<p>I am going to be a college sophomore next year and I was thinking about majoring in International Relations. My question is, how could majoring in International Relations prepare me for a job working in United States Intelligence? (Unfortunately, I have no language skills, as of now, just FYI) </p>
<p>Also, what kind of internships are available for me now, that would make me a competitive applicant for, say, the NSA, CIA, DIA, State Department, NRO, etc, a few years down the line? Thanks!</p>
<p>Many of intelligence organizations offer scholarship programs and work experience programs for rising college sophomore. It would definitely pay off to check out each agency's website. Another good place too look is <a href="http://www.usajobs.com%5B/url%5D">www.usajobs.com</a> and <a href="http://www.studentjobs.gov%5B/url%5D">www.studentjobs.gov</a>. If you know you want to work in intelligence, it would pay to spend a few hours a week researching student programs with intel agencies.</p>
<p>It's really hard to say one major will concretely place you into a career path. IR will teach you about how the international political realm functions and what the current "rules of play" are/should be. All facets of IR (history, poli sci, economics, anthropology, geography, etc) will teach you how a state actors and non state actors deal/address/initiate/react to international conflicts. Does your school's IR program offer class on special topics such as intelligence? </p>
<p>Think about what skills you have acquired/will acquire and what traits you have. How does that match the job description?</p>
<p>depends on what sort of role you expect to play. fieldwork? language skills a must, esp. arabic.</p>