<p>Can anyone give me the low down on the major international relations/affairs/studies. It seems like I've finally come up with a major I would be interested in studying for college, but ive heard mixed reviews. My best subjects are social studies and languages and I thought this major would be a good way use my strong areas. I have heard it is well respected and I have also heard others say it was a ridiculousness major that left graduates drowning in debt. Opinions?</p>
<p>Depends on what you do with it. Play to your strengths and look into a business-type minor or 2nd major with it and apply early and often for internships. A degree is more than just its title, but what you do with it. Some you have to work harder to make work (anything in humanities is harder to land a well-paying job with than in computer science, for example). But if you’re passionate about it and are ahead of the game in getting work experience that is relevant and related to your major then you’ll be in good shape.</p>
<p>well what is it you do with that degree? wait tables, work in a coffee bar? unless you are very wealthy you need to focus in on a “real” degree. people will tell you , wow how interesting while thinking how silly! just my opinion.</p>
<p>@zobroward, if you’re implying that international studies is a bogus degree, I think you’re sadly mistaken. An international studies degree is very useful in many governmental agencies, notably the State Department and the CIA. With a business focus, it also opens career options in multinational corporations and intergovernmental agencies, not to mention humanitarian agencies such as the ICRC, Amnesty International, and others. Combined with fluency in two or more languages, an international studies degree can be very nice to have.</p>
<p>I know this is late, but I’m bored and have nothing else to do.</p>
<p>First off, International Studies is NOT a bogus degree–IMO, it’s practicality is close to Political Science. It’s just what you plan to do with the degree because, as the poster above said, there are countless things you can do with an IR/IS/IA degree. State department, non-profits, policy/think tanks, international analysts for many firms.</p>
<p>For example, I know that I want to go to law school so arguably my undergrad major isn’t at the top of my mind (maybe it should be). I am currently in my school’s International Studies program because it’s well-ranked. I also thought it would be a good choice because I’m good at/like the social sciences.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about how IR programs work at other schools, but we’re required to have an area concentration and a field of specialty, i.e. Conflict Resolution, International Development, Foreign Policy, etc. I’m working on the Race Relations field because the required courses are actually in History/Socio/Anthro departments. Some of the other courses, however, are sometimes unbearable, either too entrenched in theory or so practical that it’s annoying.</p>
<p>Why I might recommend this to you? LANGUAGES. In our present-day globalized world, there is always a place for linguistics. If you’re good with languages/motivated to learn, you could really thrive with an International Studies degree. Scholarships like the Boren send students abroad to non-Western European countries BECAUSE they want student to learn less-used languages and to increase American ties in those countries, and NOT NECESSARILY to do the best research there or be a policy boss.</p>