to understand how economic, social, political, geo-physical, and technological factors shape cities.
The range of policies that fall under the umbrella category of urban policy is extensive. For this reason, students are encouraged to develop specialized policy knowledge within one of the Suggested Urban Policy Subfields listed below. The subfield categories are to be used as a guide to help students structure their elective coursework around a particular policy field. Although it is encouraged, students are not required to choose one subfield and have the flexibility to take courses in several subfields based on their interests.
- Urban Politics and Governance
- Management in Urban Public Sector or Not For Profits
- Urban Social Policy (includes: Family, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Immigration & Poverty)
- Economic Development Policy, Urban Planning and Land Use
- Sustainability and Environmental Policy
- Housing Policy
- Education Policy
- Health Policy
- Crime, Safety and Security Policy
- Employment and Labor Policy
Students must complete a total of 15 points, with at least 3 points from the menu of core courses. Students must then complete 12 points from the subfields listed below, regardless of their category. The purpose of the urban policy subfields is to encourage students to develop specialized policy knowledge, but it is only a guide. Students have the flexibility to take courses in one or several of the subfields:
Please note:
- USP short courses (1.5 points) can count towards your elective requirement.
- A second core course can count towards your elective requirement.
- Two specialization courses can be double counted for elective requirement
Required Courses
Select one or more of the following:
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
PUAF U8232 | Urban Politics and Policy | 3.00 |
PUAF U6239 | Comparative Urban Policy: Global Developing Cities | 3.00 |
PUAF U6325 | Critical Issues in Urban Public Policy | 3.00 |
PUAF U8250 | Governing the 21st Century City | 3.00 |
Urban Politics and Governance Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
EMPA U6650 | Cities in a Globalizing World | 3.00 |
INAF U6209 | Tech & Tactics for Innovative Policymaking | 3.00 |
PUAF U6239 | Comparative Urban Policy: Global Developing Cities | 3.00 |
PUAF U6251 | Urban Economics | 3.00 |
PUAF U6258 | Cities in U.S. Federalism: Policy Innovation and Constraints | 3.00 |
PUAF U6275 | Dynamics of New York Public Policy | 1.50 |
PUAF U6312 | Campaign Management | 3.00 |
PUAF U6325 | Critical Issues in Urban Public Policy | 3.00 |
PUAF U8232 | Urban Politics and Policy | 3.00 |
PUAF U8248 | Leadership & Urban Transformation | 3.00 |
PUAF U8250 | Governing the 21st Century City | 3.00 |
SIPA U6003 | Analysis of Public Sector Organizations | 3.00 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
| | -- |
LAW L6474 | Law & The Political Process | -- |
Management in Urban Public Sector or Not-For-Profits Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
EMPA U6015 | Public Finance | 3.00 |
EMPA U6605 | Urban Policy by Design | 1.50 |
EMPA U9225 | Public Management Innovation | 3.00 |
INAF U6004 | Application Development for Social Impact | 1.50 |
INAF U6006 | Computing in Context | 3.00 |
INAF U6009 | Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy | 1.50 |
INAF U6016 | Cost-Benefit Analysis | 3.00 |
INAF U6209 | Tech & Tactics for Innovative Policymaking | 3.00 |
INAF U6272 | Introduction to Data Analytics for Public Policy, Administration, and Management | 1.50 |
INAF U6274 | Introduction to Database Design, Management, and Security | 1.50 |
INAF U6504 | Python for Public Policy | 1.50 |
INAF U6508 | Using Big Data to Develop Public Policy | 3.00 |
INAF U6512 | Data Driven Approaches for Campaigns and Advocacy | 3.00 |
INAF U6545 | AI: A Survey for Policymakers | 3.00 |
INAF U6614 | Data Analysis for Policy Research Using R | 3.00 |
INAF U6137 | Social Value Investing: a Framework for Cross Sector Partnerships | 3.00 |
INAF U6898 | Program Evaluation and Design | 3.00 |
PUAF U6028 | Public-Private Partnerships To Foster Effective, Sustainable & Scalable Nonprofits | 1.50 |
PUAF U6135 | Civic Innovation & Designing for People | 1.50 |
PUAF U6249 | Digital Innovation for Urban Governance | 1.50 |
