Individuals may be eligible to take courses in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. These students must be admitted by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs as Special Students (non-degree candidates). Please see the Application Process & Requirements page for details.
Studios and visual studies courses are not open to Special Students. Courses in the Real Estate Development program are closed as well. Lecture classes are open to Special Students with the permission of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the faculty teaching the course.
Special Students receive library and computer access for the semester(s) in which they are enrolled. They receive a transcript from Columbia University with the course name and grade(s). Special Students pay the current per-point fee for the course.
If a Special Student wishes to apply for matriculation in any of the graduate degree programs at a later date, the student must submit an application for that program by the deadline. The Admissions Committee does not treat the applicant preferentially.
In some cases, students who take courses as Special Students and are admitted to a degree program may be awarded advanced standing. Those who wish to apply for degree candidacy are therefore urged to do so at the earliest possible time.