International Relations and Arabic

College Search & Selection
1

Hello!

I was looking for help in my search for a college to attend. I want to study International Relations and Arabic at a four year university. For locations, I was looking at DC area, Iowa or Texas, but I’m open to other locations. I have some credits from Ashford University that I will be transferring but I have not taken my ACT yet to see where I stand as far as grades go. Also, I will be going from active duty to reserves so it would be convenient if there was a reserve unit by (but it’s not make or break) or a veterans center at the school. Does anyone have any recommendations for a school and or program that fits this? Thanks for the help!

2

I need to know your test scores

3

Look into the University of Oklahoma. We have one of the few Arabic flagships in the country, guard opportunities about 20 minutes from the school, and an excellent veterans support network. My boyfriend just started at the school after being in the military for four years and he’s been surprised at how relatively easy the transition is.

4

What can you afford? (and as sciencekid28 asked - we need your test scores and GPA)

5

Tufts is located in Massachusetts/Boston, but it has strong IR and Arabic programs and a special program with separate admissions that is designed for adults (including veterans) returning to school. You may qualify.

http://uss.tufts.edu/undergradEducation/academics/real/advantages.asp
http://as.tufts.edu/news/2014ROTC.htm
http://ase.tufts.edu/ir/
http://ase.tufts.edu/grall/courses/descriptions/arabic.htm

Here is a source for schools in each geography (just roll over the map with your cursor) that the US Government supplies with a Diplomat in Residence (a good proxy for a respected IR program). Note that University of Oklahoma is the selected school in it’s region.
http://careers.state.gov/connect/dir

Since strong Arabic Programs can be hard to find, here is a summer school that can be used to augment a school with a strong IR program that does not have a strong Arabic program.
http://www.middlebury.edu/ls/arabic

In the DC area, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, George Washington and American all have strong IR programs.

Best of luck and thanks for serving!

6

Look at the University of Virginia. The College of Arts and Sciences has a Global Studies department: http://globalstudies.virginia.edu/

UVA also has a Middle Eastern language department: http://mesalc.virginia.edu/arabic
and the latter offers a summer Arabic language program: http://mesalc.virginia.edu/yarmouk

Further info for veterans there: http://www.virginia.edu/veterans/

7

[QUOTE=""]
I was looking at DC area

[/QUOTE]

Georgetown University has one of the country’s best IR programs (and good foreign language programs, too). However, it is extremely selective. The University of MD, George Washington University, and American University are other possibilities.

8

UT Austin is an obvious choice for Arabic – by far one of the strongest programs in the country. It’s arguably one of the two or three best places in the US for Semitic languages in general, for that matter.

9

I will be using the GI Bill so I wasnt too worried about money. I am overseas right now but I’m taking the ACT in April.