@momrath: Thank you for the great insights on the choices of undergraduate vs graduate. Thanks for sharing your insights on the experiences from the perspective of diplomats that you have crossed paths with overseas.
@mathmom: The idea of international security and its importance today and relevance to political and international strategy is something that we had not thought of.
@SJ2727,@CCtoAlaska: Thank you for informing us that International Relations is theoretical and the difference to International studies is also illuminating.
@mackinaw: UW is indeed one of the universities our son is looking at. Thanks for sharing the link.
From what I’ve seen of the IR/IA/IS field, a plain, old-fashioned B.A. in history that focuses mostly on areas outside the U.S. is as good as any undergrad degree to give one a good foundation. Most current issues & conflicts have roots that go back centuries, & you need to know those roots to understand the present.
U of Denver has a good IR program; both Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright have degrees from DU.
U of Wyoming has the Cheney program and it sponsors a lot of foreign study and government service/internship opportunities. BYU has the most alums in the foreign service program but there are other factors that go into chosing BYU.
Many schools also have area studies majors (Latin American studies, Russian studies, Border studies). Some IR programs require a regional focus within them.
The true interdisciplinary IR degree is a combo of poli sci, history, economics, FL and maybe a cultural anthropology or similar class or two. But for a kid really interested in history, for example, many of those requirements might feel like a waste of time.
I would strongly looking online at the course catalog and major requirements to see what they are at each school as well as what’s offered. I would also think about what school environment you want as well as what interests you.
This is, as noted, rather customizable at schools with formal programs but it is also not hard to recreate at schools that do not, and some of those have a lot of ways to spend time abroad throughout the 4 years (including short terms).