By Teresa Chan, Director of the Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management Program, and Tracy Schwartz, Senior Director of the Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management Program
This year marks the fifth anniversary of Columbia University’s M.P.S. in Insurance Management and M.P.S in Wealth Management programs, launched during the height of the pandemic. These first-of-their-kind Ivy League programs were built on a vision for accelerating the advancement of working professionals in their respective fields.
We take great pride that our student cohorts represent a breadth of intellectual, geographical, cultural, and experiential diversity. Every student’s unique perspective continues to shape the collaborative and inclusive spirit of our programs and, most importantly, fosters relationships that last beyond graduation. Building such a robust and supportive community in just five years has been our greatest achievement thus far.
We have seen how asynchronous instruction is not only rewarding, but also a powerful tool enabling our students, who are busy professionals, to balance work, life, and study. The effectiveness of asynchronous learning is evidenced by the remarkable student engagement that we have observed in problem-based learning assignments and activities during these past few years. Students have remarked that they have “taken what they’ve learned on Monday and put it into practice on Tuesday,” applying industry insights from our leading scholar practitioners and their classmates.
The level of student and alumni involvement in curricular and co-curricular activities, our in-person residencies, and their service as program ambassadors for student recruitment, speaks volumes to the commitment of our community and the uniqueness of our programs. Furthermore, our alumni have assumed roles as course associates, lecturers, and guest speakers, which also keeps them connected.
We are grateful for our amazing faculty, students, alumni, guest lecturers/speakers, advisory counsel, and industry partners, who have helped us reach this important milestone. Your commitment and unwavering support have been crucial to the growth and success of our programs.
As we look into the future, we strive to improve and expand, and look forward to welcoming others to join us on this fulfilling journey.
To learn more about the M.P.S. degree at Columbia, please view the following video:
About the Insurance Management Program
The Master of Professional Studies in Insurance Management is for career professionals who want to accelerate their advancement to leadership positions or broaden their expertise in the industry. It accommodates both professionals already working in insurance and those looking to make a career change. The program is part-time, online, and instruction is asynchronous to accommodate working professionals.
About the Wealth Management Program
A 16-month online program with asynchronous instruction, specially designed to accommodate working professionals, Columbia University’s Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management program is taught by distinguished faculty with deep applied experience in their respective fields. Additionally, it is a CFP Board Registered Program designed to help students meet the educational requirements for CFP® certification.
