The SPS Student Journey Play

The SPS Student Experience

Whether pursuing one of 18 master’s degrees, returning for post-baccalaureate credentials, or visiting from another university to accelerate undergraduate or graduate studies, every student at the School of Professional Studies (SPS) benefits from intentionally designed resources and services that make SPS the place to study no matter your path.

Three SPS students access study together on their computers.

Benefit from Flexible Programs

Study full-time, part-time, on campus, or online. Whether you are a seasoned professional, just starting or restarting your career, or a visiting student from another university, SPS is intentionally designed to meet you where you are.
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Four students stand at the entry to Lewisohn Hall, talking.

Experience Belonging with Student Accessibility and Inclusion

SPS welcomes students from all over the globe and creates greater access to the School through fellowships, scholarships and community programs. Within the school, SPS works towards greater equity and a deeper sense of belonging through its DEIA committee composed of faculty, staff, and students.
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Many SPS students sit at tables set up in a square, listening as two industry experts sit in the center of the tables and discuss their work.

Study with Scholar-Practitioner Faculty

SPS students are taught by scholar-practitioners who bring their industry directly into the classroom, providing students with opportunities to solve real-time problems and connect with senior industry leaders.
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An SPS faculty member looks over the shoulder of two students as they work at a table.

The Pedagogical Lab: Training Practitioners to Translate Their Industry Knowledge

​​Recruiting C-suite executives to become faculty requires SPS to invest in intensive training. The Pedagogical Lab—a unique and immersive instructional development program for faculty at the School—trains industry leaders to translate their experience into classroom curriculum and instruction.
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Three students meet on campus walk during a Student Life fair.

Make the Most of Student Life and Services

SPS ensures that students have access to a wide array of services aimed at supporting their well-being and success. From housing to student health, advising to academic resources, 30+ student organizations to more than 200 organized events per year, SPS supports its students every step of the way.
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Four students talk in front of the iconic Guggenheim art museum.

Live and Learn in New York City

Studying at Columbia means being at the center of a major global city with unparalleled access to industry resources, professional networking, NYC’s world renown arts, culture, and nightlife, and a travel springboard to the wider U.S.
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Three SPS students enjoy an afternoon on the campus lawn, talking and taking photos together.

Find Community as an SPS International Student

There are many ways for international students to find everything they need to feel at home at Columbia University.
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A student talks as his classmate listens

Unlock Career Success with an SPS Internship

One of the most valuable opportunities available to students is the SPS Internship Program, open to all SPS students, which has proved to be a game changer—especially for international students looking to launch their careers in the US.
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Three SPS students sit on the steps in front of Columbia University's Low Library.

Leverage Summer Opportunities with SPS

Summer at Columbia offers many opportunities for students to call the campus their home. Students make the most of their summer by accelerating their studies alongside Columbia's matriculated students and experiencing campus life and NYC's museums, restaurants, parks, beaches, and sports teams.
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Two students finish a class presentation in front of a conference room full of applauding students and faculty.

Demonstrate Your Degree with Capstones and Culminating Projects

Many SPS programs require students to undertake a capstone course or similar final project. Such courses provide SPS students with a unique opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the skills and knowledge acquired through their studies by addressing a challenge being faced by an industry client.
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One student listens attentively to a presentation.

Get Ahead with the Career Design Lab

SPS students sculpt meaningful careers that resonate with personal purpose and industry demands. To accomplish this, CDL offers individualized coaching and career assessment, résumé guidance, agile internship and job-search strategies, personal branding, interview skills, advice on career transition
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Three students socialize and network at an SPS alumni reception.

Form a Lifelong Connection to the Columbia University Alumni Community

Graduate from SPS and become a member of the Columbia University alumni community, including more than 15,000 SPS graduates in nearly 100 countries. Alumni Relations at SPS helps forge lifelong connections through in person and online networking opportunities organized around the world.
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