As of June 5, 2020
For questions specific to the following topics, please click on one of the subsections below:
M.S. Program (which includes all Master of Science programs)
M.A. Program
Ph.D. Program
Careers, Internships and Jobs
Transcripts
Scholarships
Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to schedule an appointment to speak with us here.
M.S. PROGRAMS
QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHEDULES AND INSTRUCTION
What is the schedule for my M.S. program?
Please click on your program name to see the classes that you will be taking each semester (Note: you will need to use your Columbia email address and password to gain access to the schedules):
Full-time general M.S.
Full-time M.S. Stabile Specialization
Full-time M.S. Documentary Specialization
Part-time general M.S.
Part-time M.S. Stabile Specialization
Part-time M.S. Documentary Specialization
M.S. in Data Journalism
Dual M.S. Degree in Journalism and Computer Science
What are the big changes for the full-time Master of Science programs?
Students in our general full-time M.S. program will have the options to start either in August, finishing in May or in January, finishing in August. Students in the Stabile specialization, Documentary specialization, Data Degree program, and Dual Degree Journalism/Computer Science program must begin their programs in August.
Students in the Stabile specialization, Documentary specialization, Data Degree program, and Dual Degree Journalism/Computer Science program who wish to start in January can do so only if they switch into the general M.S. full-time program.
Can a Part-time M.S. admit choose to begin the Part-time M.S. program in January?
No, part-time students move as a cohort through our five-semester program and may start in August only.
Will I get to take the same classes if I start the full-time M.S. degree in August as in January?
Students will be required to take the same curriculum regardless of when they begin. There will be some differences among the Seminar & Production offerings available to the two cohorts in their second semesters, but a mix of the same core topics, specializations and media will be available to students in both the August and January cohorts.
If I start in August and the pandemic worsens so that all classes have to be online, will I be able to take a leave of absence and come back next August to begin again?
Students who need to take a leave for a physical or psychological illness follow our Medical Leave process and are entitled to remain on University health insurance throughout their absence. Students wishing to take a leave for other emergencies, must consult with Associate Dean of Students, Melanie Huff (mgh2@columbia.edu), about the procedure and the implications for doing this. They must consult, too, with Assistant Dean Tarin Almanzar (ta169@columbia.edu) in the Admissions and Financial Aid Office to resolve any financial issues. We will not grant leaves of absence after classes have started based on whether the programs are offered in-person or online. Please read the University regulations regarding withdrawals for additional financial information.
If I start in August, will most of my classes be online? Fifty percent?
We don’t have any concrete updates at this time. The course of the pandemic remains unknowable. Our goal remains to maximize in-person instruction and opportunities for field reporting, consistent with your safety, the safety of the Columbia community, and the safety of the people we report on.
Will students who start the M.S. program in January get to participate in the May 2021 graduation ceremony?
The current plan is that students who begin the M.S. degree in January will complete their programs in August, and will thus be eligible to participate in either the December 2021 CJS or the May 2022 University and CJS graduation ceremonies. We will hold a school-based celebration of graduates in August 2021, but the dimensions of that event will be planned later.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Will the full-time M.S. Program’s tuition and fees be different if I start the program in August or in January?
The university tuition and fees will remain the same, whether you begin the full-time M.S. program in August or in January.
If I chose to begin in January, will I receive admission and financial aid letters that reflect this change?
Students who choose to begin in January will receive new admission, scholarship and federal student loan letters in the first week of July, which will reflect the changed start dates.
If I received a scholarship for the M.S. in Data Journalism Program or for the M.S. Stabile or Documentary specializations, would the scholarship amount change if I decided to switch to the general Master of Science Program?
Yes, it is likely that the scholarship amount would change for several reasons, including the donor restrictions of particular funds available for specific programs and, in the case of Data and Documentary students, the changed length of the program. If you are considering a change of program request and have received a scholarship, please email Tarin Almanzar at ta169@columbia.edu for information about how this would affect your funding.
What happens if I start in January but I received funding from an external source (e.g., Fulbright, DAAD, INLAKS, international government student loans) that is tied to a traditional fall/spring academic year?
Please contact the third-party funder, explain what is happening, and ask them whether it is possible to use the funding for the two semester program beginning in January. Students who choose to begin in January will receive new admission, scholarship and federal student loan letters in the first week of July, which will reflect the changed start dates, and which you will be able to present to third party funders.
QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL M.S. STUDENT OPTIONS
If I am an international student who has been admitted to the M.S. in Data Journalism Program or to the M.S. Stabile or Documentary specializations, and it is unlikely that I can get a visa for the fall semester, can I switch to the general Master of Science Program to begin the program in January 2021 and finish in August 2021?
Yes, both domestic and international students will be able to switch to the general Master of Science Program and begin that program in January, if they are unable to get to New York to begin in August 2020.
If I am an international student who has been admitted to the M.S. in Data Journalism Program or to the M.S. Stabile or Documentary specializations, and it is unlikely that I can get a visa for the fall semester, can I defer and begin the program in the fall of 2021?
