<p>Hello all. I've been interested in International Relations for several months since I did a 2 week study program at the United Nations earlier this year. My question is, what would a major in International Relations entail? What were your personal experiences with it? What were the requirements, if any, with regards to foreign language and study abroad? What kind of courses did you have to take and what were they like? Thank you much.</p>
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<p>Sounds interesting, but I have little knowledge of the major. One of my friends is doing it at NYU and he enjoys it a lot. I also hear that Syracuse has one of the best programs for International Affairs in the country. Might want to check it out. I believe it is called Maxwell or something.</p>
<p>I was a Political Science major with an International Relations Concentration.</p>
<p>I suppose the classes are interesting, but they don’t provide any marketable skills post-college.</p>
<p>I had to take 4 semesters of a language, which is a waste because 4 semesters really doesn’t do a whole lot (eats away and opportunities to take other courses and doesn’t make you fluent). There is no overseas requirement, at least for most schools, but overseas opportunities are there if you want them.</p>
<p>The courses are your normal mixed bag of Liberal Arts curriculum, then your major courses like Comparative Politics and foreign culture classes. The classes aren’t very difficult compared to other majors. Most classes consisted of a term paper, midterm, and final. Of course, some required projects and other assignments. Most tests were essay form.</p>
<p>“I had to take 4 semesters of a language, which is a waste because 4 semesters really doesn’t do a whole lot (eats away and opportunities to take other courses and doesn’t make you fluent).”</p>
<p>^I don’t see how this is the school’s fault. You could have taken additional classes in foreign language if you didn’t feel you had reached fluency level. You could have studied abroad in an immersion setting. If you didn’t reach the fluency level to your satisfaction, take the initiative to continue studying the language.</p>
<p>Anyway, OP–foreign language will be a big part of your curriculum as well as interdisciplinary courses (courses required for a wide range of majors). Also, you will most likely need to go to Graduate School and earn your Master’s before having much success in the gaining employment.</p>
<p>[Maxwell</a> School of Syracuse University](<a href=“http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/ir.aspx?id=6442451184]Maxwell”>http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/ir.aspx?id=6442451184)
^here’s an example of one undergraduate program in International Relations</p>
<p>Many colleges offer IR as a Major. You could major in IR and minor in something else like Political Science, Economics, Foreign Language, anything at all. Or you could minor in IR and major in something else. You can usually find the specific college’s IR Programs’s requirements on the website. Research a few colleges and compare the programs.</p>
<p><a href=“Bachelor of Arts in International and Global Studies | Undergraduate Program | International and Global Studies Program | Brandeis University”>Bachelor of Arts in International and Global Studies | Undergraduate Program | International and Global Studies Program | Brandeis University;
^here’s a different type of program. International and Global Studies.</p>
<p>One thing to realize about IR and other interdisciplinary undergraduate majors is the idea that you sort of become a jack of all trades and a master of none. Research various programs. You can even try emailing professors at various colleges and ask them your questions.</p>
<p>[The</a> Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver](<a href=“Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver”>Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver)
^Here’s another program—University of Denver’s International Studies Major</p>
<p>[BA</a> Major | Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver](<a href=“Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver”>Josef Korbel School of International Studies | University of Denver)
^here’s the link to their program and requirements</p>
<p>^This is a very competitive program so you must have the academic stats to consider applying.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/polisci_intlrela/programs_majors.html[/url]”>http://www.newpaltz.edu/polisci_intlrela/programs_majors.html</a>
^here’s a link to a SUNY program.</p>
<h2>I don’t see how this is the school’s fault. You could have taken additional classes in foreign language if you didn’t feel you had reached fluency level. You could have studied abroad in an immersion setting. If you didn’t reach the fluency level to your satisfaction, take the initiative to continue studying the language. ~ Nysmile</h2>
<p>Shut it.</p>
<p>The point was that the requirement itself was stupid. They know it doesn’t do anything, so why require it? Leave those credits open for other useful major courses or electives the students want to take.</p>
<p>Also, for your information (as if it’s any of your business), I did do study abroad and have had to do further language training in my career.</p>
<p>The OP asked about languages courses, and the answer I gave him is accurate. Stop trying to get personal.</p>
