<p>I'm an incoming transfer student to UCSD and I was accepted as a Poli Sci- International Relations concentration. I'm thinking about changing from a International Relations concentration to just Poli Sci without a concentration. I don't know exactly what I want to do after college, I know something to do with politics, government, public service. I'm interested in all areas on politics, I like international but I'm not sure. My question is would having an international concentration limit me in any way in finding jobs? Would I be better off not having a concentration? Another reason I'm thinking of changing is I could take whatever poli sci classes I want with no concentration, with IR I have to take a certain number of IR classes ( there are usually only 2-3 IR classes a quarter). Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>hey im also an incoming transfer poli sci major in ucsd this yr. my concertration is public poli. i am also concerned about similar issue there. Since you post this long ago, I was wondering if you did change that? What was the process and did it came out as better than having a concertration? Thanks!</p>
<p>Sugarmint, are you angling for a specific career path?</p>
<p>Had I been around then, I would have advised the OP to forgo a concentration. As in all things, one needs the general knowledge before one can specialize. And even if the OP had known for sure that she/he wanted to work in foreign policy, I still would have said the same thing. Use your comprehensive poli sci undergraduate education as a platform to enter graduate studies for public policy or whatnot.</p>
<p>Hi HieronymusBosch,
I am actually planning to work for the Province’s Policy Office in China after I finish my undergrad and grad studies. Since I found that most required classes in public policy concertration in ucsd are American politics, I am afraid that this concertration doesn’t fit my future career. Instead in Comparative Politics I see many regional studies which seemed to be a better fit for me. Maybe a general poli sci would also be more flexible. I am just worried if I can change the concertration or not.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with differences between concentrations at UCSD, but if it’s just a matter of courses, then I would say decide between a CP concentration and a general poli sci major based on what courses you are interested in. No clue how many China courses the UCSD department has; most tend to not have very many.</p>
<p>Then after undergrad, I would recommend entering a terminal Master’s program for public policy. </p>
<p>As for whether whether you can change your concentration, that’s a question to ask your department.</p>
<p>thanks a lot, H. I will take your suggestion into consideration. :)</p>