Course registration occurs via Vergil, the University’s student portal. Students are assigned individual registration times during which they can access the system. Across the University and registration, assignment times are staggered. At SIPA, initial registration times are assigned based on a student’s semester of residency. Generally, students closest to graduation are provided with earlier registration times.
You can review your registration appointment times in Vergil. A student’s number of semesters in residency at SIPA determines appointment times on the first day of registration. Please see the time allocations below. Note: Registration appointment times are randomly assigned after the first day.
Registration in select courses are restricted by concentration/specialization during the initial part of the registration cycle. Registration restrictions are noted in the course description in the SIPA courses guide. These course restrictions will be removed on Wednesday September 6th. Note however that students will still need to meet any listed pre-requisites to register a course.
Continuing Student registration times (Based on semesters completed)
3+ semesters: 9:30 AM registration appointment
2 semesters: 1:00 PM registration appointment
1 semester: 9:30 AM registration appointment (the subsequent business day)
Posted below are registration-specific dates that you should bear in mind.
| Month | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 11 - August 28 | Registration Open to Continuing SIPA Students | |
| August 30 - August 31 | Registration Open to New Students Only | |
| September 1 - September 15 | SIPA course registration available to all SIPA students | |
| September 5 | First Day of Classes | |
| September 15 | Deadline to add/drop full-semester SIPA courses. Last day of registration.* | |
| October 10 | Deadline to withdraw from full-semester SIPA courses* | |
| November 16 | Deadline to change course grading option to pass/fail or letter grade. ** | |
| December 11 | Last Day of Classes | |
| December 15 - December 22 | Final Exams |
*The add/drop and withdrawal deadlines noted above do not apply to short courses. For non-SIPA courses, please refer to the respective school’s academic calendar for deadlines.
Note: Short courses can be registered anytime before the first session. Short courses must be dropped before the second session. If dropped after this, students will incur a “W.”
**Law school courses must be taken for a letter grade.
During the add/drop period (see the academic calendar for dates), SIPA course registration takes place in Vergil). After the add/drop period, students canNOT add/drop courses via SSOL. After this deadline, SIPA course add/drop requests must be submitted via the SIPA registration request form. Students can continue to use SSOL to request grade option changes, i.e., change to pass/fail or letter grade.
The registration process for courses offered by other University departments and schools varies and may not occur via Vergil. Information on the cross-registration process of select Schools and departments can be found here. If the school/department is not listed, you can visit the individual school/department website for cross-registration information.
Confirm Your Registration Times on Vergil Check for Holds
Students are only able to register online during their appointed registration times. Students will have varying registration appointment times. To view your registration appointment times, you will need to:
Find Courses
There are several course search options available to students. Options and features may differ among these options. Please see below for complete information:
Note:
The call number of a course is required to register via SSOL. The call number is a unique 5-digit identification number assigned to every course.
Make note of any special permission that may be required for courses.
View Course Syllabi & Previous Course Evaluations
Find course syllabi using Vergil or View Previous SIPA Course Syllabi and Course Evaluation Results.
Register your Courses (applicable during the add/drop period)
Two Important Notes:
-Once the add/drop period ends (see the academic calendar for dates), students can no longer process course requests via SSOL. After this date, all SIPA add/drop course requests must be submitted via the SIPA registration request form.
-The registration process for non-SIPA courses may vary. See the cross-registration page or specific school's/department's website
Log into Vergil
If you have a registration appointment time, select "Registration" to begin registering for courses.
Reminder: Check for HOLDS on your account. A hold will prevent you from registering and can be placed for various reasons, including an account balance, immunization compliance, etc.
During a scheduled registration appointment, students can add/drop/waitlist a course by entering the call number of a course directly or by approving registration from your course wishlist. (Call numbers can be found using the SIPA Course Directory or Columbia University Directory of Classes.
View your final course schedule.
Verify Your Course Schedule Before the End of the Add/Drop Period
Students must review their schedules before the end of registration to ensure that information is accurate. Students can view their course schedule on Vergil.
During the add/drop period, students should view the course schedule available in the "Registration" section of SSOL for real-time schedule information. The information available in the "class schedule" section of SSOL is updated every 24 hrs and therefore does not necessarily reflect current information.
Students should not use CourseWorks to confirm their course schedule, as it may take a few days for CourseWorks to reflect your updated schedule. Note: During peak registration times, CourseWorks may be delayed by a few days in updating your schedule. If you experience problems with CourseWorks, please send an e-mail to: courseworks@columbia.edu.
