Courses and activities of the institutes and centers are available to all MIA students and to others with an interest in the field. In addition, each of the institutes offers a certificate program in conjunction with SIPA, which is also available to students in other graduate divisions of Columbia. Further information is available from an adviser in the institute or center of your interest. The EPD concentration prepares students for careers in international development through interdisciplinary courses, applied workshops, and practical internships. Especially for students who come to Columbia with considerable overseas experience, language skills, or regional or functional expertise, the program can broaden understanding of economic, political, and social change processes and provide a more focused competence in specific fields, including development administration, microenterprise development, democratization and institution building, public health, environmental policy, urban planning, and many others.
Environmental policy is an important, rapidly growing subfield in international affairs.
As part of a Columbia-wide initiative to promote interdisciplinary study of the environment, the EPS concentration provides a platform for MIA students to build careers in environmental policy and management. Courses develop skills in dealing with human rights problems as well as in conflict resolution, peacemaking, and democracy building. The International Economic Policy curriculum spans the theory, formulation, institutional history, and track record of international trade policies and international monetary relations. The IEP concentration trains students in economic, empirical, political, and institutional analysis of international economic policy making. The International Finance and Business concentration is designed for students who are interested in pursuing internationally oriented careers in the private sector, in public sector agencies dealing primarily with the private sector, or with international organizations.