Happy Second Week of School!
Hello EPDers,
We hope your first week of classes went well, and for those still navigating course options, we're rooting for your choices!
 We know these first days of the semester can be stressful, but if you plan ahead, stay curious, and lean on your fellow SIPA peers, everything will settle eventually. Remember, the EPD team is here for you, so please reach out with any questions or concerns as you navigate the coming weeks.
Most importantly - registration for the EPD Retreat is now LIVE on Campus Groups! Please join us on September 21st to bond with other EPD students and engage with our amazing EPD faculty in the beautiful outdoors! As of now, there are still spots open for first years and second years/j-termers, but act fast before they are filled. See details below.
We are working on some exciting events for the semester and will reach out to you soon with more information. Stay tuned!
For additional communication and updates, we're reminding you to please join our EPD WhatsApp group. Simply click here to be a part of our EPD community and recieve reminders for upcoming events. We can't wait to connect with you there!
This week’s newsletter includes:
- Welcome Our New Concentration Manager
- EPD Student Spotlight: Get to Know Your Peers
- EPD Events
- EPD Courses with Open Seats
- Curriculum Reminders
- Career Resources
- Things to Do in NYC
- EPD Office Hours
Welcome Our New Concentration Manager
We are delighted to welcome Vida Huimin Herling as our new Concentration Manager. Vida is an alumna of SIPA and EPD, and is joining us this week. She has been working in higher education for the past eight years, including in administrative positions at the Italian Academy and at the School of Social Work, and most recently in the Provost’s Office of SUNY Old Westbury. Vida earned a BS degree from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where she majored in International Economics and Trade, before joining SIPA and gaining her MPA in 2012. In her spare time, Vida enjoys visiting new places, trying new food and learning new things with her husband and three daughters. We know Vida will be a great addition to the EPD team, and we are excited to welcome her back. Her office is in IAB Room 1305, and she can be reached at hh2655@columbia.edu.
EPD Student Spotlight: Get to Know Your Peers
We want this newsletter to be more than just information – we want it to be a platform where EPD students can connect and get to know one another. That's why we're introducing our EPD Student Spotlight!
Every week, we'll shine a light on one of our talented peers. We want to hear your stories, your experiences, and what makes you unique. Are you involved in exciting research? Do you have an interesting background or a hidden talent? Share it with us!
Submit your story and a picture of yourself by clicking here. We can't wait to feature you in our upcoming spotlights and celebrate the diverse and incredible individuals who make up our EPD community.
EPD Events
EPD Retreat
When: Saturday, September 21, 2024, 8:30 am - 9 pm
Where: Taconic Outdoor Education Center
Our annual EPD Retreat will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center (TOEC) located in Cold Spring, NY (just over an hour north of NYC). The retreat is an excellent opportunity for new students to make new friends, bond with second-year EPD students, and engage with several EPD faculty in a fun outdoor setting. Registration is open to both first- and second-year EPD concentrators.
Registration: Register HERE on Campus Groups.
Registration and payment deadline: by 4 pm on Friday, September 13.
Cost: $48 (payable by credit or debit card when you register -- includes transportation, lunch, dinner and snacks).
A detailed agenda and confirmation email will be sent to all who registered (and paid) prior to the retreat.
EPD Courses with Open Seats
For students still searching for courses to add to their schedule, the following EPD courses still have space available. If you haven't yet satisfied your core political dimensions requirement, we strongly encourage you to register for Prof. Vicky Murillo's fall course, State and Society in the Developing World. Prof. Murillo, who also directs the Institute for Latin American Studies, is a widely recognized expert on distributive politics in Latin America. She only teaches with us every other year, so any first-year students interested in her course should take it this fall!
CORE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COURSES:
INAF U6412 State and Society in the Developing World
Vicky Murillo
Wednesday, 9:00 - 10:50 am
Call #: 16202
EPD FOCUS AREA (ELECTIVE) COURSES:
INAF U6359 Global Economic Governance
José Antonio Ocampo
Tuesday, 9:00 – 10:50 am
Call #: 16197
INAF U6726 Global Constitutionalism
Michael Doyle
Thursday, 2:10 - 4:00 pm
Call #: 16239
INAF U8350 Finance for the World's Poorest
Jeffrey Ashe
Tuesday, 6:10 - 10:00 pm (meets every other Tuesday)
Call #: 16280
Curriculum Reminders
As you plan your semester, please remember to check the SIPA Language Requirement, and other EPD Requirements!
