The TMaC specialization equips students for careers in today’s digital workplace. We believe that understanding the policy implications of digital technology and having practical skills are essential. Digital technologies have transformed all the areas that SIPA students care about: development, advocacy, policy making, media, human rights, business, and government, so we offer courses that cut across disciplines.
Our skills courses teach data visualization, speech writing, data scraping, and using social media for campaigning. Current digital production techniques and distribution channels have given organizations new communications strategies, and we explore the technical and theoretical tricks, turns, and pitfalls of this new 21st-century paradigm. Many of our writing courses are taught by award-winning journalists who emphasize research and how to communicate clearly and effectively.
TMaC offers courses on design thinking, digital diplomacy, e-government, digital activism, surveillance, and the regulatory and policy questions surrounding digital technology. We consider the digital revolution's effect on international affairs and government and the policies and practices that can help new technologies promote development, human rights, and social change.
Students enrolled in the Technology, Media, and Communications Specialization must take three courses but may take more if their schedule permits. We don’t have required courses or tracks because we know that our students are interested in a wide range of subjects. We tweak our course listings each year in response to what students, alumni, and employers tell us is essential for today’s workplace.
Contact Us
Anya Schiffrin, Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of International and Public Affairs
Specialization Director
acs76@columbia.edu
Laura Dankowski Mercado
Specializations Coordinator
ld3071@columbia.edu
Anya Schiffrin, Senior Lecturer in Discipline of International and Public Affairs; Director of Technology, Media, and Communications Specialization
Erica Berenstein, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Jonathan Birchall, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Christopher Booker, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Athanasios Thanassis Cambanis, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
N. Jamiyla Chisholm, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Sheila Coronel, Professor of Professional Practice in Journalism
Liza Featherstone, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Camille Francois, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Hagar Hajjar Chemali, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Annel Hernandez, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
James Holtje, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Mounir Ibrahim, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Nicholas Martin, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Adam Met, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Peter Micek, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Neal Parikh, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Lauren Peterson, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Mila Rosenthal, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Katie Shepherd, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Mark Steitz, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Jacob Templin, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Haley Van Dyck, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Douglas Williamson, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Mary 'Minky' Worden, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Ben Yuhas, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Visit our SIPA Faculty Directory to view bios
Technology, Media, and Communications Requirements
The Technology, Media, and Communications Specialization (TMaC) requires 9 points.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Points |
| Points |
INAF U6006 | Computing in Context | 3.00 |
INAF U6046 | Global Media: Policy Lab and Innovation | 1.50 |
INAF U6089 | Environmental Justice and Climate Resiliency | 3.00 |
INAF U6120 | Visual Storytelling | 3.00 |
INAF U6122 | Viral Videos, Generative AI & Geopolitics in a Changing World | 3.00 |
INAF U6123 | Storytelling for Social Change: Skills and Narratives | 3.00 |
INAF U6129 | Storytelling and The Art of Creating Social Impact Campaigns | 3.00 |
INAF U6144 | Campaigning for Change through Media, Mobilization & the Power of Persuasion | 3.00 |
INAF U6198 | Technology for Intl Crisis Response & Good Governance | 1.50 |
INAF U6202 | Internet Governance and Human Rights | 3.00 |
INAF U6209 | Tech & Tactics for Innovative Policymaking | 3.00 |
INAF U6382 | Technology, National Security & the Citizen | 3.00 |
INAF U6383 | Foundations of Cyber Conflict | 3.00 |
INAF U6386 | Policy Dilemmas in Cybersecurity | 3.00 |
INAF U6394 | Writing About War: Seeking Narratives in Conflict | 3.00 |
INAF U6502 | Into to Text Analysis in Python | 3.00 |
INAF U6504 | Python for Public Policy | 1.50 |
INAF U6509 | Basics of Cybersecurity | 1.50 |
INAF U6511 | Intro to Infographics and Data Visualization | 1.50 |
INAF U6512 | Data Driven Approaches for Campaigns and Advocacy | 3.00 |
INAF U6517 | Tech Policy in the Developing World: Data Governance | 1.50 |
INAF U6518 | Cybersecurity: Technology, Policy, & Law | 3.00 |
INAF U6523 | Cyber Risks & Vulnerabilities | 1.50 |
INAF U6524 | Cybersecurity & Business Risk | 3.00 |
INAF U6525 | Social Innovation, Technology, & Public Policy in the Global South | 1.50 |
INAF U6529 | Cyberspace in Strategy and Grand Strategy | 3.00 |
INAF U6531 | Cyber Conflict and Cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific | 3.00 |
INAF U6545 | AI: A Survey for Policymakers | 3.00 |
INAF U6546 | Artificial Intelligence and Conflict Prevention: Practical, Policy, and Ethical Dimensions | 3.00 |
INAF U6614 | Data Analysis for Policy Research Using R | 3.00 |
INAF U6897 | Writing on Policy | 3.00 |
INAF U6902 | Journalism in the Movies: Breaking News, Exposing Crime, Saving Democracy | 3.00 |
INAF U6905 | Fundamentals of Podcast Interviews | 1.50 |
INAF U6906 | Policy Solutions for Online Mis/Disinformation | 3.00 |
INAF U6908 | Information Operations on Social Media | 1.50 |
INAF U6911 | Democracy, Policy and Digital Governance | 1.50 |
INAF U6912 | Messaging Policy in the Digital Age | 1.50 |
INAF U6914 | Policies and Practices in Human-Centered Digital Development | 3.00 |
INAF U6918 | Digital Service Delivery for Leaders and Policy Makers | 3.00 |
INAF U6921 | Narrative Journalism Across the Platforms | 3.00 |
INAF U6922 | Race and Western Journalism | 1.50 |
INAF U6932 | Ethics of Media, Technology, and Design | 3.00 |
INAF U6935 | Communications for the Public, Private, and Non-Profit Sectors | 3.00 |
INAF U6946 | Writing and Delivering Speeches | 1.50 |
INAF U6975 | Internet Business Models & US Policy | 1.50 |
INAF U6979 | Online Trust & Safety | 1.50 |
INAF U8180 | Human Rights Skills & Advocacy | 3.00 |
INAF U8183 | Tools for Advocacy | 3.00 |
PUAF U6135 | Civic Innovation & Designing for People | 1.50 |
PUAF U6145 | Civic Innovation: Design in Practice & Imagination | 3.00 |
PUAF U6312 | Campaign Management | 3.00 |
PUAF U6314 | Climate Campaigning Reimagined: Communications and Mobilization | 1.50 |
REGN U8753 | Propaganda, Russia, & The World Information War | 3.00 |
SIPA U6700 | Inside the Situation Room | 3.00 |
EMPA U6426 | Digital Case Study Projects | 3.00 |
| | |
| | 1.50 |
| | 2.00 |
POLS GU4808 | CYBER STRATEGY & INT'L POLS | 4.00 |
| | 3.00 |
Degree Audit Report
Matriculated students in this program can view their degree audit report on Stellic.