<p>..between Political Science with a concentration in international relations and International studies with a concentration in political science?!!</p>
<p>both are majors at UCSD. I'm assuming the latter is more for diplomacy than policy. Am I right?</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Political science is all theory. IR is an extremely applied field. It’s like physics and engineering.</p>
<p>Ray192, that’s a very good explanation. Poli sci is going to teach you about international politics. IR is going to tell you how to participate in international politics. Poli sci is knowing; IR is doing. That is, that’s what the knowledge is for. So poli sci is knowledge for knowing, IR is knowledge for doing.</p>
<p>So when you guys say IR, I’m assuming you’re referring to the UCSD program I was talking about: International Studies-Political science, correct?</p>
<p>If that is the case, i’m pretty excited about it. I don’t like learning too much about US policy and government, I’m much more interested in learning about diplomacy and the application of international politics. I think this major suits me best.</p>
<p>Here’s a link: [International</a> Studies Program, UCSD](<a href=“http://isp.ucsd.edu/]International”>http://isp.ucsd.edu/)</p>
<p>they actually have a BA/MIA program which you can finish in 5 years. Unfortunately, it’s focused on pacific rim region, and I am more interested in middle east. otherwise, it would definitely be awesome to get your masters in 5 years!</p>
<p>Thanks for input guys.</p>
<p>Most political science programs have huge US requirements or concentrations. IR is probably going to have some classes based on the US, but they’ll be mostly foreign policy, which is important. As opposed to the theory of the American political system, which is interesting but nothing I’d want to study for four years.</p>
<p>Also, getting your MA in four years might sound nice, but some PhD programs REQUIRE two years (NYU comes to mind).</p>