EPD course requirements: The EPD Concentration requires 18 credits, consisting of 6 three-point courses: 2 core courses (economic dimensions of sustainable development and political dimensions of sustainable development); 2 sustainable development practice courses (Methods for Sustainable Development Practice and the Capstone Workshop in Sustainable Development Practice*); and 2 professional focus area courses (or courses totaling 6 credits, which must be from ONE of four professional focus areas**). *The EPD Capstone Workshop satisfies the Capstone requirement for MIA and MPA students. **The complete lists of professional focus area courses are here.
Courses taken to fulfill an EPD course requirement cannot be audited or taken pass/fail.
Language requirement: All EPD students are also required to satisfy the MIA language requirement. Students may fulfill the language requirement for the MIA degree and the MPA/EPD Concentration with any modern language offered by Columbia University language programs or the Language Resource Center: http://www.lrc.columbia.edu/languages/#languageprograms. Information on language proficiency assessments at Columbia University is provided here: http://www.lrc.columbia.edu/proficiency-testing/.
EPD double-counting policy:
- Except for DAQA specializers, students may double count up to 2 courses (or 6 credits) of EPD courses toward their specialization requirement (if the courses are approved for both EPD and the specialization). However, only one focus area course (or up to 3 credits) can have a regional or country focus.
- Students may double count an EPD course from our approved political dimensions of sustainable development core courses or our political dimensions of sustainable development focus area to satisfy the Interstate Relations (IR) requirement for the MIA degree (if the course is also an approved IR course).
- Students may not double count an EPD core course towards their chosen professional focus area. However, if they take both economic dimensions of sustainable development core courses (or two different political dimensions of sustainable development core courses), they can count one for their core requirement and the other one for the related focus area.
To monitor your academic progress and map out your courses at SIPA, please remember to use Stellic! Students should frequently consult Stellic to track SIPA Core requirements for the MIA and MPA degrees, particularly during the add/drop period. Stellic is a tool meant to record student academic progress; if you have questions or concerns about your Stellic report, you can reach out to your academic advisor or the SIPA Degree Audit Team.
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Career Resources
SIPA Career Website & Resources
Check out great career development resources for students that can be found on the SIPA Career Resources Website.
Factsheets on Career Development - Tips for international students and on connecting with alumni, interviewing, networking, PMF information, writing resumes and cover letters and other career development topics.
Career Overview Factsheet - Information, sample employers, and online resources for a variety of fields and industries
Sector-Specific Fact Sheets - Lists of employers by industry or field, organizational charts, and information on IFC and World Bank internship programs and YPPs.
Check out other resources on this website.
Things to Do in NYC
One of the highlights of studying at SIPA is the incredible variety of international students who arrive each year from various corners of the globe. New York City, with its dynamic and bustling atmosphere, perfectly complements your academic journey. We aim to introduce you to the best experiences the city has to offer, ensuring that you have plenty of exciting options to explore after a busy day of classes. Whether it's cultural events, culinary delights, or just vibrant street life, there's something in New York for everyone!
Reminder: Passport to Museums
Get free admission to museums who generously provide this experience to current Columbia students.
All you need for admission is your CUID with a current semester validation sticker.
Get your validation sticker from the Student Service Center in 210 Kent Hall [more info]
Reminder: New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Where: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
When: Monday and Thursday through Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Tuesday and Wednesday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
If you love libraries, this library would be a treat for you! NYPL houses the iconic Rose Main Reading Room and is a must see. Not only is the library free to enter, but so are the tours! The 60 minute building tour is on Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tickets must be reserved online and are limited to the first 20 people. Visitors can access the link here for the building tour. The 15 minute Rose Main Reading Room Tour is available Monday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. This tour is only open to the first 25 people who sign up in person 30 minutes prior to the tour.
As we end summer and enter fall, make sure to take advantage of these iconic outdoor New York City spaces and experiences. Click the links for more info:
Central Park
Explore NYC’s iconic green space with walking trails, scenic spots like Bethesda Terrace, and a break from city life.
The High Line
Walk this elevated park for a mix of greenery, public art, and incredible views of Manhattan’s West Side.
Staten Island Ferry
Take a free ferry ride with breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC skyline.
Brooklyn Bridge
Stroll across this historic bridge for panoramic views of the city and a taste of classic New York.
Governor's Island
Escape to this peaceful island for a day of biking, picnicking, and stunning views of Lower Manhattan.
EPD Office Hours
José Antonio Ocampo, EPD Co-Director
jao2128@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/ocampo-officehours
Eugenia (Jenny) McGill, EPD Co-Director & EPD Workshop Director
em419@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/mcgill-oh
Vida Huimin Herling, EPD Concentration Manager
hh2655@columbia.edu
Office hours: To be confirmed
Semon Makar Zekry (MIA/EPD), Program Assistant
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