<p>I am an international student from Japan, hoping to study in the US for my college.
I am very interested in international relations;however, I am wondering whether taking political science will be a better option for my undergraduate.</p>
<p>I will definitely go to a graduate school and major International Relations, and am thinking to work at some NGOs or international organizations for my future career. However, I can see many college students major Political Science first at the undergraduates and then do IR at their graduate schools. So my question is how much it will be benefitial for international students like me to take Political Science in the US?</p>
<p>In addition, I want to hear both advantages and disadvantages (for International students) to take PS or IR in the US.</p>
<p>This is a hard question to answer because the focus of political science departments can vary. Some will have more of a US focus, others more international; some will be theory-oriented, others more practical. IR on the undergraduate level is fairly new (within the past 20 years or so) and many don’t differ dramatically from PS. I believe that to get into the top graduate IR programs, you should try to get into the very best OVERALL university, one that has ‘name’ recognition and opportunities in both IR and political science. </p>
<p>You are and international student who I am assuming will return to Japan after you education in the US. IF that is the case stick to International Relations.
As a PS major in the US, you are studying the American PS and its system which has little to do with how Japan works, but International Relations covers just what the name says and will most likely relate to most countries including Japan.
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Um, it depends on the school, really. The courses offered in PS vary from school to school and it is entirely possible that several PS classes could easily suit an IR major. It’s not necessary to study IR to work at “some NGOs or international organizations”. A background in policy studies, perhaps economics and some other social sciences, could work, too.</p>