International Relations/ Global Health

[Academy13]

<p>I need help. I am going to be a freshman at the University of Iowa this fall. Going into application process I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do. But I have become pretty firm in my desire to work with international relations and public health- ideally in Africa (but that is open to change). I have already started thinking about transferring to a school more focused in this area for soph year, and I need help knowing what schools these would be and if this would be a good/bad idea. </p>

<p>Any help would be appreciated.</p>

[BIGeastBEAST]

<p>There are multiple threads that discuss this topic. Tufts, Georgetown, George Washington, American, Virginia and other schools located near the D.C. area are at the top. Of course, your Ivy’s are all good too.</p>

<p>However, since most IR work will shuttle you towards the government, it’s not uber important what school you go to. Any recognizable school and a good GPA is sufficient, depending on what you want to do. I assume you want to work for the State Department, UN, or USAID. </p>

<p>When being hired, your work experience far outweighs education. Education typically just determines your payscale/GS level. For example, with a masters degree you can get hired at a GS 9, a bachelors degree will get you hired at a GS 5/7. Mostly it’s irrelevant because you have scheduled raises and promotions - so it all evens itself out eventually.</p>

<p>Now, if you don’t mind I’d like to offer some advice. If you are really sure that you want to do that line of work, explore your options a bit more. Figure out what specific kind of work you want to do, then find out what skills/background you need to do it. “Working in Africa” is quite broad and general. If global health interests you, the best route is medicine. If that isn’t your cup of tea, I suggest Pharma, followed by civil engineering. </p>

<p>I know a guy who was a BioMechanical Engineer major (went on to get his MS/PHD) and now designs prosthetic limbs for for people all around the world, including Africa, which he’s made extended visits to multiple times.</p>

<p>If you are really passionate about working in this field (do a little soul searching, because the reality is far less appealing than the fantasy), you need to identify needs. What are the needs of international relations and global health? Do they need people who know stuff about international relations they learned from books and lectures? Or do they need people to administer medicine, provide healthcare, design clean water systems/wells and infrastructure, translators, ect?</p>

<p>University of Iowa is a good school, if you really like it there, don’t transfer.</p>

[zapfino]

<p>I agree with much of BIGeast’s advice to you, especially what he says about figuring out what you want to do and getting some real skills.</p>

<p>Right now, international studies/IR is a very sexy major. The fact is the US and developing nations don’t need a lot of ill-educated wannabe ambassadors. Global health is another very sexy concentration. The fact is that we’ve had public health programs focused on international health for a long time, though usually at the graduate level. What is new is the sprouting of these programs at the undergrad level—throw together a few courses on epidemiology, a little medical anthropology, and some environmental studies and, voila, we now have another ill-educated wannabe. There is nothing wrong with studying these topics. However, what developing countries do need, are people that have real skills----skills like nursing, public health, nutrition, sanitary engineering, etc. You can always supplement technical skills with the relevant policy and cultural knowledge. (Keep in mind, however, that some of the technical skills can follow via a graduate program.) There are many routes to an international career via these specialties.</p>

<p>Now since you are going to attend the University of Iowa, I don’t see any particular reason to transfer, especially if you are paying in-state tuition and if you like the school. Iowa offers strong programs in all the major health-related fields. Iowa even has options for global health and African studies under its International Studies major, though as I commented I don’t believe these are a substitute for real skills in the health area. As far as African studies are concerned, Iowa isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Wisconsin or Michigan State, for example, are much stronger in African studies, but that’s not necessarily a reason to transfer. Iowa will still provide suitable opportunities to enhance your knowledge of that region, and you can pursue this interest further in summer or study abroad programs, or graduate studies at a different university.</p>

<p>As BIGeast said, figure out what you want to do. I provided some links for your consideration. These are just to expand your horizons about what possibilities are out there and to suggest some directions that may not have occurred to you yet:</p>

<p>[ASA</a> : ASA](<a href=“http://www.africanstudies.org/p/cm/ld/fid=8]ASA”>http://www.africanstudies.org/p/cm/ld/fid=8)</p>

<p>[Association</a> of African Studies Programs](<a href=“http://aasp.asrc.cornell.edu/]Association”>http://aasp.asrc.cornell.edu/)</p>

<p>[ASTMH</a> | Home](<a href=“http://www.astmh.org/AM/]ASTMH”>http://www.astmh.org/AM/)</p>

<p>[Programs</a> - Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine](<a href=“http://www.sph.tulane.edu/main/academics/programs.htm]Programs”>http://www.sph.tulane.edu/main/academics/programs.htm)</p>

<p>[Lillian</a> Carter Center for International Nursing](<a href=“http://www.nursing.emory.edu/lccin/index.html]Lillian”>http://www.nursing.emory.edu/lccin/index.html)</p>

<p>[Home[/url</a>]</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.msf.org/]Mdecins”&gt;http://www.msf.org/]Mdecins</a> Sans Frontires International Homepage](<a href=“http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/gha/Pages/default.aspx]Home[/url”>http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/gha/Pages/default.aspx)</p>

<p>[Peace</a> Corps](<a href=“http://www.peacecorps.gov/]Peace”>http://www.peacecorps.gov/)</p>

<p>[ASPH</a> | education, academic public health, education, graduate, employment, fellowships, internships](<a href=“http://www.asph.org/]ASPH”>http://www.asph.org/)</p>

<p>[Home</a> - Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy - Tufts University](<a href=“http://nutrition.tufts.edu/]Home”>http://nutrition.tufts.edu/)</p>

<p>[Go</a> Global! The International Careers Website](<a href=“http://go.global.wisc.edu/]Go”>http://go.global.wisc.edu/)</p>

[Academy13]

<p>Thank you both so much for the replies, it really helps.</p>

[hanselparent]

<p>I am going to be a Romance Language major and I am choosing to double major in International Relations/ Public health but this seems too broad. I want to work in Peace Corps and aim for UN or WHO or something, but I think I should choose a more skill-based major, bu tidk. I just love languages but I feel languages are not really a needed skill as much as other things. Of course, I will fo Spanish/French in college with a minor in Japanese but what else should I choose to study? Nutrition? What are some good choices? To be honest, math and mathmatical sciences are not my forte…langugaes are. I also love cultures but it seems science is a stronger option for me regarding WHO and UN…any comments? Is univserity of geneva for grad school extremely difficult to get into?</p>