Certain SIPA courses require approval by the instructor before a student is permitted to register. These Instructor-Managed Courses are listed in the SIPA Course Directory and the Directory of Classes as “Instructor Approval Required.”
Instructor-managed courses are blocked from online registration. Students interested in any of these courses must use the waitlist process. Please see below:
Step 1. Join the course waitlist in Student Services Online (SSOL) and apply for Instructor Managed Course Registration via https://fs23.formsite.com/SIPA/InstructorManagedReg/index.html
Step 2. Instructors will review and approve students from the waitlist in SSOL.
Step 3. Students who apply will be notified of the instructor's decision via e-mail. If a student is selected for the course, they will be automatically registered.
Please contact instructors directly for any questions regarding registrations in the courses below.
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
Fall 2023 | ||
Spring 2024 | ||
SIPA students may register for courses at other schools throughout Columbia University. Each school has its own registration requirements and procedures. Please follow all instructions carefully. Students must adhere to SIPA drop/withdrawal deadlines for courses registered at any Columbia University school. The exception is courses registered at the Law School or Business School. Students registered for courses at these schools must adhere to their deadlines. For schools/departments not listed below, please contact the relevant office of the school/department to confirm their cross-registration process.
| School | Cross-Registration Process | Prefix Code | Where to Find Courses | How to Register | Who to Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Business School (CBS) | TWO SEPARATE PROCESSES 1. SIPA PRIORITY CBS CROSS-REGISTRATION. APPLICATION: The application is open for one day only. Please see the CBS Cross Registration site for application information. This application is open to SIPA students only. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible on the day the application opens. CBS will notify students if they are assigned a seat in a course. Students must adhere to the registration rules and regulations of the Business School. 2. GENERAL CBS CROSS-REGISTRATION VIA VERGIL Course Availability and Enrollment Instructions Students may enroll in an MBA elective course (B8000-level) through Vergil. The MBA Course Directory provides access to full course descriptions and whether a course has a pre-and/or co-requisite. Instructors do not manage the enrollment of academic courses. Only courses with appropriate open capacity will be made available for cross-registration application. If a course is not listed on this website as available to cross-registrants, there is no other form of appeal to gain access to the course. |
B | CBS Application (1st Process) Vergil (2nd Process) |
CBS Application (1st Process) SSOL (2nd Process) |
CBS Office of Student Affairs crossreg@gsb.columbia.edu |
| Columbia Law School (CLS) | Please reference the Law School cross-registration page for information on cross-registration policies and procedures and the link to the cross-registration application form. Law school registrations are processed by the Law School. Students should not submit requests to SIPA.Note: Students must be registered full-time to be eligible to enroll in Law school Courses. Students must adhere to Law School registration deadlines. | L | Law School Course Guide | Law School Cross-Registration Application Form | CU Law School Registrar registrar@law.columbia.edu 212-854-2668 Room 500 William June Warren Hall |
| Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP) | A list of courses approved for cross-registration is posted on the GSAPP site. Students can register or waitlist courses designated as open to cross-registrants directly via SSOL. | A | GSAPP Cross-Registration Site | Student Services On-Line (SSOL) | GSAPP Office of Student Affairs studentaffairs@arch.columbia.edu 212-854-3414 400 Avery Hall |
| Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) | View course offerngs in Vergil. Students can register for courses directly or may need to use a form depending on if instructor permission is required. | GR or GU | Vergil | Student Services On-Line (SSOL) or Registration Adjust Form (RAF) (if instructor permission is required) | Various depending on the department |
| Graduate School of Journalism | Cross-Registration Process: Journalism School Application Form. Note: You will be automatically enrolled if the request is approved. | J | Journalism Cross-Registration Site | Cross-Registration Application Form | Dean Melanie Huff mgh2@columbia.edu |
| Language Courses (any CU school) | View course offerngs in Vergil. Students can register for courses directly or may need to use a Registration Adjustment Form (RAF), depending on if instructor permission is required. | vary | Vergil | Student Services On-Line (SSOL) or Registration Adjust Form (RAF) (if instructor permission is required) | Specific language department's Office of Student Affairs |
