Hi, I would like to know based on your experiences what makes an international relations major more marketable, having a double major in economics or statistics? What areas would I work in if I double major in Statistics or Economics?
Just for the record, I am planning to take a masters program in IR in the future, I’m just being ambitious by trying to pursue a double major. Thank you.
Economics. Statistics is used for social science or hard-science research. Not sure how it would be used in international relations unless you are going for public health.
However, some knowledge of statistics will be helpful. Economics majors typically do have to take an introductory statistics course and an econometrics course. Those going into research or PhD study in economics or other social sciences may want to take some more in-depth statistics courses (though a full statistics major would be much more than typically necessary).
If you work for the foreign service, probably economics.
Depends on what you would like to do with your degree. If you are interested in something like immigration, for example, statistics. Trade - economics.
Another option is not to take a second major at all, but take useful supplemental courses in other subjects, including economics, statistics, and regional topic courses (history, foreign language, etc. relating to regions you are most interested in).
Thank you all for your answers!
Either - select based on your interests. For many traditional jobs economics would likely be more useful, but either could work depending on what you want to do.
International studies/relations is a social science, and some people in the field do research or applied research. Some IR programs like students to come in with some quantitative facility and/or take some statistics classes at the master’s level. It depends. (Besides, statistics is used for everything. Not just scientific research.)
But economics would also be useful; that will look favorable to most IR master’s programs when you’re applying, and it’ll add an additional dimension to your understanding of international relations. Also, you can make econ a fairly quantitative major with the right courses.
I also agree that you can choose not to double major and just take classes that interest you to supplement your major.