<p>Hello all, I was accepted at Carleton and Grinnell, and I'd like to study international relations, with if possible, a concentration in Southeast Asia. I didn't really like the vibe I got from the students at Mac when I visited, and I really liked what I saw Carleton. I plan on going to visit Grinnell within the next week or so. Which of the two schools has the better IR department, with as little political science as possible? Which one would be most willing to work with me to be able to spend an entire academic year abroad? Thanks</p>
<p>Two fantastic choices. I’m not familiar with Grinnell’s program, so I can only tell you about Carleton.</p>
<p>My D graduated last year with a degree in PoliSci/IR, which is one of the most popular majors. Very strong faculty. You will have to take some Poli Sci courses, but the focus will definitely be on IR courses (check the degree requirements to be sure). The faculty are quite strong, including a former ambassador to Burma who teaches a course on Diplomat’s Craft: Three Case Studies. </p>
<p>Not sure if you’ll be able to take a year off, but Carleton’s trimester system does allow you the possibility of doing two trimesters of study abroad programs. D did Political Economy in Europe and Francophone Studies in Mali - both were amazing programs.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Grinnell doesn’t have an IR major, but there are a couple students there who are doing independent majors in IR. If you’re crafting an independent major yourself, so you may have more control over the PoliSci content.</p>
<p>In general Grinnell’s academic program is much more flexible than Carleton’s. There are fewer course requirements outside of the major, which might make it easier to spend an entire year abroad and still meet all the graduation requirements.</p>
<p>You’ve probably already seen this, but here’s a recent thread from the Grinnell forum about majoring in IR. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/1105982-no-international-relations-grinnell-wait.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/grinnell-college/1105982-no-international-relations-grinnell-wait.html</a></p>
<p>Check out Carleton’s new graduation requirements. Few courses required, more focused on content, analysis and writing. [Carleton</a> College: Academic Life at Carleton: Graduation Requirements](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/academics/requirements/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/academics/requirements/)</p>
<p>firefly, what is your dd doing now?</p>
<p>Ds2 is interested in IR/public policy. I had no idea until a couple of months ago that Carleton was strong in that area. This will not make ds1 happy. ;)</p>
<p>If you post your question in Grinnell’s forum, you’ll get more responses from Grinnellians there. And check out Grinnell-in-Washington.</p>
<p>I’d also look at the course catalogue to see which school has more of the kind of courses you are interested in - knowing that not every course listed is going to be offered every semester.</p>
<p>As fireflyscout detailed, the Poli Sci/IR offerings/faculty at Carleton are very strong and deep. The major is also understandably quite popular (2nd only to psychology among sophomores declaring last year). IR and general graduation requirements are both easily fulfilled and not, as Mom90 points out, at all problematic even if off campus for a year.</p>
<p>In fact, about 70% of Carls study abroad, one of the largest percentage-wise of any school in the US. 1, 2, or 3 trimesters are all easily arranged and encouraged by the school. Most popular are usually either a fall program or an entire year away. Summer programs exist as well. Carleton sponsors unusually large numbers of its own “in-house” programs in countries as varied as Australia, Spain, England, China, Mali, Germany, Peru, Kenya, Costa Rica … in addition to being very flexible about offerings beyond its purview.</p>
<p>[Carleton</a> College: Off Campus Studies: Carleton Programs](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/programs/carleton/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/programs/carleton/)</p>
<p>Almost forgot, and don’t want to short-change, “off campus” but not “abroad” political science program in D.C. as well :)</p>
<p>[Carleton</a> College: Political Science in Washington, D.C.: Political Science Studies in Washington D.C.](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/dc/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/dc/)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. To be more specific about the study abroad, I’d like to spend a year in Thailand because I’m considering moving there after college (or perhaps law school). Unfortunately, the only program Carleton seems to have in Thailand is the CIEE study center in Khon Kaen. Would Carleton be willing to let me study in another program, perhaps in Bangkok where I would be better able to look for job opportunities during my time there? Also, does Carleton have any sort of independent language study to allow me to study Thai? Thanks</p>
<p>There is a petition process for approval for non-Carleton off campus programs - [Carleton</a> College: Off Campus Studies: The Petition Process](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/academics/petitions/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ocs/academics/petitions/)
so it could be possible.</p>
<p>As for studying Thai, I suggest you contact the department of Asian Languages & Literatures.</p>