History

Since 1995, Columbia’s School of Continuing Education has been administering and developing innovative programs that fill a diversity of student needs.

Originally called the Division of Special Programs, Continuing Education began with several nondegree programs, one overseas program, the Summer Session, Summer High School Programs, the American Language Program, and a few inter-institution arrangements. Over the next five years, the Division expanded steadily, launching a series of new programs aimed at postgraduate students who needed to prepare for graduate school or career advancement and at undergraduates who wanted to study overseas for a semester, year, or over the summer.

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 confer the master of science degree.

Since 2002, the School underwent remarkable growth. Today the School administers fourteen professional master’s degree programs, postbaccalaureate study in over 50 subject areas, the Summer Sessions, the American Language Program, and Summer High School Programs.

The School currently enrolls approximately 6,000 students every year, from across the nation and around the world. We serve hundreds of students enrolled in other schools of the University through the Summer Sessions, our study abroad offerings, and through the professionally oriented courses we mount each year.

This robust growth is a testament to the vitality of Continuing Education at Columbia and to the success of our students and programs. We continue to look forward to developing opportunities for students to change their lives through rigorous academics and challenging study.