<p>I would like to be an ambassador, or in some kind of career where I work in the state department to help in humanitarian campaigns in other countries.</p>
<p>Poli sci aside, what should I choose?</p>
<p>humanities.</p>
<p>**** off somebody in power down the line, ambassadorship is a glorified form of exile.</p>
<p>Poli Sci. International studies.</p>
<p>poli sci, international relations, legal studies sound like good ideas</p>
<p>peace and conflict studies</p>
<p>political economy of industrial societies
ethnic studies
middle eastern studies
near eastern studies
asian studies
latin american studies
geography, history, etc.
also...interdisciplinary studies</p>
<p>Check out the International and Area Studies Dept.:
<a href="http://ias.berkeley.edu/iastp2006/IASunderGradPrograms.php%5B/url%5D">http://ias.berkeley.edu/iastp2006/IASunderGradPrograms.php</a>.</p>
<p>By the way, "international studies" isn't a major.</p>
<p>And studying international relations in my opinion in just stupid - to be honest, I think in 50 years, international relations will no longer exist - it will be just be American relations.</p>
<p>oh yeah, also just poli sci WITH emphasis on I.R.</p>
<p>SAIS-Hopkins for grad school.</p>
<p>maybe public policy?</p>
<p>...
public policy isn't a major either; it's only a minor.</p>
<p>My recommendation for someone considering going specifically the ambassadorial route is to not get caught up so much in majors. Ambassadorship is a good part political.</p>
<p>However, just a sample of ambassadors to major countries (UK, Japan, China, Russia, France) suggests to me that there is a fair variety in undergrad degrees-- and, not surprisingly, a fair number of MBAs. </p>
<p>Unlike Strykur, I do not discount the value of international relations. For one, I would be discounting the value of my own graduate degree. Also, I think that it will be a long long time before the nation-state ceases to be the primary political actor in the world.</p>
<p>If I had to list a "core" number of skills that I would say someone interested in diplomacy should acquire, I'd say that area expertise, language, and a good understanding of IR are important.</p>
<p>I do not think that a degree from SAIS would be any more useful than a degree from anywhere else. In fact, I'd say that outside of having big name private names on your side (law and MBA seem to help), any MA from a well-recognized IR program will serve you well. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Ari:</p>
<p>suggest you take a look-see at the career diplomats, and where their graduate degree is from. In DC, where bottom line means the next election, college degrees matter, a LOT. SAIS, Georgetown IR and the Ivies have a huge connection into the State department.</p>
<p>But as far as undergrad degree, that doesn't matter as much -- international econ would be good too.</p>
<p>bluebayou,</p>
<p>Like I said, any well-recognized IR program will do the trick. For East Coast-centric types, that includes SAIS, SFS, American, KSG, SIPA, etc.</p>
<p>I didn't rule out SAIS. I just said that it wasn't the sole option. </p>
<p>And, believe it or not, IR/PS has considerable success with State. :)</p>
<p>by definition, the Department of State is east-coast centric. In a town where a financial bottom line is not relevant, prestige matters. (btw: American U is an also ran.)</p>
<p>bluebayou,</p>
<p>American's IR program does pretty well for itself. I realize that on this site it's "all or nothing," but it's silly to just discount programs hastily.</p>
<p>I know that my experiences are probably not the "typical" State Dept. track, but I know plenty of people at State and other departments/agencies out of programs that aren't SAIS/SFS.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help! I couldn't find International Relations on the list of majors to choose from though.</p>
<p>You can always just major in poli sci and select the IR sub-field.</p>
<p>i get the impression that most ambassadors are friends with the president or other top government officials, so the chances of becoming an ambassador are pretty slim for anyone. maybe you're thinking about working for the Foreign Service?
here's the state department's careers page: <a href="http://www.careers.state.gov/student/%5B/url%5D">http://www.careers.state.gov/student/</a>
here's a page targeting college students: <a href="http://www.careers.state.gov/%5B/url%5D">http://www.careers.state.gov/</a>
the web sites list some suggested preparation</p>
<p>I highly recommend working for the foreign service. All my impressions of the job have been that it's a fulfilling and important career.</p>