| Mailman School of Public Health | 1. Non-Mailman School students interested in taking public health courses must complete the cross-registration form, which may be downloaded from their website. 2. Students must get the Department Coordinator or instructor's signature on the cross-registration form. 3. After receiving initial permission, students must receive final approval and signature from the Office of Student Affairs at Public Health. 4. Once all approvals have been received, submit the form via e-mail to ssc@columbia.edu or, if possible, in person to the University Registrar in 205 Kent Hall for the registration to be processed. Note: There may be a cap on the number of courses students can register for. |
P | Vergil | School of Public Health Cross-Registration Form | Mailman Office of Academic Affairs msph-osa@columbia.edu 212-305-3927 722 West 168th Street, Suite 1014 |
| School of Professional Studies (SPS) | 1. Instructor and/or department must indicate permission to register for the course by signing the Registration Adjust Form 2. Once approval is received, submit the form via e-mail to ssc@columbia.edu or, if possible, in person to the University Registrar in 205 Kent Hall for the registration to be processed. |
K or PS | Vergil | Registration Adjust Form (RAF) | SPS Divison of Student Affairs sps-studentaffairs@columbia.edu 212 854 9666 203 Lewisohn Hall |
| Social Work | Students can apply only for the courses listed on the Social Work Cross Registration Form. If approved for a course, students will be registered and notified. Students will also be notified if not approved. | T | Social Work Cross-Registration Form | Social Work Cross-Registration Form | Social Work Student Services Office swstudentservices@columbia.edu |
| Teachers College | 1. Instructor and/or department must indicate permission to register for the course by signing the Registration Adjust Form 2. Once approval is received, submit the form via e-mail to ssc@columbia.edu or, if possible, in person to the University Registrar in 205 Kent Hall for the registration to be processed. Note: Courses taken at Teachers College must be relevant to the SIPA degree. e.g., No Ceramics, Art, Music, etc. |
Y | Teachers College Course Search | Registration Adjust Form (RAF) | Teachers College Registrar registrar@tc.olumbia.edu 212 678 4050 |
Non-SIPA students are permitted to register for a maximum of 9 SIPA credits per semester.
Any SIPA course NOT listed below will be available for cross-registration via SSOL during the SIPA cross-registration period. Some courses may have prerequisites or other restrictions.
You must register for SIPA courses (or join a waitlist) via Vergil. See the Registration Process below for students whose schools do not use SSOL and undergraduate students.
Students register for courses via SSOL, except those from the schools listed below. For those who require the submission of the Registration Request Form, note that the form opens on August 30, 2023 Cross-registration requests will be processed starting Monday, September 11, through Friday, September 15.
Teachers College - Students must register through the Teachers College registrar. No permission is required for open courses. Any Teachers College student admitted into an instructor-managed course will be notified by e-mail. Please take the e-mail indicating approval to the TC registrar as proof of admission.
Law School - Students must submit the registration request form for all registration requests.
Undergraduate students:
Columbia College, General Studies, and SEAS – Please follow the Vergil registration process described above for 4000-level SIPA courses. Instructor permission is required for registration in any SIPA course above the 4000-level. If permission is granted, please complete and submit a SIPA registration request form and documentation indicating instructor permission.
Barnard College – Students must submit the registration request form for all registration requests. The instructor's permission must also accompany any SIPA course request above the 4000-level
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| The following courses are NEVER available to non-SIPA students for cross-registration | ||
| EMPA U6010 | Accounting for Public Affairs | 3 |
| EMPA U6035 | Open Economy Macroeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| EMPA U6040 | Economic Cost Benefit Analysis ＆ Intro to Program Evaluation | 3 |
| EMPA U6223 | Political Environment of Policymaking | 3 |
| EMPA U6237 | Global Context of Policymaking | 3 |
| EMPA U6310 | Quantitative Techniques | 3 |
| EMPA U8200 | Effective Management in the Public Service | 3 |
| EMPA U8201 | Financial Management | 3 |
| EMPA U8213 | Microeconomics and Policy Analysis I | 3 |
| EMPA U9000 | Capstone Workshop for Executive MPA | 3 |
| EMPA U9225 | Public Management Innovation | 3 |
| EMPA U9500 | Portfolio Presentation Workshop | 3 |
| ENVP U6111 | Principles of Ecology | 2 |
| ENVP U6112 | Urban Ecology | 2 |
| ENVP U6115 | Climatology | 2 |
| ENVP U6116 | Hydrology | 2 |
