<p>I'm looking into a career with the CIA as an intel analyst. I'm wondering first of all if anyone knows if IR is the best master's degree for this pursuit and if so what the best schools are to go to if I want to be an analyst. In particular, I was wondering if anyone knew or had anything to say about Missouri State University's Department of Strategic Studies program in DC?</p>
<p>It may also be helpful for anyone to know that I am triple majoring in History, Art History and French, have taken German and some Arabic as well. Phi Beta Kappa too. Just wondering if anyone also had any thoughts on the likelihood of my acceptance into of the grad programs since I don’t necessarily have a strong background in poly sci.</p>
<p>You may want to check out these websites. Knowledge of another foreign language(s) is VERY important. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[How</a> to Become a CIA Agent - wikiHow](<a href=“http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-CIA-Agent]How”>3 Ways to Become a CIA Agent - wikiHow)</p>
<p>[How</a> to Become a CIA Agent | eHow.com](<a href=“http://www.ehow.com/how_18118_become-cia-agent.html]How”>http://www.ehow.com/how_18118_become-cia-agent.html)</p>
<p>[CIA</a> Agent Job Information](<a href=“http://www.legal-criminal-justice-schools.com/Criminal-Justice-Degrees/CIA-Agent-Job-Information.html]CIA”>http://www.legal-criminal-justice-schools.com/Criminal-Justice-Degrees/CIA-Agent-Job-Information.html)</p>
<p>I can offer only anecdotal experience but I have an MA in IR from UChicago and several of my classmates were applying to the CIA. They found that having the MA was utterly unhelpful. None of them were hired (to my knowledge) and didn’t even get very far in the application process. The emphasis seemed to be on language (Arabic especially).</p>
<p>In the IR job market, work experience and knowledge of key foreign languages (specifically arabic) trumps an MA or MIR almost every time. The CIA, State Department, or whatever other agency you might be applying for wants people who can be thrown into the mix with minimal training which means they will likely be less than impressed by your IR degree from Columbia or Fletcher or whatever unless it comes attached with a foreign language. Most good IR programs, however, (like Columbia and Fletcher, for that matter) require a foreign language.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to look at your career aspirations strategically and then go from there. If you know you want to work for the CIA, learn arabic or another language. Although graduate degrees help, Im still mystified by the sheer numbers of graduate students who think that a MIR from a big school coupled with a basic knowledge of french or spanish is going to get the a mid level job in foreign affairs.</p>
<p>thanks so much. That helps a lot. Any ideas on ways to become fluent in Arabic without going overseas? Does anyone know too if the military can help in becoming fluent in Arabic?</p>
<p>Sign up to be a military linguist.</p>
<p>Yeah, I second Volscio’s advice. The military had several positions for linguists and they are heavily recruiting linguists – they offer bonuses, too (at least for enlisted). I am most familiar with the Air Force, but if you are accepted into the job (you have to do well on the ASVAB – if you have a college degree, not difficult at all, it’s basic high school stuff) the Air Force will send you to one of their training schools to learn your foreign language. I don’t know if you get to choose what foreign language you want to learn; however, I’m sure that fluency in any language will be good for the CIA. On top of that, especially if you’re a cryptolinguist your experience in the military will look awesome on your application to the CIA.</p>
<p>I’m sure there are similar perks and jobs in the other branches as well. Pick your branch and find your local recruiter (easily searchable online), then just e-mail or call them. I promise they’ll get back to you within a week 
They can give you more information on the specific job, how to get into it, and the likelihood of getting Arabic if that’s what you want to learn.</p>
<p>Yeah I was thinking Arabic or Farsi since those, besides asian languages, seem to be most in demand. I was thinking about the military initially before I thought about the CIA. And now it seems my searching has led back to the military. That’s good to know about being able to learn my foreign language at a training school without having to immerse myself unnecessarily in a hostile foreign country. Of course, if that’s where I get sent after training that’s fine, but not being in the military and just opting to go to a middle eastern country for language experience doesn’t seem too great of an idea. I am definitely a language person. I picked up German really easily after having studied French for a long time. I know a few people who took Farsi and said it actually wasn’t that difficult to learn. So that all sounds really good. Thank for the info juillet.</p>
<p>Er, you wouldn’t have to immerse yourself “in a hostile foreign country” - you could pick a friendly one and do a critical language fellowship there. The best (and often only) way to acquire complete fluency is full immersion.</p>
<p>You will gain more fluency through the Peace Corps, in all probability.</p>
<p>But you won’t get that military background. It’s a trade-off.</p>