This policy applies only to students who enter the PhD
program without a Masters degree recognized by Columbia. Every MS/PhD
track student (registration status ETCOMS) must apply for MS graduation
in order to receive the MS degree from Columbia University and be
awarded advanced standing towards the PhD.
The faculty will approve the MS degree application following successful completion of six (6) breadth requirement courses or exams completed at Columbia (not including imports), of which at least four (4) must be core. The student must have also satisfactorily completed at least 30 graduate points as required by SEAS and the SEAS English proficiency requirement ("level 8"). [Modified by full faculty vote on February 20, 2008. Effective immediately except as noted below.]
MS/PhD students
who first enrolled in the doctoral program in Spring 2008 or earlier
may optionally instead apply for the MS following the previous rule:
The faculty will approve the MS degree application following successful
completion of either (a) all five (5) core areas plus any two (2) electives, or (b) any four (4) core areas plus all five (5) electives, provided that the student has also satisfactorily completed at least 30 graduate points as required by SEAS and the SEAS English proficiency requirement ("level 8"). [Note that imports may optionally be used in this case to satisfy the MS/PhD degree requirements.]
Last updated on September 13, 2008.