If you are an international student who has been admitted to the M.S. in Data Journalism Program or to the M.S. Stabile or Documentary specializations, have filed your DS160 visa application with Columbia’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), received an I-20 and can present a letter or email from the U.S. embassy in your country that shows that you will not secure a visa interview in time to arrive in time for Orientation, please email John Graham in the Admissions Office at jpg2155@columbia.edu, by Friday morning, August 14, to request a deferral to begin the program in the fall of 2021.
If I received a scholarship for the M.S. in Data Journalism Program or for the M.S. Stabile or Documentary specializations, would the scholarship amount change if I switched to the general Master of Science Program?
Yes, it is likely that the scholarship amount would change for several reasons, including the donor restrictions of particular funds available for specific programs and, in the case of Data and Documentary students, the changed length of the program. If you are considering a change of program request and have received a scholarship, please email Tarin Almanzar at ta169@columbia.edu for information about how this would affect your funding.
If I am an international M.S. admit and do not wish to begin the program in January, can I request a deferral and enter the program in the fall of 2021?
Please email John Graham in the Admissions Office at jpg2155@columbia.edu, to discuss this. We are following our normal deferral procedures. Check here to review them.
If I am an international M.S. admit and want to start in August 2020, but do not yet know if I can secure a visa by the time classes begin, should I still select the August start date option? If it turns out that I cannot secure a visa by August, can I then choose to start in January?
Yes, if you are an international M.S. admit and want to start in August 2020, but do not yet know if you can secure a visa by the time classes begin, please select the August start date, and submit your I-20 application and supporting financial documentation to Columbia’s ISSO. That way, as soon as the visa offices in your country re-open, you will be prepared to submit your I-20 with your request for a visa appointment. If it becomes clear that you will not be able to obtain a visa in time, you can then defer to a January start.
If I opt for an August start date and cannot get a visa, can I do the fall semester online and arrive for the spring semester?
This will depend on a number of factors, and at this time, we do not know enough to provide a definitive answer. If you are interested in this possibility, contact admissions and we will update you as we learn more.
Will international M.S. in Data Journalism or M.S. Stabile or Documentary Specialization admits who cannot get a visa to begin their studies in August be able to take their fall 2020 classes online and then begin in-person classes in January?
No, M.S. in Data Journalism or M.S. Stabile or Documentary Specialization students who cannot get a visa to begin their studies in August may not take their fall 2020 classes online and then begin in-person classes in January.
If I am an international student who chooses the January M.S. start date and still cannot secure a visa during the fall, can I request a deferral and start the program in the fall of 2021?
Yes, if you are an international student who has been admitted to the M.S. program, you may request a deferral to begin in the fall 2021 term, provided that you have filed your DS160 visa application with Columbia’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO), received an I-20 and can present a letter or email from the U.S. embassy in your country that shows that you will not secure a visa interview in time to arrive in time for Orientation.
You must email John Graham in the Admissions Office at jpg2155@columbia.edu with this information prior to the start of January Orientation to request a deferral begin the program in the fall of 2021.
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOUSING
Will housing be available for full-time M.S. students who begin the program in January?
Yes, there will be housing for full-time students who begin in January. Housing applications will open on October 1. The Journalism School deadline is November 15. We will begin issuing approvals on November 23. We cannot promise we will have spots for everyone who applies. We generally reserve our housing allocation for international students who cannot enter the country soon enough to secure an apartment. That said, we encourage all students to apply for university housing, as we occasionally have been able to house domestic students.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CAREERS AND POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
Will I have the same post-graduation internship and fellowship options if I start in January?
Students graduating in August will have access to internships that start in the fall. Most post graduate fellowships offered by the Journalism School, including positions with Columbia Journalism Investigations and Columbia Journalism Review, offer summer and fall start dates. Most external media companies offering exclusive internships to our students also welcome candidates graduating at the end of the summer. However, some organizations, including many legacy media companies, only offer summer internships. Others, including the broadcast networks, also have fall internship cycles. There are typically fewer applicants for fall opportunities and our students are competitive candidates. We are constantly advocating to open as many opportunities as possible for all of our students regardless of their graduation date.
Will I be able to attend the March 2021 Career Expo if I am finishing in August 2021?
The Office of Career Development is committed to introducing students to as many employers as possible, May and August graduates alike. We cannot yet determine the timing or form the Career Expo will take next year. This spring, we were able to provide the class of 2020 with more than 2,300 interviews conducted remotely with video conferencing. The career development and skills training we offer will be consistent whether you start in August or January: one-on-one counseling; in-depth guidance on resumes and cover letters; information sessions with leading editors and producers; and you will participate in a Career Expo experience of some form to make you a competitive job candidate.
MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM
QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHEDULES AND INSTRUCTION
What does the three-semester M.A. program look like?
As it stands now, we have reset the MA program across three semesters, from September 2020 to August 2021, at no additional cost in tuition or fees. This will allow students to complete their master’s thesis next summer, when, we hope (but do not know), conditions for travel and field reporting may have improved. However, MA students who wish to finish as originally scheduled can accelerate their studies and complete their degree by May 2021 while taking the same credits per term that previous students have done. For more information on the schedule options, please visit the link below (Note: you will need to use your Columbia email address and password to gain access to the schedules):
Master of Arts (Two & Three term options)
QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL M.A. STUDENT OPTIONS
If I am an international M.A. student who does not want to partake in remote instruction in the fall, can I defer and start the program in-person in the 2021-22 academic year?
