<p>Hi! I’ve searched the message boards, but I didn’t find too much about political science at Barnard, other than that the major is hard with a lot of work. I was wondering if anyone has any other experiences with the major. I would like to focus on international relations, although I know Barnard doesn’t have an IR major. Thanks a ton!!</p>
<p>my daughter is a poli sci major with a focus on international relations ... what questions do you have?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!! I have a few questions. How does she like the major? Does she feel as though the fact that its only a focus on IR rather than a major is a problem? What does she plan on doing after graduation? Has she had success in terms of finding internships? Also, has she studied abroad? and does she take a lot of IR classes at Columbia? Sorry there are a lot, if you don't have answers for some of them that's fine! I really appreciate it!!</p>
<p>My daughter has really liked most of her poli sci courses & has had some amazing profs. My daughter is a junior & is applying this year to the 5-year combined degree program between Barnard & Columbia SIPA. This is very difficult to get into and apparently they did not accept any from Barnard last year, but my daughter's advisors think she has a very strong application -- so we'll see. My daughter spent time living abroad in high school and she spent the past summer abroad, interning for a UN agency, in Geneva and in New Delhi; she is thinking of studying abroad in Russia this coming spring, but hasn't firmed that up yet. My daughter has not taken any courses at Columbia relevant to her major, but I know she has a friend who took a course at SIPA during her freshman year; I think its just a matter of scheduling preferences.</p>
<p>Thank you! I hope your daughter gets into SIPA.</p>
<p>I am not totally sure what my major is yet (I'm a soph), but I'm considering polisci, and I have taken three polisci courses so far. They have been three of the best courses I've taken in my life! Partly, Ive been lucky, but I do tthink there are a lot of great polisci courses at Barnard and Columbia, and it's a popular major. You can concentrate in IR, as mentioned, and though I haven't taken any IR classes yet, I've heard really great things about Kimberly Martin, who teacher intro IR and usually one or two other IR classes at Barnard.</p>
<p>And if you're interested in getting internships, you can't beat being in the city. There are tons of opportunities; I have friends who are sophomores who are interning with Hil Clinton, Obama, the UN, and one who worked at the White House over the summer :) </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any more questions !</p>