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
John Battelle, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Emily Bell, Leonard Tow Professor of Journalism
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)
Thanassis Cambanis, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Liza Featherstone, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Annel Hernandez, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Jim Holtje, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Mounir Ibrahim, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Nick Martin, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Peter Micek, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Katie Shepherd, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Mark Steitz, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Evagelia Emily Tavoulareas, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs (part-time)
Jacob Templin, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Alexis Wichowski, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
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
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 |
INAF U6046 | Global Media: Innovation & Economic Development | 1.50 |
INAF U6089 | Environmental Justice and Climate Resiliency | 3.00 |
INAF U6120 | Visual Storytelling | 3 |
INAF U6122 | Crowdsourced Storytelling for Policy Makers, Journalists and NGOs | 3 |
INAF U6123 | Storytelling for Social Change: Skills and Narratives | 3.00 |
INAF U6129 | Storytelling and The Art of Creating Social Impact Campaigns | 3 |
INAF U6144 | Media Campaigning and Social Change | 3 |
INAF U6198 | Technology for Intl Crisis Response & Good Governance | 1.5 |
INAF U6202 | Internet Governance and Human Rights | 3 |
INAF U6209 | Tech & Tactics for Innovative Policymaking | 3 |
INAF U6382 | Technology, National Security & the Citizen | 3 |
INAF U6383 | Foundations of Cyber Conflict | 3 |
INAF U6394 | Writing About War: Seeking Narratives in Conflict | 3.00 |
INAF U6502 | Into to Text Analysis in Python | 3 |
INAF U6511 | Intro to Infographics and Data Visualization | 1.5 |
INAF U6512 | Data Driven Approaches for Campaigns and Advocacy | 3.00 |
INAF U6517 | Tech Policy in the Developing World: Data Governance | 1.5 |
INAF U6525 | Social Innovation, Technology, & Public Policy in the Global South | 1.5 |
INAF U6531 | Cyber Conflict and Cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific | 3 |
INAF U6545 | AI: A Survey for Policymakers | 3.00 |
INAF U6897 | Writing on Policy | 3 |
INAF U6902 | Journalism in the Movies: Breaking News, Exposing Crime, Saving Democracy | 3.00 |
INAF U6905 | Fundamentals of Podcast Interviews | 1.5 |
INAF U6906 | Policy Solutions for Online Mis/Disinformation | 3.00 |
INAF U6908 | Information Operations on Social Media | 1.5 |
INAF U6911 | Democracy, Policy and Digital Governance | 1.5 |
INAF U6912 | Messaging Policy in the Digital Age | 1.5 |
INAF U6914 | Policies and Practices in Human-Centered Digital Development | 3 |
INAF U6921 | Narrative Journalism Across the Platforms | 3 |
INAF U6935 | Communications for the Public, Private, and Non-Profit Sectors | 3 |
INAF U6946 | Writing and Delivering Speeches | 1.5 |
INAF U6975 | Internet Business Models & US Policy | 1.5 |
INAF U6979 | Online Trust & Safety | 1.50 |
INAF U8180 | Human Rights Skills & Advocacy | 3 |
INAF U8183 | Tools for Advocacy | 3.00 |
PUAF U6135 | Civic Innovation & Designing for People | 1.5 |
PUAF U6145 | Civic Innovation: Design in Practice & Imagination | 3 |
PUAF U6312 | Campaign Management | 3.00 |
REGN U8753 | News & Disinformation: Propaganda, Russia & the Geopolitics of Information | 3 |
| | |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| | 1.5 |
Degree Audit Report
Matriculated students in this program can view their degree audit report on Stellic.