Advanced standing may be granted to students who, upon entrance to the Graduate School, have completed the requirements for either an appropriate M.A. degree, conferred by a regionally accredited institution or the international equivalent or, on occasion, an appropriate professional degree, awarded by Columbia or another institution. The program faculty leadership must judge that the previous degree is the academic equivalent of the Columbia M.A. and then notifies GSAS that the student is advanced by one year toward the M.Phil. On this basis, a maximum of two Residence Units may be applied to credit toward the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. Usually work is accepted for credit when (a) it has contributed directly and substantially to the fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees and (b) it meets departmental standards for graduate-level courses or programs at Columbia. Students granted advanced standing under the foregoing provisions are not eligible to receive the M.A. degree from Columbia. Advanced standing is granted solely by the faculty and the Dean. Once granted, it will not be revoked.
Students awarded advanced standing are not necessarily exempt from all requirements demanded of M.A. candidates in their program, as departments may determine that certain requirements must be met despite the awarding of advanced standing. This determination will be made when advanced standing is awarded.
Students transferring from institutions outside of Columbia who have not completed an appropriate M.A. degree program or the equivalent, or an appropriate professional degree, are not eligible for two Residence Units of advanced standing but may, in the judgment of the department and the Graduate School, be eligible for up to one Residence Unit of advanced standing.
During the first semester in which a student registers, the Admissions Office will submit the names of those students who are eligible for advanced standing to the faculty of the respective department for consideration. After an academic review, the faculty will determine whether or not to grant advanced standing, either in full (2 Residence Units) or in part (up to 1 Residence Unit). Those granted partial advanced standing, or who are denied advanced standing, will be eligible for the master’s degree upon satisfactory completion of the M.A. requirements as determined by the faculty.
The granting of advanced standing reduces by one year the multi-year fellowship the student was awarded upon admission.