Master of International Affairs Curriculum
The Master of International Affairs (MIA) is a distinguished program designed to equip students with comprehensive skills and knowledge to address global challenges. The curriculum is highly customizable, offering a core program with a wide range of international politics and political economy courses. Students can specialize in one of several concentrations (majors).
MIA students benefit from SIPA’s renowned expertise in global issues, supported by Columbia University’s extensive academic resources. The program emphasizes practical experience, integrating experiential learning opportunities such as capstone workshops and fieldwork with organizations worldwide. Additionally, the MIA includes selected STEM-designated pathways, providing students with an edge in technical and analytical skills for addressing complex international problems.
Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a modern language other than English, preparing them to work effectively in diverse international environments. The program also features special international immersion courses, offering students hands-on experience in real-world settings.
For additional information on the Master of International Affairs program, including information for prospective students and admissions, please refer back to the MIA program page.
MIA Core Curriculum
The purpose of the core curriculum is to ensure that every student in the MIA program receives basic, broad-based, interdisciplinary training in international affairs.
This includes graduate-level coursework in economics, statistics, interstate relations, and management. Students must also demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. Students are required to take two international politics courses (Conceptual Foundations of International Politics and one course in interstate relations), a year-long course in economics, and one-semester courses in statistics, management, and financial management. Conceptual Foundations, Economics, Quantitative Analysis, and Professional Development must be taken during the first year. Other core requirements can be distributed throughout a student’s program of study.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
| Conceptual Foundations of International Politics | |
| |
| |
| Microeconomics for International and Public Affairs
and Macroeconomics for International and Public Affairs | |
| Microeconomic Analysis for International and Public Affairs
and Macroeconomic Analysis for International and Public Affairs | |
| Quantitative Analysis I for International and Public Affairs | |
| |
| Analysis of Public Sector Organizations | |
| Effective Management in the Public Service | |
| Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management | |
| Sustainability Management | |
| Leading ＆ Managing in Moments of Adversity ＆ Opportunity | |
| Accounting for International and Public Affairs | |
| Nonprofit Financial Management | |
| Budgeting ＆ Financial Management for Government | |
| Economics of Finance | |
| |
| Capstone Workshop | |
| Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice | |
| |
| |
| Professional Development | |
| |
| Professional Development | |
| Professional Development | |
| Professional Development | |
| Professional Development | |
| Professional Development | |
| |
| Internship | |
| Total Points | 22.5-25.5 |
Policy Concentration
All students choose one concentration from the list below. Each concentration is described in more detail below.
Specialization
All students also choose one specialization consisting of 3 courses: a skill or area of specialized knowledge to pair with their policy concentration:
Foreign Language Requirement
Proficiency in a language other than English is a graduation requirement for Master of International Affairs students and Economic and Political Development concentrators. Proficiency is defined as the ability to read, write and speak the language at the Intermediate II level. This requirement is met in one of three ways:
- As a native speaker of a language other than English who also demonstrates that a substantive part of their education (e.g., high school, college, prior graduate degree) has been in that language. TOEFL/IELTS will also be taken into account as supplemental evidence of proficiency in another language.
OR
- By passing a language proficiency exam. The exam can only be taken once. You are advised to take the exam in your first year.
Beginning in Spring 2022, SIPA will no longer offer Language Proficiency Exams. Students wishing to waive language requirements must take proficiency exams through the appropriate language department. Please contact the language departments for exam dates and more information.
OR
- By achieving a grade of B or better in an Intermediate Level II (4th semester) language course at Columbia. Students may register for any language course at Columbia. However, Elementary-level courses cannot count toward the 54 credits applicable to the degree. Intermediate-level courses will count as electives. If you are at the elementary level, you should start your language courses in your first semester.
MIA and MPA Graduation Requirements Overview
Students must meet the following requirements in order to be approved for graduation:
- Complete 54 credits in residence at SIPA *
- Complete 4 residency units *
- Complete all core, concentration and specialization requirements*
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- Have no pending grades. All grades must be final. Any notations indicating a pending grade must be converted to a final grade prior to graduating. These include, “IN” (incomplete), “CP” (credit pending) and “YC” (year-long course).
- Complete and submit the Application for Degree or Certificate by the appropriate deadline.
* Requirement for dual degree students may differ.
In addition to the above please note that grade changes cannot be made post-graduation.
Tracking MIA and MPA Core Requirements:
Students can use the Degree Audit Report (DAR) in Stellic to track their academic progress.
The DAR is an unofficial guide to the MIA and MPA core.
To request revisions to the Degree Audit Report, please fill out the Degree Audit Report Correction Form and submit the form to the Student Affairs Office.
Degree Audit Report Correction Form
Concentration/Specialization Declaration:
All students are required to declare a concentration and specialization. SIPA permits MIA & MPA students to change their concentration or specialization after admission. For more information, visit Changing Academic Programs.
Tracking Concentration Requirements
Concentration audit forms are designed to assist students and concentration directors in determining if the concentration requirements have been met. All students must complete one concentration to graduate except for PhD students and those pursuing dual degrees with other Columbia University schools.
Students are required to meet with their concentration director once per semester at SIPA to ensure they are fulfilling the appropriate concentration requirements. Prior to their final semester, students should meet with their concentration director and have the concentration director approve the degree audit form on Stellic.
Concentration audit form deadlines are August 1st for October graduation; November 1st for February graduation; and January 29th for May graduation.