IR at Penn

[gilmore_fan]

<p>While I'm fairly undecided, I think I'm really interested in pursuing IR. Can anyone speak to the merits of the program, the pros and cons, class size and requirements, etc?</p>

[IRJunkie]

<p>From ilovebagels:</p>

<p>

I was a double-major in IR and East Asian Studies at Penn’s CAS. Thanks to Penn’s help (or in some cases merely the strength of its reputation) I had the opportunity of summer jobs/internships in Seoul, Singapore, and Beijing. I’m now working in South Asia for one of the Indian industrial houses (they have an international recruit program that only recruits from the Ivies–another Penn perk )</p>

<p>Like you, I am an IR junkie, and Penn was a phenomenal experience in too many ways to count…but I’ll just focus on IR for now (feel free to PM me about other Penn questions).</p>

<p>Penn is not known as an IR powerhouse like Georgetown SFS, Stanford, etc., but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a top-notch experience. It simply doesn’t have a graduate program or separate school (the plus side of this is that the IR program’s core and only purpose is to serve undergraduates).</p>

<p>The program itself is rigorous. The major is not open; that is to say there is an application process. There is a set of prerequisite courses you must take and achieve a certain GPA in order to be considered, and there is an interview as well. It is also one of the few majors at Penn that requires both honors and non-honors students to complete a 2-semesters long senior thesis (mine was an 83 pager on game theoretical analysis of US-North Korea cooperation prospects… surprising conclusion: John Bolton was right!).</p>

<p>Another plus for Penn over comparable schools is the “One University” policy that allows and encourages undergraduates to take classes in the other 3 undergrad schools and even some of the grad schools. Penn IR benefits greatly from this. As an undergrad, you can take Penn Law classes of great relevance–where else can an undergrad IR major take a course on China and International Law by this guy (Penn Law Faculty: Jacques deLisle, expert on Comparative Law, International Law, Chinese Law and Politics) or international human rights law by this guy ( Penn Law Faculty: William W. Burke-White )? Another area of great synergy is in the Wharton school, where you can take courses on international finance and international business (which only a fool would think have no role to play in the study of IR). Penn also has a preeminent military historian (Arthur Waldron) with great connections and a love of engaging undergrads (too often at our elite schools, the role of militaries is kept at arms-length).</p>

<p>In short, the breadth available to Penn IR undergrads is unparalleled in schools of its class.</p>

<p>The results speak for themselves: Penn IR students regularly win Fulbrights/Truman/Marshall etc; we had an IR major won a Rhodes a few years back (and a Huntsman kid won a Rhodes last year ). Penn IR students get job offers in the Foreign Service, military, and intelligence sectors, the most coveted companies like Goldman Sachs and McKinsey (my own company accepted 3% of its applicants this year, and another Penn IR major was among them), and gain admission to top grad schools.</p>

<p>The faculty and staff of the IR program are great. One professor is a Pulitzer Prize winner and it shows in his lectures. Another was just published in ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine. I know the head of the department by first name. I’ve gone out for beers with the guy, and we still keep in touch.</p>

<p>Phew. I’m spent. PM me with any questions you may have. I can also put you in touch with the head of the IR program. He is always happy to talk to prospectives!

</p>

[gilmore_fan]

<p>I knew that ilovebagels would have a lot to say on this, but that was really fantastic. thanks!!</p>

[ilovebagels]

<p>wow, ilovebagels is awesome, and undoubtedly good-looking! :)</p>

[45_Percenter]

<p>^ and not the least bit narcissistic. :p</p>

[broetchen]

<p>@bagels
Did you takeany courses/have any contact with the South Asia Studies department? If so, any standout profs or classes? Also, how popular is this major and can it realistically be combined with IR or PoliSci?
Thanks!</p>

<p>Okay, I just noticed that you indeed double majored, but in East Asian Studies, despite ending up in India. No wonder I’m confused. Question still stands, however, any experience with SOUTH Asia dept?</p>

[gilmore_fan]

<p>oh, and also, what were your general class sizes (past introductory ones)? Were many of them discussion oriented?</p>

[ilovebagels]

<p>Yeah, life is funny sometimes. I still had plenty of internships in East Asia but this South Asia opportunity was too good to pass up (besides, having expertise on east AND south asia makes me more unique to grad schools, employers, etc :))</p>

<p>I never took a class in the South Asia department (but I can tell you that its acronym used to be South Asia Regional Studies…or SARS…which was changed when the Asian disease of the same name broke out). I did take one class taught in PSCI taught by Francine Frankel, who is awesome. She reeks of intelligence and had to miss a class to go testify before Congress. When it comes to modern South Asia (particularly India), Penn and it’s CASI (Center for Advanced Study of India) are second to none.</p>