Curriculum & Courses

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Craft Your Own Curriculum

Tailor your Courses, Modality, and Pace of Study to your Interests and Goals   

  • Holistic and interdisciplinary approach to information science, providing technical and people skills with immediate applicability to all industry sectors, non-profits and NGOs
  • Work with your dedicated, 1:1 faculty advisor to optimize your curriculum and extra-curricular activities and strategize towards your next career goal 
  • Master of Science degree (STEM), part-time or full-time
  • Eligible for F-1/J-1 Visa students, incl. option for CPT and 3-year OPT (work authorization in the United States)
  • Hybrid study: Choose a combination of on-campus and online courses, according to your preference and professional commitments: Tailor your experience from mostly on-campus to mostly online
  • Flexible course content: A wide choice of electives from across Columbia University allows you to tailor the IKNS curriculum to your individual intellectual interests and career objectives. Customize your degree with courses from Columbia's School of Arts and Sciences, Business School, Data Science Institute, Engineering School, Journalism School, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Mailman School of Public Health, and the School of Professional Studies. Note that access to these courses is subject to space availability in a particular term and prerequisites set by the respective department that offers a particular course  
  • Part time or full time: Adjust the pace of your studies to graduate within anywhere from 3 semesters to 3 years. Need to slow things down to pursue an exciting opportunity at work? No problem
  • Apply year-round for fall admission (the sooner you apply, the sooner you will receive a decision)

Degree requirements

  • 36 credits (~12 courses) for completion (most courses carry 3 credits each, so 36 credits typically means 12 courses)
  • 6 required courses (18 credits), one of which is the Capstone Project
  • 6 elective courses of your choice (18 credits), satisfying the following criteria:
    - 2 elective courses (6 credits) must be from Curriculum Area 1: Data & Analytics       
    - 2 elective courses (6 credits) must be from Curriculum Area 2: People & Networks
    - 1 elective course (3 credits) must be from Curriculum Area 3: Integration & Strategy
    - 1 "free" elective course (3 credits) can be from any of the three Curriculum Areas
     

On-Campus Residencies in New York City

Our students come from all over the world and therefore tailor their IKNS experience to their individual needs - ranging from a mostly on-campus to a mostly online experience. To provide opportunities for networking and community building as part of your studies, all students come together on Columbia’s campus for in-person Residencies. For example, a Residency as part of the Foundations course (1st semester) or during the final Capstone Project. These multi-day Residencies offer curated block instruction to apply theory to practice and to maximize networking opportunities among students, faculty, alums, and capstone sponsors.

Important Dates*

  • Spring 2025:
    • January 13, 2025 - January 17, 2025 : Navigating the Future of Work On-Campus Block Week (elective course)
    • April 2, 2025 - April 4, 2025: Digital Workplace & Digital Transformation On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5303)
  • Fall 2025:
    • August 28, 2025 - August 30, 2025:  Foundations On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5300)
    • December 10, 2025 - December 12, 2025: Capstone On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5351)
  • Spring 2026 (tentative):
    • January 12, 2026 - January 16, 2026 : Navigating the Future of Work On-Campus Block Week (elective course)
    • April 1, 2026 - April 3, 2026: Digital Workplace & Digital Transformation On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5303)
  • Fall 2026 (tentative):
    • August 2026 (Dates TBC):  Foundations On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5300)
    • December 2026 (Dates TBC): Capstone On-Campus Residency (required component of IKNS 5351)

*  Information regarding future terms is subject to change.

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