<p>Also, what if the person doesn’t have an interest in what you call, “taking the initiative?” All the requirement does is eat up space. If you are going to set a language requirement, might as well make it worthwhile for the student, meaning they actually gain a skill, which would be fluency. If not, leave those credit open for students to do what they please with them.</p>
<p>For example, you could have taken more classes in being a snarky know-it-all.</p>
<p>OP–The foreign language requirement is pretty standard for all IR programs. If one does not want to pursue fluency in at least one foreign language, IR may not be the right major. Some programs actually require a study abroad portion to their program. Research various college websites and read through their requirements.</p>
<p>Bigeast, did you really just tell ny to not make it personal? Oh the irony…</p>
<p>In contrast to what nysmile said above, I actually think IR is kind of a specialized major. Much more so than political science, anyway.</p>
<p>IMO–in an undergraduate program, it’s not really specialized in that it’s an interdisciplinary major. Rather than focusing on one field, it crosses majors and it usually only touches on those subjects in a general way. Depending on the college and the program specific to that college, one may take a couple of classes in anthropology, economics, political science, geography, international relations, etc. rather than delve deeper into one specific area.</p>
<p>nysmile - it really depends on the school as you mentioned. As an international relations major at my school, we take courses specifically within James Madison College (the college of public/international affairs), which is completely separate from the history, sociology, political science, economics courses etc. that are in a different college and department. As an international relations major, I need to take 4 semesters (2 years equivalent) of a foreign language and need either a full-time internship or 8 credits+ of study abroad to satisfy my field experience requirement, on top of the 51 credits within my major that I have to take. The 3 major topical areas in international relations are: Security Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis, International Political Economy and Global Governance, and Comparative/Regional/Cultural Studies. We are required to take courses in all 3 of the topical areas, but also can pick and choose which courses we want to follow up in. In addition to this, we need to have an additional area of study, taking a sequence of 3-4 courses in the economics, history, etc. departments. In general, I would definitely say my program is more specialized than just interdisciplinary. </p>
<p>Here’s a blurb on international relations from my school. </p>
<p>“The International Relations curriculum encourages students to think creatively about a variety of issues: What constitutes “national security”? What are the social consequences of modernization? What are the causes and likely consequences of ethno-nationalism? How does the U.S. arrive at foreign policy decisions? How is that different from how foreign policies are made in other countries and which is better? What is the impact of protectionist foreign trade policies? How do national, regional and international political, social, and economic actors interact in the transition to a post-cold war global order? What is the impact of the U.N. and other international organizations? What effects do weapons and communications technologies have on world politics? By what means have national defense policies been implemented since the end of World War II. Some classes will use case studies in which students will be examining real or hypothetical foreign policy dilemmas and developing solutions to them. Others will evidence the importance of theories and models for comprehending and influencing world events.”</p>
<p>What I think nysmile is talking about in terms of the “interdisciplinary” nature of programs is “international studies.” International studies at my school is a completely different program than international relations- and this one crosses its courses over into the many different social science disciplines focusing more on regional area/culture study. In contrast, international relations has a lot more emphasis on the government/foreign policy/political economy/diplomacy aspect. It just depends on what you are most interested in and what you are looking for in a major.</p>
<p>At my school, my major - Geography - is considered a “social and behavioral science”, and it is in that college along with psychology, separate from the college of arts and sciences. In many schools, it is placed in the college of arts and sciences.</p>
<p>I think it is the same case with international relations. Many schools treat it very specifically while others have a very diverse take on the major.</p>
<p>It will depend greatly on the IR department at your school since each has its own take on what an IR major is. At my school, IR requires some basic core classes (foreign policy, international relations seminar, intl econ) as well as three years of a language, study abroad, and a couple advanced electives (history, econ, etc).</p>
<p>As someone who wishes to go into a career that would benefit from a background in international relations, I am leaning towards not majoring in IR at my college. This is because that I don’t feel as though the major provides me with adequate depth in any particular subject matter. </p>
<p>Instead, I probably going to major in mathematical economics (which I find really interesting) while taking most of the IR classes anyways.</p>