| ENVP U6220 | Environmental Chemistry | 2 |
| ENVP U6221 | Risk Assessment ＆ Toxicology | 2 |
| ENVP U6241 | Earth Systems ＆ Environmental Politics, Policy, ＆ Management | 3 |
| ENVP U6246 | Analytics in Environmental Science Policy | 1 |
| ENVP U6225 | Ethics, Values and Justice | 3 |
| ENVP U6310 | Quantitative Techniques and Systems Analysis in Policymaking | 3 |
| ENVP U8201 | Financial Management | 3 |
| ENVP U8213 | Microeconomics and Policy Analysis I | 3 |
| ENVP U8216 | Microeconomics and Policy Analysis II | 3 |
| ENVP U9229 | Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management I | 3 |
| ENVP U9230 | Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management II | 3 |
| ENVP U9232 | Capstone Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Policy Analysis | 5 |
| IAIA U6800 | Conceptual Foundations of International Politics | 4 |
| or IAIA U6804 | Conceptual Foundations of International Politics - Discussion | |
| INAF U6022 | Economics of Finance | 3 |
| INAF U6043 | Sustainable Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
| PUAF U6100 | Politics of Policymaking: Global Perspectives on Policy Analysis ＆ Design | 4 |
| or PUAF U6102 | Politics of Policymaking: Issues in Comparative Politics - Discussion | |
| PUAF U6110 | Politics of Policymaking: American Institutions in Comparative Perspective | 4 |
| or PUAF U6112 | Politics of Policymaking: American Institutions in Comparative Perspective - Discussion | |
| PUAF U6120 | Politics of Policymaking: Developing Countries in Comparative Perspective | 4 |
| or PUAF U6122 | Politics of Policymaking: Comparative Politics - Discussion | |
| PUAF U6411 | Universal Food Security | 3 |
| PUAF U6254 | Development Practice Lab I | 3 |
| PUAF U6255 | Development Practice Lab II | 3 |
| SIPA U4040-4045 | Professional Development | .25 |
| SIPA U6003 | Analysis of Public Sector Organizations | 3 |
| SIPA U6005 | Effective Management in the Public Service | 3 |
| SIPA U6011 | Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| SIPA U6014 | Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management | 3 |
| SIPA U6015 | Sustainability Management | 3 |
| SIPA U6016 | Leading ＆ Managing in Moments of Adversity ＆ Opportunity | 3 |
| SIPA U6017 | Effective Management in the Public Service | 3 |
| SIPA U6200 | Accounting for International and Public Affairs | 3 |
| SIPA U6300 | Microeconomics for International and Public Affairs | 3 |
| or SIPA U6301 | Macroeconomics for International and Public Affairs | |
| SIPA U6310 | Nonprofit Financial Management | 3 |
| SIPA U6320 | Budgeting ＆ Financial Management for Government | 3 |
| SIPA U6400 | Microeconomic Analysis for International and Public Affairs | 3 |
| or SIPA U6401 | Macroeconomic Analysis for International and Public Affairs | |
| SIPA U6500 | Quantitative Analysis I for International and Public Affairs | 3 |
| SIPA U6501 | Quantitative Analysis II for International and Public Affairs | 3 |
| SIPA U9000 | Capstone Workshop | 3 |
| SIPA U9001 | Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice | 3 |
E-mail SIPA's Office of Student Affairs with registration questions: siparegistration@columbia.edu
When does registration begin?
Please refer to the academic calendar for complete information about the registration schedule, including drop, withdrawal, and grading option change deadlines.
How do I register for a course online?
Online registration takes place in SSOL. Students primarily register for courses using the unique five-digit call number assigned to each course. The call number is included in course listings and can be found on the SIPA course search page (for SIPA courses) or Vergil Course Search page(for general University courses). Once logged into the registration section of SSOL, students can also search for courses by name.
Can I register for all my courses online?
SIPA students can register for all SIPA courses online except instructor-managed courses. Some non-SIPA courses can be registered online; however, most non-SIPA courses require permission and are blocked from online registration. Please refer to the cross-registration webpage for more details.
What is Student Services Online (SSOL)?
Student Services Online (SSOL) is an online portal. Students register online through SSOL using their University Network ID (UNI). The UNI is the beginning portion of a Columbia e-mail address (e.g., “rom23”). The password is the same password used to access Columbia e-mail. Students may only register during their designated registration appointment times.
SSOL also gives students access to personal information, including student account balances, grades, degree audit reports (DAR), course schedules, and registration appointments. Students can request transcripts, account balance refund, and enrollment certification through SSOL.
I missed registration. What should I do?
Registration appointment times are assigned during the first three weeks of the semester. You should register during your next appointed time. Go to Student Services Online (SSOL) to view your registration schedule.
