Application Requirements

Apply here.

Fee payment must accompany the online application.

In the Academic History section of your online application, you must list and upload unofficial transcripts for all colleges and universities where you have earned more than 18 credits. This includes any summer program(s), study abroad program(s), or transfer coursework (regardless of whether these credits were transferred to your home institution) including any additional mark sheets, official translations, or degree certificates for international transcripts as needed. You will be asked to upload unofficial transcripts before submitting your application. Students with international transcripts will also be required to provide a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) for your application to be considered complete.

Please note that applicants are required to submit grades for all coursework completed at the time they complete their application. Applicants who are currently enrolled in coursework and who submit transcripts with in-progress fall coursework for admissions consideration (official WES for international and unofficial for domestic) must provide an updated unofficial transcript showing the grades for that completed fall coursework by early February or as soon as one becomes available. Applications completed by February 15 should include transcripts with the final fall grades to be eligible for review.

International Coursework

Official course-by-course evaluation by World Education Services, Inc. (WES), a third-party verification agency, for all post-secondary coursework completed outside of the United States with two exceptions:

• if bachelor's degree and MD were obtained domestically but the applicant has international coursework in addition to these two degrees (e.g. MPH, second master's)
• if applicants are 1) a CU employee in the medical field (e.g. physician at CUIMC);  2) obtained a US medical degree

Please select the WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation (with GPA and course-levels) and request to have WES send your evaluation electronically to Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. WES evaluations will be reviewed, and the determination of degree equivalency to U.S. degrees is at the discretion of the School of Professional Studies.

If admitted, the applicant must submit an official transcript directly from the prior institution. WES is not required. 

Domestic Coursework

Unofficial transcripts for each institution listed. Official or unofficial transcripts for 18 or fewer transfer credits are not required. Note: Unofficial transcripts must include both the name of the student and the institution to be used for application review.

Requirements for Enrollment:

If offered admission, and before being permitted to enroll, you must request official verified transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended for academic credit in the manner outlined on the Admitted Students page.  If you are in the process of completing a degree at the time you apply, final official transcripts with degree conferral (for domestic institutions) or a final official WES evaluation showing degree completion (for international institutions) will be required for enrollment.

The statement of academic purpose should address the following:

• Your purpose and interest in pursuing a Certification of Professional Achievement in Narrative Medicine
• How the certification program fits into your overall professional growth, focusing in particular on the connection between the program and your academic and/or professional experience
• What skills, knowledge, and experience you hope to learn from the coursework, faculty and peers in the program
• Your anticipated contribution to the program
• Your anticipated contribution to professional field

Please upload your résumé or CV. Please be sure to include all relevant work experience, professional organizations, or activities that would be relevant to evaluating your candidacy for admission. 

Spring 2023 applicants:

If your primary language is not English, you must provide official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS Academic unless both of the following are true:

• the language of instruction of your undergraduate degree conferring institution is English, and
• you completed two or more years at the institution.

Applicant total scores must meet the Columbia SPS minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL iBT) or 7.0 (IELTS Academic) to be admissible. You will be required to enter your test scores or your anticipated testing date within the online application, and official test score reports will be required for your application to be considered complete and ready for admission review. TOEFL and IELTS Academic scores are valid for two years after your test date. Applicants receiving scores below the posted minimums may be advised to apply directly to the American Language Program. 

• To submit TOEFL iBT scores: Visit www.ets.org and send your official score to our school code 2594. Please note: we do not accept TOEFL best scores.
• To submit IELTS scores: Please include your TRF number on the English Language Requirements section of the application. Alternatively, you can also send us your official score through your testing center.

Applicants whose primary language is not English may be required to complete an intensive course with the American Language Program (ALP) prior to beginning their studies in the degree program as a condition for admission.

Applicants may also be asked to complete an interview using a video conferencing tool. 

Fall 2023 applicants and later:

If your first or native language is not English, you must provide official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS Academic unless both of the following are true:

• the language of instruction of your undergraduate degree conferring institution is English, and
• and you completed your entire undergraduate degree in English.

Applicant total scores must meet the Columbia SPS minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL iBT) or 7.0 (IELTS Academic) to be admissible. You will be required to enter your test scores or your anticipated testing date within the online application, and official test score reports will be required for your application to be considered complete and ready for admission review. TOEFL and IELTS Academic scores are valid for two years after your test date. Applicants receiving scores below the posted minimums may be advised to apply directly to the American Language Program. 

• To submit TOEFL iBT scores: Visit www.ets.org and send your official score to our school code 2594. Please note: we do not accept TOEFL best scores.
• To submit IELTS scores: Please include your TRF number on the English Language Requirements section of the application. Alternatively, you can also send us your official score through your testing center.

Applicants whose primary language is not English may be required to complete an intensive course with the American Language Program (ALP) prior to beginning their studies in the degree program as a condition for admission.

Applicants may also be asked to complete an interview using a video conferencing tool.