To all 2nd-year MIA/MPA/MPA-DP students and fall graduates: the spring 2021 Capstone Workshops projects and application are now available. To find out more information about the Capstone projects, you can access the link to the client website, individual project description and the faculty bio through the Capstone webpage. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 29 Noon (12:00pm ET).
Who should apply?
All graduating MIA/MPA/MPA DP students who have not taken a Capstone workshop should apply and are guaranteed a place on a workshop. Fall graduating students should also apply. Though we cannot guarantee placement for all fall students, we expect to have enough capacity to place most, if not all, fall graduates along with the graduating class. Since the selection of projects is far greater in the spring, fall graduates are highly encouraged to apply for Spring Capstones.
For students who are not in these two groups? For non-graduating students (non J-term students) who are interested in taking a Capstone workshop early or as an elective, we will offer a second-round application in early November for any projects that have capacity once all graduating and J-term students have been placed. Students who are interested in taking the Capstone as an elective course are asked to wait until the second application cycle to apply. Teams will be announced in mid-November.
How to apply?
To apply, students must submit an application, available here, by Thursday, October 29 noon (12:00pm ET). When submitting an application, students must:
- Submit a PDF resume saved as one’s UNI (not as your name, please use your UNI)
- Complete all of the required fields on the online application, including the release form. On the online application, students must rank order their Capstone preferences from 1 - 5 (1 being the first choice) and submit a 250-word “statement of interest” for each Capstone. In addition, students must list their relevant coursework, writing the full name of the course (rather than writing the SIPA course number or an abbreviation of the course). Relevant coursework may include courses taken outside of Columbia University but please indicate where and when the course was completed.
Please review the timetable for the workshops to make sure that the projects you select are not in conflict with any other core required course you must take next spring. The timetable is available here.
How do I learn more about the application process?
All applicants are strongly advised to attend ONE of these sessions. The information sessions will cover important information about the application, workshop placement, etc. This is also the best opportunity to bring up any questions that you may have. Registration is required to receive a meeting link.
- Friday, October 16 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm (ET): RSVP here
- Friday, October 23 from 4:00pm- 5:00pm (ET): RSVP here
- Tuesday, October 27 from 6:00am – 7:00 am (ET): RSVP here
For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for students.