<p>How strong is the International Relations major at W&M? I've googled, and I can't really find any opinions on it.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>it’s very good. It is also fairly comprehensive and requires a lot of classes (check the course catalog, but you will be taking a foreign language, history, economics, and government classes)</p>
<p>they have a semester in DC program, an undergrad think tank, a Summer Security Institute, and excellent study abroad opportunities.</p>
<p>[William</a> & Mary - Summer Security Institute](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/sites/dcsummerinstitutes/prospective/institutes/security/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/sites/dcsummerinstitutes/prospective/institutes/security/index.php)
[William</a> & Mary - The Washington Office](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/?svr=web]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/?svr=web)
[William</a> & Mary - Study Abroad](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/studyabroad/index.php]William”>Global Education Office | William & Mary)
[William</a> & Mary - W&M in Washington Program](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/sites/wmindc/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/sites/wmindc/index.php)
[Institute</a> for the Theory and Practice of International Relations | PIPS (Project on International Peace and Security)](<a href=“http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/projects/PIPS/]Institute”>The Project on International Peace and Security | William & Mary)</p>
<p>hope some of these links help</p>
<p>For undergrad, I’ve heard Professors say that they think it is one of the top few programs. Many students go into consulting and defense work and quite a few go on to get PhD and Law degrees. If you want to do IR Research as an undergraduate, you can. You can even present it at professional conferences with all the expenses paid. There is also a strong joint study program with St. Andrews in Scotland, which has one of Europe’s top, if not the top, overall IR program.</p>
<p>The Model United Nations team is also the best in the US, having won WorldMUN more than any other team in recent history and consistently placing in the top 5.</p>
<p>There’s also a student-run IR journal and W&M exclusive NATO internships</p>
<p>[William</a> & Mary - W&M Exclusive NATO internships](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/career/undergrads/internship/nato/?svr=web]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/career/undergrads/internship/nato/?svr=web)
[The</a> Monitor: Journal of International Studies](<a href=“http://www.monitorgroup.org/]The”>http://www.monitorgroup.org/)</p>
<p>How would it compare to GW’s program? American? Is it beneficial to be in DC?</p>
<p>Wow, already some great responses to this one. To add to those W&M has both IR and Global Studies which offer two diverse academic disciplines in the arena. IR focuses on how governments interact politically, economically, etc whereas in Global Studies you pick a specific area (say East Asian Studies or European Studies…there are about seven such areas) and you study the government, language, economics, and culture of that area.</p>
<p>Given W&M’s connections in DC, I don’t think our distance from it (which isn’t that far) hurts our students. We have an office in Dupont Circle which is always open to students, faculty, and alumni. That office not only runs the semester program (already mentioned) but assists with internship and job opportunities and makes great connections in and around the Beltway. </p>
<p>Additionally, classes take field trips to DC when appropriate so students aren’t at all isolated from the region.</p>
<p>W&M has a lot of DC connections. The only thing that GW would allow that W&M doesn’t is semester internships in DC while you are in school, unless you do the W&M in Washington program! But most semesters, obviously you will be in Williamsburg. W&M does have professors who do think tank type work also.</p>
<p>I admittedly don’t know much about the GW program. Just being located in DC does not help you. Whether you use the resources available to you is what matters. I think that W&M has significant resources and opportunities in this regard.</p>
<p>W&M Admissions,
Would a current freshman be eligible for the joint degree program at St. Andrews or is it only available to future classes?</p>
<p>saw this today, thought I’d post it here, a sample of what W&M offers
[William</a> & Mary - Student discusses Joe Biden internship](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/student-talks-joe-biden-internship-123.php]William”>Student discusses Joe Biden internship | William & Mary)</p>
<p>Wow, great info! Sounds awesome. Definitely one of my top choices… :)</p>
<p>runmanstl, current W&M students are not eligible for the joint degree program although they can explore the semester in St Andrews opportunity through the Reves Center</p>
<p>Great addition to the thread with the article on the student who interned with Joe Biden!</p>
<p>Thanks for the information Admission…that’s what I suspected but wanted to confirm before I started urging my son to look into the program.</p>
<p>Just to add to this thread about the IR opportunities at W&M, just a few days ago the President of Gabon came to campus to speak. These kinds of speakers and co-curricular opportunities are pretty commonplace at W&M.</p>
<p>[William</a> & Mary - Gabon president talks sustainability at W&M](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2010/president-of-gabon-visits-wm-123.php]William”>Gabon president talks sustainability at W&M | William & Mary)</p>