PUAF U6251 | Urban Economics | 3.00 |
PUAF U6312 | Campaign Management | 3.00 |
PUAF U8203 | Project Management | 3.00 |
PUAF U8410 | The Use of Science-based Evidence in Decision and Policymaking | 3.00 |
SIPA U6003 | Analysis of Public Sector Organizations | 3.00 |
SIPA U6005 | Effective Management in the Public Service | 3.00 |
SIPA U6310 | Nonprofit Financial Management | 3.00 |
SIPA U6320 | Budgeting & Financial Management for Government | 3.00 |
SIPA U8500 | Quantitative Methods in Program Evaluation and Policy Research | 3.00 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
HPMN P6530 | Issues and Approaches in Health Policy and Management | -- |
HPMN P8514 | Governance, Law & Ethics | -- |
| | -- |
SUMA PS4100 | Sustainability Management | -- |
| | -- |
Urban Social Policy Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
PUAF U6244 | Urban Social Policy | 3.00 |
INAF U6053 | Creating a Social Enterprise | 3.00 |
INAF U8161 | Economics, Law, & Public Policy | 3.00 |
INAF U6187 | Harlem Community Engagement Practicum | 1.00 |
PUAF U6275 | Dynamics of New York Public Policy | 1.50 |
PUAF U8351 | Race, Gender and Political Change | 1.50 |
PUAF U8353 | Race Policy & American Politics | 3.00 |
PUAF U8357 | Securing Full Economic and Political Citizenship for All Americans | 1.50 |
PUAF U8362 | Democracy, Movements & Public Policy in the United States | 1.50 |
PUAF U8359 | Debate over US Racial Reparations | 3.00 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
ECON GU4438 | ECONOMICS OF RACE IN THE U.S. | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
LAW L9410 | Law and Policy of Homelessness | -- |
| | -- |
Economic Development Policy, Urban Planning, and Land Use Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
EMPA U6605 | Urban Policy by Design | 1.50 |
EMPA U6610 | Transforming the Urban Economy | 3.00 |
EMPA U6650 | Cities in a Globalizing World | 3.00 |
INAF U6016 | Cost-Benefit Analysis | 3.00 |
INAF U6051 | Infrastructure Investment and Development | 1.50 |
INAF U6186 | Community Economic Development | 3.00 |
INAF U6602 | Economic Development for International Affairs | 3.00 |
INAF U8145 | Advanced Economic Development for International Affairs | 3.00 |
PUAF U6190 | Investing in the Energy Transition: exploring policy dilemmas, complexities and trade-offs | 3.00 |
PUAF U6249 | Digital Innovation for Urban Governance | 1.50 |
PUAF U8203 | Project Management | 3.00 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Urban Sustainability and Environmental Policy Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
ENVP U6239 | Politics & Policy of Urban Sustainability | 3.00 |
INAF U6006 | Computing in Context | 3.00 |
INAF U6076 | Energy Management for Public & Private Sector | 3.00 |
INAF U6264 | Meeting the Climate Challenge at all Levels of Government | 3.00 |
PUAF U6190 | Investing in the Energy Transition: exploring policy dilemmas, complexities and trade-offs | 3.00 |
PUAF U6249 | Digital Innovation for Urban Governance | 1.50 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Housing Policy Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
PUAF U6245 | Housing Policy & the City | 1.50 |
EMPA U6275 | Affordable Housing Finance: Policy and Applications | 3.00 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
LAW L9410 | Law and Policy of Homelessness | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
Education Policy Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
INAF U8201 | Public Education: New Strategies for a New Era | 1.50 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
Health Policy Subfield
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
| | -- |
Crime, Safety and Security Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
INAF U6388 | Modern Urban Terrorism | 3 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Employment and Labor Policy Subfield
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
PUAF U6301 | Labor in America: Power, Politics, and Policy in the Workplace | 3 |
Courses offered at affiliate Columbia Schools - Enrollment not guaranteed. Please see Cross-Registration instructions. Many courses will require instructor permission.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
| | -- |