No. Please review the M.A. options here. In the middle of the summer, Associate Dean of Students Melanie Huff will be in touch with you about what option you prefer.
If I am an international student, can I choose to do the entire M.A. program remotely and not move to New York in January?
This will depend on a number of factors, and at this time, we do not know enough to provide a definitive answer. If you are interested in this possibility, please indicate this on the summer planning ballot which you will receive by email within the next few days. Please keep in mind that such a choice would eliminate the eligibility for OPT, which requires two consecutive in-person semesters.
Am I eligible for OPT if I am forced to complete the fall semester online because of visa or travel issues?
International students must complete two, consecutive, in-person semesters to be eligible for OPT. Students who are forced to complete the fall semester online because of visa or travel issues will have to be enrolled in-person during the spring and summer semesters to qualify for OPT.
Can international M.A. students do internships during the summer semester?
It is possible to use pre-completion OPT to work during the summer provided you were in the U.S. taking classes in person during the Fall 2020 semester. If not, you will need to wait to use your OPT after finishing your enrollment in August.
QUESTIONS ABOUT DOMESTIC STUDENT OPTIONS
If I am a U.S. citizen/permanent resident, can I also choose to do the fall semester of the M.A. program remotely?
As of now, we expect U.S. citizens and permanent residents to be in New York for Orientation and the start of classes. You will receive additional information about Orientation later in the summer from Associate Dean of Students, Melanie Huff.
ALL STUDENTS
If classes go online part way through the academic year, may I take a leave of absence and return the following year, once classes are able to meet on the campus again?
Students who need to take a leave for a physical or psychological illness follow our Medical Leave process and are entitled to remain on University health insurance throughout their absence.
Students wishing to take a leave for other emergencies, must consult with Associate Dean of Students, Melanie Huff (mgh2@columbia.edu), about the procedure and the implications for doing this. They must consult, too, with Assistant Dean Tarin Almanzar (ta169@columbia.edu) in the Admissions and Financial Aid Office to resolve any financial issues. We will not grant leaves of absence after classes have started based on whether the programs are offered in-person or online. Please read the University regulations regarding withdrawals for additional financial information.
PH.D. PROGRAM
I am an international student. If I cannot secure a visa in time to begin in the fall 2020 term, may I begin in January or will I need to defer to fall 2021?
Requests for January enrollment or full-year deferrals will be considered on an individual basis, if necessary.
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING FOR MASTER’S STUDENTS
In our previous Town Hall meeting, some of you had questions about scholarship resources. There have been limited funds returned to the scholarship pool since May. As always, awarding decisions will take into account donor restrictions as well as need. We know that we will not be able to make awards to everyone, and once we finish this round of awards, the funds will be exhausted.
We will notify students of any awards we are able to make on Monday, June 29th. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please make an appointment to speak individually with an admissions officer at https://apply.jrn.columbia.edu/portal/Call_Officer. You may also call the admissions office directly at 212-854-8130 to speak with Mr. David Hooker or send an email to apply.journalism@columbia.edu.
TRANSCRIPTS
Please note that final transcripts from all universities are due by July 1. We understand that international students, especially, may have trouble meeting this deadline because their universities are still closed. We will be in touch with you separately about how to request a delay. Instructions on how to submit your transcripts can be found here.
CAREERS, INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS
Responses in this section pertain to all master’s-level students.
Will I have the same post-graduation internship and fellowship options if I start in January?
Students graduating in August will have access to a variety of internships that start in the fall. The majority of post graduate fellowships offered by the Journalism School, including positions with Columbia Journalism Investigations and Columbia Journalism Review offer both summer and fall start dates. The majority of external media companies offering exclusive internship positions to our students will also welcome candidates graduating at the end of the summer. However, some organizations, including many of the legacy media companies, only offer summer internships. Others, including the broadcast networks, also have fall internship cycles. There are typically fewer applicants for fall opportunities and our students are always competitive candidates. We cannot dictate or control what media organizations offer, but we are constantly advocating to open as many opportunities as possible for all of our students regardless of their graduation date.
Will I be able to attend the March 2021 Career Expo if I am finishing in August 2021?
The Office of Career Development is committed to getting students in front of as many employers as possible, May and August graduates alike. Given the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, we cannot yet determine the timing or form the Career Expo will take next year. But regardless of the shape and configurations, our mission is to effectively support all of our graduating students in their career transitions, and we are confident we can deliver. This spring, we were able to provide the class of 2020 with more than 2,300 interviews conducted remotely with video conferencing. The career development and skills training we offer will be consistent whether you start in August or January -- one-on-one counseling; in-depth guidance on resumes and cover letters; information sessions with leading editors and producers; and you will participate in a Career Expo experience of some form that will make you a competitive candidate in the job market.