Deciding on a Post-Secondary Education Path - International Business/Relations

College Majors
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<p>Heya!</p>

<p>So, just registered here on CC to ask this...I've been going through possible majors and areas of study for the past several months now, and seriously considering what I'd like as a career; I think I've pretty certainly narrowed it down. Relatively narrow, anyways - there are still lots of options in what I'm considering...</p>

<p>The idea of a career working with an organization (or organizations) that transcends national borders really appeals to me; the UN or World Bank, as two examples off the top of my head. Of course, I know those two organizations are pretty darn competitive to get into, but I just mentioned them for the sake of putting down some examples. </p>

<p>Along that line of thought, I've been thinking about perhaps doing a major in International Business (or Economics) and a minor in International Relations, OR vice versa. Any suggestions on that? Which should be the major, and which should be the minor, if I do go down that path? Alternatively...any other recommendations for major/minor? Always open to consider some new regarding this.</p>

<p>And then, finally...I'll be doing some searching myself, too, but does anyone have any recommendations for Colleges/Universities offering these areas of study? On that - I don't know if this is considered kosher here or not, but - feel free to mention institutions outside of the US, even if studying in X country would require learning a new language.</p>

<p>As a final note, I adore languages, and would definitely like to study another one while in College/University.</p>

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<p>“…I’ve been thinking about perhaps doing a major in International Business (or Economics) and a minor in International Relations, OR vice versa.”
Some comments:
-Many IR programs require majors to choose a regional and/or a thematic option. One of the more common thematic options is international economics (and, sometimes, international business). Such a program, therefore, might accommodate both of your stated interests in a single major.
-If you wanted to work for an international organization, there are many pathways to such a career besides an IR major. Often, training in a practical skill area is the better pathway, e.h., engineering, public health, etc. (See my post in this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/902677-political-science-vs-international-relations.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/902677-political-science-vs-international-relations.html&lt;/a&gt;)
-If you are interested in international economics/business/trade, don’t overlook the option of major in agricultural & resource economics. Majors in this field often require a core of courses in the basic business subfields in addition to offering many courses relevant to international trade, commodity futures, microfinance, development, food policy, etc.
-Often, international business is not considered a very useful major. In fact, some business schools only allow it as a co-major along with another in one of the traditional business subfields.
-Some other less common options to consider for international economics/business are a major/minor combination involving a field like geology + economics/IR/business, or marine policy (e.g., [Marine</a> Affairs Program | The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami](<a href=“http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/undergraduate/marine-affairs-program/]Marine”>http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/undergraduate/marine-affairs-program/)) + economics/IR/business.
-With an interest in IR and languages, consider the language flagship programs which will give you greater proficiency in a language, study abroad options, and which can be completed while majoring in another field. [The</a> Language Flagship - * Welcome *](<a href=“http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/]The”>http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/)
-Some programs to consider (often overlooked on CC) are:
[Boston</a> University International Relations » International Relations | Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/ir/]Boston”>The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies)
[Options</a> & Overviews - Darla Moore School of Business](<a href=“404 page not found | University of South Carolina”>404 page not found | University of South Carolina)
[Jackson</a> School of International Studies](<a href=“http://jsis.washington.edu/]Jackson”>http://jsis.washington.edu/)
[Academic</a> Programs | International Studies](<a href=“http://internationalstudies.osu.edu/academics]Academic”>Academic Programs | International Studies)
[School</a> of Global and International Studies (SGIS): Indiana University Bloomington](<a href=“http://sgis.indiana.edu/]School”>http://sgis.indiana.edu/)
[BS</a> International Agriculture and Rural Development - International Programs at Cornell University](<a href=“Global Development | CALS”>Global Development | CALS)</p>

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<p>Thanks a bunch for all the tips and links! Appreciate it very much.</p>

<p>Boston University was actually one institution I was looking into, and I do think I would really like to go there, as both the courses offered and the environment match my preferences…the tuition and housing fees are a pretty major obstacle, though, heh.</p>

<p>Again, thanks for taking the time to link everything. It wasn’t for naught; I’ll definitely be looking through each and every one of them in the coming days. Thanks!</p>

<p>Any other insight from anyone else would also be greatly appreciated!</p>

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<p>IR is an absolutely great major. I encourage you to pursue it, particularly if you feel passionate about it. Though it can get a bit recondite as an academic discipline (e.g. applied microeconomic modeling, that sort of thing), it can lead to many things.</p>

<p>Have you ever lived abroad? If you do that first, as you need to learn languages, it would start you off on a better footing, you could even apply from abroad, which would make your applic stand out. Believe me, it will blow your mind to see how differently people see things from Americans, though I wouldn’t presume you don’t know this.</p>

<p>There are also programs you can get into, for example there is a year you can do in a truly great French university system, Sciences Po. They have a “certificat d’etudes politiques” that many famous people have done, such as Jean Kirkpatrick. You may not be able to do it in Paris, but it still exists. But you need to speak French well enough to speak, listen, and read - almost fluent. There are also Goethe Institutes in Germany (expensive, but excellent) - I did a summer course at one, then registered at the university and was a student - for free. </p>

<p>If you want to contact me, feel free.</p>

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<p>I’ve lived all my life here in Puerto Rico, so unfortunately, no, I’ve never lived abroad :/. I’ve stayed for several months at a time in different states, and once for a month in Mexico, but that’s as far as my out-of-island experience goes, really. I have been meaning to take a good look at study abroad programs that universities might offer, though.</p>

<p>Also, that’s pretty fascinating! I had looked into Finnish universities for some time, and now that you mention Sciences Po, I’ll take a look at that too.</p>

<p>Thanks! I’ll take you up on that offer and send you a message here.</p>

<p>EDIT: Nevermind that. I need at least 15 posts to send private messages, it seems. Any other way I might be able to contact you? (Perhaps you can send me a PM?)</p>

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<p>The formal name of sci-po is Institut d’Etudes Politiques, it is a “grande ecole” meaning for the elite, based on exams for admission to the regular program. CEP is a way to get in. As you speak a latin language, French would come pretty quick. </p>

<p>You are lucky to be in PR. It will make your applic stand out. </p>

<p>Get in touch when you are ready.</p>

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<p>Also, I am impressed with Zap’s suggestions.</p>