Leverage Summer Opportunities with SPS

The Summer Session at Columbia University has many opportunities for students to call the campus their home. Whether accelerating studies, preparing for graduate school, or attending college for the first time, students across the globe can make the most of their summer by tapping into the vast resources of Columbia University and all that New York City has to offer.

Visiting Students and Professionals

Visiting undergraduates, graduates, post-baccalaureates, and working professionals can enroll at Columbia for a summer term, study with Columbia’s esteemed faculty, pursue academic interests, and explore one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

Columbia’s visiting students may select—in addition to hundreds of available summer courses—one of four unique focus areas. These draw from the University’s strengths and enable students to dive into one of the following areas of interest:

• Arts and Culture in NYC 
• Foundations of Pre-Medicine 
• Public Affairs and Sustainable Futures 
• Wall Street Prep: Economics, Finance, and Analytics 

Focus areas unite distinct courses and subjects under a thematic banner paired with exclusive co-curriculars. For instance, the Arts and Culture in NYC Focus Area leverages exceptional New York City–centered resources such as guided tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway shows, and a walking tour of Brooklyn’s graffiti art. Past excursions for Wall Street Prep Focus Area students have included tours of Wall Street and the United Nations global headquarters.

Along with earning course credit and enjoying co-curriculars, visiting students who complete at least two courses under a focus area receive a Columbia University Certification of Participation. 

Optional on-campus summer housing provides visiting students the opportunity to experience residential life at Columbia and connect with new people. Each summer, visiting students may also apply for a Focus Area Ambassadorship. Ambassadors share their student journey and NYC experience through photos, videos, and blog posts while developing their communication skills. Ambassadors also receive a housing stipend and/or flex dollars to spend at local businesses in the community to enhance their Columbia experience. 

Summer Session for Columbia and Barnard Students

The summer term is a convenient way for current Columbia and Barnard students to catch up or get ahead in their academic programs, fulfill prerequisites and core curriculum requirements, or explore new fields—all while continuing their studies and time in New York City.

The University offers a wealth of opportunities for its matriculated students. Students may select from  hundreds of courses offered through academic departments across the School of Arts and Sciences, SPS, SIPA, and the School of the Arts. Available courses may satisfy requirements in science, literature, humanities, foreign languages, quantitative reasoning, and social sciences. Course offerings are condensed into 6- and 12-week sessions, with part-time and full-time options for maximum flexibility.

Columbia University’s Summer Session provides Columbia and Barnard students with an excellent opportunity to stay connected with their area of study during the summer break, accelerate graduation, and free up time for an upcoming internship or semester abroad.

Summer Extracurricular and Networking Events on Campus

During the Summer Session, all students have an opportunity to connect with the University’s senior faculty about their work outside the classroom, from designing a sustainable future to breaking news and adapting stories for television. Students can also see up-and-coming New York City artists perform live at the Sounds of Summer Fest and enjoy on-campus film screenings, student mixers, and a series of faculty-led talks on today’s pressing issues.

Whether you’re a matriculated or a visiting student, Columbia’s campus is the place to be in summer!