To determine your eligibility for a Course Waiver or for Advanced Standing, we ask that you submit specific details for evaluation. Your case should present significant academic experiences, which have prepared you to meet the vast majority of the course objectives, concepts, and learning outcomes stated in the course description for the program course that you wish to waive. Students who have been granted Course Waivers might be exempt from up to six (6) units of study; these students must satisfy the unit requirement by identifying and completing alternative courses, which must be approved by the program director or advisor. Students who are granted Advanced Standing might be exempt from completing up to six (6) units of study; these students do not need to satisfy the unit requirements by completing alternate courses.
Requests should be submitted after an admitted student confirms his or her enrollment within the online application system and submits the tuition deposit, but no later than the end of the first week of the semester, during the student’s first term of study. Instructions for submitting either a Course Waiver request or an Advanced Standing request, are found below.* Students in non-degree programs are not eligible for Course Waivers nor Advanced Standing. Refer to the Course Waiver and Advanced Standing Policies for more information.
If you encounter an issue with the electronic form, please submit the PDF version, along with all required attachments, to spsadvising@columbia.edu. If, after reading the Course Waiver and Advanced Standing policies, you have further questions, please email spsadvising@columbia.edu.