You will need to see your Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs on the sixth floor of the International Affairs Building. Note: There is a $100 late registration fee if a student registers after the end of the change of program period.
Can I register outside my listed registration times?
No. If you attempt to register online before your appointment time begins or after your appointment time ends, you will not be able to register.
Can I register more than one time per appointment?
Yes. You can make as many changes as you like during your appointment times.
There is a hold on my account. Can I register?
Students on registration hold are not able to register. To view your hold status check the Student Services Online Web site and contact the appropriate office to have the hold removed.
What are short courses, and when can I register for them?
Short courses are courses that do not meet for the entire semester. In most cases, short courses range from one (1) to one and one-half (1.5) credits. Students can register for short courses during the registration period online. After registration ends, students can register for short courses using the registration request form as long as the course has not yet started.
Can I register for courses that overlap?
In general, students should not register for courses that overlap. If there is an overlap, students must receive permission from the instructor of the course (s), which will be affected to register in the overlapping course.
How do I register for my internship and/or fieldwork for credit?
To register for your internship, you should use the five-digit call number available on SIPA’s Course Search and Vergil Course Search to add the internship to your schedule. Students can register for an internship in either the semester in which the internship is being completed or any semester thereafter. Internships completed in the summer must be registered either in the Spring semester prior or in any of the semesters following the completion of the summer internship. No more than three credits of fieldwork can count toward the degree. Submitting internship paperwork to the Office of Career Services (OCS) does not constitute registration of the internship or fieldwork.
Do I need to declare a concentration/specialization?
All students are required to declare a concentration and specialization. Students can declare/change their Concentration or Specialization via the Concentration Specialization Declaration Change Form. Some courses are restricted to students in a specific concentration/specialization for registration. In addition, this information is used by programs to populate their mailing list to keep students apprised of events and job opportunities within their concentration/specialization. Concentration/Specialization appears on your record in SSOL.
Note for International Students:
Please check with the International Students and Scholars Office regarding registration requirements for paid internships.
How do I change sections of a course?
If you want to change course sections (for example, IAIA U6804, the discussion section of Conceptual Foundations, has ten sections), you may use the “Replace” option on the online registration menu. You will be prompted to enter the five-digit call number for the new section. The system will check your program for the old section of the same course and attempt to replace it with the new one. If the section you want to transfer to is full, the system will indicate this, and you will remain in your original section.
The waitlist automatically becomes active once a course fills. There are two types of waitlists; automated and managed.
For detailed Cross-Registration instructions, please click here.
Course evaluations are located here.
How can I view syllabi?
During the add/drop period (first three weeks of classes), Students can view syllabi for classes regardless of whether they have registered for the class during registration periods. To view current semester syllabi, use Vergil. To view course syllabi for prior semesters, please click here.
How does a course fit into my degree requirements?
Students in the full-time two-year MIA or MPA program are encouraged to use the SIPA’s Course Search, categorizing courses by requirement. Students in the full-time two-year MIA or MPA and MPA-DP programs can verify that a course will be used to fulfill a core requirement by viewing their Degree Audit Report on Student Services Online.
Generally, final exam times are posted by the Office of Academic Affairs after midterms. This information may also be available in the course syllabus. The final exam schedule can be found in the SIPA Bulletin or the University Registrar’s website. Students should not make any travel plans before the last day of final exams until their final exam schedule has been finalized.
SIPA does not officially allow students to ‘sit in’ on courses (i.e., attend classes without being registered for the course). Students who audit (receive R-credit) a course must be registered for the course in SSOL and appear on the grade roster. Students who are not officially registered will not have access to CourseWorks. Students who wish to receive R-credit for a course must request permission from the instructor during the registration period. Priority in SIPA courses should be given to students who want to take the course for full credit. Instructors are not obligated to grant R-credit; however, if permission is granted, the student must meet course requirements established at the instructor's discretion. Upon successfully completing the course, the instructor will submit the grade of R for these students. If students do not meet course requirements or fail to attend class, instructors can submit a grade of UW or F.
What is R credit?
R stands for “registered, not for credit.” Students must receive permission from an instructor to take a course for “R” credit. “R” credit courses are registered like all other classes. However, the instructor posts an “R” instead of a letter grade at the end of the course. Please be advised that classes taken for R credit do not count toward completing your degree. However, it does count toward the 18-point credit maximum. Students enrolled for R credit receive no academic credit, and R credit courses may not be repeated later for credit. For complete information on grading, please click here.
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