Columbia University in the City of New York

Harriman Institute Certificate Program

The Harriman Institute sponsors a Certificate Program that students pursue in conjunction with graduate degree programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, Teachers College, Law School,  Journalism School, Business School, School of Public Health, or any other professional school at Columbia University. Enrollment in the Institute’s Certificate Program is contingent upon the candidate’s acceptance into a graduate degree program in the University.

Certificate Requirements

Coursework

Each student must complete 20 points at the graduate level, approved by a Harriman advisor. These courses must include:

  • Harriman core interdisciplinary colloquium, Legacies of Empire and the Soviet Union (RERS G8445)
  • At least 3 courses in a single discipline.
  • At least 2 additional courses outside this home discipline.

When selecting courses, please note the following:

  • All courses on the Harriman Institute Course List qualify for the Certificate.
  • Any graduate-level course in any department or school of the University (including various independent research courses at SIPA) can also qualify with the written pre-approval of a Harriman advisor. In such courses, students must produce an acceptable research paper of direct relevance to Russia, Eurasia, or East-Central Europe.
  • At least two courses must be colloquia or seminars.
  • Language courses do not count towards course requirements.
  • An average grade of B+ or better is required in all courses.
  • Only one credit-bearing internship may be counted toward the Certificate for professional school students; no other coursework, such as an examination, fieldwork, or ‘hands-on’
    experience qualifies.
  • By university rules, internships do not count for credit for students enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
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Language Requirements

One relevant language from the Russian, Eurasian, or East European region is required of all students. The students must meet Institute proficiency requirements by earning a B or better in an advanced language course, or by passing a test administered by a Columbia University language instructor.

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Certificate Essay

All students must submit a Certificate essay, approved by a Harriman advisor and a member of the Harriman faculty. The essay, generally resulting from research undertaken for a seminar or colloquium, must be sponsored by an Institute faculty member. It must be a substantial and original piece of research, interpretation, or analysis, based, at least in part, on primary source materials.

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Transfer Credits

Only 3 transfer credits (or one course) in a field other than a language may be accepted for Certificate requirements. In order to acquire transfer credits, students must provide a Harriman advisor with a formal request, a copy of their transcript, and, if possible, copies of the relevant syllabus and course work.

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Time Constraints

Students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences must complete the Certificate within five years after declaring their intent to pursue the Harriman Certificate. Students in the School of International Affairs or in other professional schools must complete the Certificate within three years. Students in joint programs have five years to complete the Certificate.

How to Apply

Enrollment in the Harriman Institute Certificate Program is contingent upon the candidate’s acceptance into a graduate degree program at Columbia University.

Once in a graduate degree program, students are highly encouraged to submit the Harriman Certificate Statement of Intent as early as possible in order to declare their intent to pursue the Certificate. The Statement of Intent is non-binding but must be submitted in order for students to be eligible for Harriman Institute fellowships.

Deadlines

Intent Form

Once in a graduate degree program, students are highly encouraged to submit the Harriman Certificate Statement of Intent as early as possible in order to declare their intent to pursue the Certificate.

The Statement of Intent is non-binding, but must be submitted in order for students to be eligible for Harriman Institute fellowships.

Statement of Intent Form >

 
 

Certificate Audit

Students who have completed the requirements for the Harriman Certificate must submit the Harriman Institute Certificate Audit Form for approval to Rebecca Dalton (1211 IAB).

All students must also submit a separate Application for Certificate to the Registrar’s Office.

Certificates are awarded three times a year: October, February, and May. Deadlines for submitting the Harriman Certificate Audit Form are:

October 2021 graduation: September 15, 2021
February 2022 graduation: December 1, 2021
May 2022 graduation: February 1, 2022

Harriman Certificate Audit Form >

 

Coursework and Essay

The Deadlines for completing Certificate requirements and depositing a Certificate essay are:

October 1st for October graduation
February 1st for February graduation
May 1st for May graduation

Essay Cover Sheet >

Regional Studies

Harriman Courses

Course Listings

The list below provides an overview of our course offerings to help students make decisions and plans for the upcoming semester. Please note that this schedule may be subject to change, and students are encouraged not only to revisit this page but also to confirm the course listings in the online Directory of Courses and Vergil, where course descriptions and class meeting times will be posted.

Regional Requirements

The course lists on our website fulfill regional course requirements for the Harriman Institute Certificate, the MA in Regional Studies: Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe (MARS-REERS), and SIPA Regional Specializations. Further course details may be found by visiting the appropriate department’s website.

Any course marked with an asterisk (***) must be approved for regional credit by a Harriman advisor prior to enrollment. For Harriman's approval of courses not listed which you believe may fulfill regional requirements, please contact Rebecca Dalton.

Language Requirements

The following languages satisfy the Harriman Certificate & MARS-REERS language requirements and are currently being offered: Armenian, Czech, Hungarian, ***Persian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian-Bosnian, ***Turkish, Ukrainian, and Yiddish. Please consult the Directory of Classes for language times and sections.

Questions about the Harriman Certificate?

For further information, please email or call the Harriman Institute.

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