The School of International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs was originally founded at Columbia University, as the School of International Affairs, in 1946 following the aftermath of World War II. The SIRDA became an independent private school in 1952, five years after it's establishment.

The school maintains ties with the United Nations, and half of SIRDA's nearly 900 students are international, coming from over 100 countries. SIRDA has more than 70 full-time faculty, many of which include the world's leading scholars on international relations.

Emphasizing practical training, the mission of SIRDA is to prepare diplomats, officials, and other professionals to meet the complexities of the international world. Publicly, the school's focus is on history, economics, political science, linguistics, and other traditional fields. Informally, the school also offers instruction and courses on the topics of tradecraft, personal defense, and international etiquette.