Columbia University School of Professional Studies

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Columbia University
School of Professional Studies
Columbia University School of Professional Studies logo.svg
TypePrivate
Graduate school
Established1995
DeanTroy Eggers
Location
New York City
,
New York
,
U.S.
CampusUrban
Websitesps.columbia.edu

The School of Professional Studies is one of the schools comprising Columbia University.[1] It offers seventeen master's degrees, courses for advancement and graduate school preparation, certificate programs, summer courses, auditing and lifelong learning programs, high school programs in New York City and abroad, and a program for learning English as a second language.

History[]

The predecessor of the School of Professional Studies was first established as the Division of Special Programs in 1995, and was later renamed the "Division of Continuing Education and Special Programs" in 1997.[citation needed]

In 2000, the Division began to consider offering degree programs, and was reorganized as the School of Continuing Education in 2002 under its founding dean, Frank Wolf. In 2002, the university's board of trustees granted final approval for the creation of the School of Continuing Education, the first new school at Columbia in 50 years. With this new status, the School became both a Faculty and a Department of Instruction in the Arts and Sciences, and was granted authority to offer the master of science degree. In the course of 2002–2006 it expanded its graduate offerings to eight M.S. Programs. A cross‑enrollment agreement with Union Theological Seminary was also established in 2002.[citation needed]

In 2011 the university commissioned McKinsey & Company to provide suggestions on how to improve the university. [2] Some of the report's suggestions caused contentions with some faculty and administrators.[3] One of the proposed changes included increasing enrollment at the School of Continuing Education to increase university funding. [4]

In 2015, the School's incoming Dean, Jason Wingard announced that the School of Continuing Education was renamed the School of Professional Studies.[5][6]

During the most recent academic year, 2019-2020, the school's 1,359 graduates represented 14.3 percent of the 9,194 master's degrees conferred across all of Columbia University's graduate and professional schools.[7]

Academic Programs[]

As of 2020, the school offers graduate degrees in actuarial science, applied analytics, bioethics, construction administration, enterprise risk management, human capital management, nonprofit management, information and knowledge strategy, insurance management, narrative medicine, negotiation and conflict resolution, sport management, strategic communication, sustainability management, sustainability science, technology management, and wealth management.[8]

Student Outcomes[]

The latest student outcomes released by Columbia's School of Professional Studies (SPS) in 2019 showed that 72% of students surveyed reported they were employed or continuing their education at the time they graduated (based on a sample of 82% of the total class).[9]

A sample of 2016 School of Professional Studies students showed a breakdown of income as follows:[10]

  • Under $29,999: 17%
  • $30,000–$49,000: 10%
  • $50,000–$69,999: 25%
  • $70,000–$89,999: 13%
  • $90,000 or more: 35%

Rankings[]

In 2020, the School's Negotiation and Conflict Resolution master's program was named the #1 Best Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Management degrees in the United States by College Choice.[11]

In 2021, the School's Construction Administration master's program was ranked #1 and topped the list of 25 Best Master’s in Construction Management, compiled by Great Business Schools. College Choice also ranked it #1 amongst the Best Master's Program in Construction Management. [12][13]

Controversy[]

Some controversy has arisen following the re-branding of the school as the School of Professional Studies and its expansion. In 2017 and 2019 the Columbia Senate met to discuss whether the existence of the School of Professional Studies negatively impacted the university's reputation. [14][15] The External Relations Committee at Columbia expressed concerns that SPS’s “proliferation of graduate degrees without academic oversight can threaten Columbia’s external brand and reputation.”[16] [17] An ad hoc committee was formed by students and graduates after rumors surfaced that students in the Applied Analytics program were considering a lawsuit for what they believed was an inferior program. [18][19] In addition, other Columbia schools, such as the engineering school and the business school, have criticized SPS for offering programs that appear to overlap with programs already offered by their respective schools.[20] The meeting in 2017 saw continued contentions upon the matter, where a statement unanimously endorsed by the External Relations Committee was presented to criticize the school's swell in graduate degrees without adequate academic oversight. [21] [22][23]

Notable Faculty[]

  • Jeffrey Sachs – University Professor and Director of the Earth Institute, Faculty in the Bioethics Program[24]
  • Rita Charon – Professor of Medicine, Founder and Executive Director of the Narrative Medicine Program[25]
  • Peter T. Coleman – Professor of Psychology and Education, Lecturer in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution[26]
  • Jason Wingard - Professor of Human Capital Management[27]
  • Robert Klitzman - Academic Director, M.S. in Bioethics Program [28]

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The School | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Eliza. "A distant president and a mysterious McKinsey report send Columbia's liberal-arts faculty into an existential panic". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  3. ^ Shapiro, Eliza. "A distant president and a mysterious McKinsey report send Columbia's liberal-arts faculty into an existential panic". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  4. ^ "Columbia Daily Spectator 16 April 2012 — Columbia Spectator". spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  5. ^ "Columbia University School of Continuing Education Renamed School of Professional Studies | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu.
  6. ^ "Jason Wingard | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  7. ^ "Columbia University: Degrees and Certificates Awarded, 2019-2020" (PDF). Columbia Office of the Provost. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Academics All Programs | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu.
  9. ^ "2019 Career Outcomes Annual Report" (PDF).
  10. ^ "2016 Career Report" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Best Master's in Negotiation and Conflict Management Degrees". College Choice. December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "25 Best Master's in Construction Management for 2021". Great Business Schools. August 04, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Best Master's in Construction Management". College Choice. July 01, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Columbia Senate Meeting 2017" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Senate report questions SPS's impact on University's reputation". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  16. ^ "Columbia Senate Meeting 2017" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Senate report questions SPS's impact on University's reputation". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  18. ^ "Columbia Senate Meeting 2017" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Senate report questions SPS's impact on University's reputation". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  20. ^ "Senate questions reputation, academic quality of School of Professional Studies at last plenary of year". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  21. ^ "Columbia Senate Meeting 2017" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Unfunded Mandate: Columbia College, Arts and Sciences, and the Bollinger Era". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  23. ^ "Senate report questions SPS's impact on University's reputation". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  24. ^ "Jeffrey D. Sachs | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  25. ^ "Rita Charon | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  26. ^ "Peter T. Coleman | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  27. ^ "Jason Wingard | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  28. ^ "Robert Klitzman, M.D. | Columbia University School of Professional Studies". sps.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  29. ^ Kahler, Kalyn. "Andrew Hawkins: Just as Smart as I Am Quick". Sports Illustrated.
  30. ^ "Kira Peikoff, Author at leapsmag".

External links[]

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