Program Requirements

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) brings together the scholarly and practitioner worlds in a variety of academic settings. To maintain the highest academic and professional standards, SPS has established a number of policy and procedures for its students to follow.

Students in the School of Professional Studies are responsible for knowing and following the rules, policies, and procedures of SPS, as approved by the School’s faculty executive committee. Students in other Columbia schools who are enrolled in courses at the SPS are governed by the rules of their home school. If you have questions about any aspect of the policy statement, please contact:

Office of Student Affairs
203 Lewisohn Hall
sps-studentaffairs@columbia.edu

Master's Degrees

For program requirements, refer to the specific Master's program page:

 

Postbaccalaureate Studies

Admitted students may register for any course for which they are prepared—i.e., any noted prerequisites must be fulfilled. In over-enrolled courses, Columbia degree candidates have priority over non-degree students.

Limited-enrollment courses such as seminars are not normally open to Postbaccalaureate Studies students. Some courses required for admission to medical or other health-profession schools are not available through the School of Professional Studies. Persons interested in premedical or other health-related preprofessional programs should apply to the School of General Studies.

For more information, see Postbaccalaureate Studies.

Visiting Students

Undergraduate Visiting Students
May register for a maximum of two terms, but must complete their first term in good academic and disciplinary standing in order to continue for a second term. May register for any course for which they have the prerequisites, but in limited enrollment courses, Columbia degree candidates have priority.

High School Visiting Students
May register for a maximum of two terms, but must complete their first term in good academic and disciplinary standing in order to continue for a second term. May register for any course for which they have the prerequisites and their guidance counselor’s approval, but introductory courses (those numbered in the 1000s) are usually most appropriate. For foreign languages, one year of a foreign language in high school generally equals one semester of a foreign language in college.

Visiting Graduate Students
May register for a maximum of two terms, but must complete their first term in good academic and disciplinary standing in order to continue for a second term. May register for any course for which they have the prerequisites, but in limited enrollment courses, Columbia degree candidates have priority.

For more information, see Visiting Students.