<p>I want to go to a top research masters program in IR with hopes of being a middle east studies professor. Let me tell you a little about me: I graduated CC with a 3.56, and I am going to be a senior in the fall at a no name school with a 3.0. I don't know any foreign languages except I'm proficient in Yiddish. Do I have to study Arabic before I enter grad school? What would sort of make me a lock in at a top school in IR with a focus on the middle east?</p>
<p>Hey I am just passing along some info I have learned over the past few months while researching a variety of grad programs. IR loves languages, and Arabic seems like a natural fit for your area. Unsure if it is required, but you would definitely need to pick up some of the language through your studies. It would serve as a research language. </p>
<p>I don’t know your particular background, but I would highly suggest you research some study abroad programs. Look into SIT, they have a graduate institute and MANY opportunities to complete programs in more exotic locations. Also international masters programs would be a good fit, although I believe they have little meaning in the US job market unfortunately. </p>
<p>Keep researching IR programs! Ciao!</p>
<p>Languages are often required by particular departments, and if not you will certainly need to learn Arabic while enrolled. That said, given that as a Masters student you will be required to engage in primary source material (which will be written in Arabic), having a preexisting proficiency is probably heavily preferred, if not an outright requirement.</p>