Ranking International Relation Programs

<p>and part II of that question, would it be better to get a minor in econ or have a double concentration within IR in conflict and security and international econ.</p>

<p>Natedawg,
From my own research, most IR majors are required to take ADDITIONAL language courses, as an extension to the core requirements. Have you looked at the IR-specific language requirements at your school?</p>

<p>yeah, i know that. i already received credit for the third year, which fulfilled the advanced requirement. i got a big headstart in highschool.</p>

<p>If you are interested in grad school for IR, you will need proficiency in at least one foreign language. In this case, 'proficiency' means that you can hold a relatively fluid conversation about political and economic issues. Although you don't necessarily have to be proficient when you matriculate, the extra language courses you will need won't count toward the degree requirements and will be a lot of extra work. So, all in all, you are best served by doing a language in undergrad.</p>

<p>samonite16,</p>

<p>More than a few IR programs count language toward the degree requirement.</p>

<p>How does NYU match up with other programs? and where can i find a list of all the IR schools?</p>

<p>My recommendation for IR is to look at the APSIA schools and then build from there.</p>

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.apsia.org/apsia/index.php%5DAPSIA:%5B/url"&gt;http://www.apsia.org/apsia/index.php]APSIA:[/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

<p>Thank you.The list was very helpful. I didn't see NYU so i'm not sure what that means.Therefore, if anyone can give me feedback i would appreciate it.Also, i hear the econ is huge in IR, would it be better to major or minor in it?</p>

<p>It NEVER hurts to have more econ.</p>

<p>This thread is astonishing. Has taken me a good couple of hours to get through, but there's some great information.</p>

<p>A rundown of my situation: I am a Master of International Politics student at the University of Melbourne in Australia. I am looking to go on exchange in 2008 for a year.</p>

<p>My original first choice was UC Berkeley, but my hopes have since been tempered; only a few of the exchanges that my university offers are actually, in practical terms, open to graduate students. Basically most of them just won't take us.</p>

<p>My choices have thus been narrowed down to the following institutions, in no particular order:</p>

<p>University of Washington
University of Michigan @ Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill
Boston College
University of Toronto
McGill University</p>

<p>Aside from the academic quality, which is the most important factor to me, I am also more inclined to a big city (which makes Ann Arbor & Chapel Hill less attractive), and I am a bit of an obsessive basketball-head. Coming from Australia, the opportunity to live in a city with an NBA team is something that I can't really overlook. Forgive me if that seems superficial, but I've never been out of Australia before, so I'm trying to look at this as a holistic travelling/cultural experience as well as an academic one.</p>

<p>I don't have a particular specialty as yet. My undergraduate degree was in film, so I'm taking a pretty broad tack with my graduate studies. (Though I consider myself pretty bright, I still find myself occasionally overwhelmed by some of the more obscure/esoteric stuff that we're studying, considering my general academic fall-back is like "Er... I don't really know if Quentin Tarantino talked about that much" ;).) I guess if I had to narrow it down I'm particularly interested in human rights, development, and philosophical/normative issues. I wouldn't be surprised if I do a Juris Doctor (focusing on jurisprudence) or another MA in philosophy after I finish my current course - that should give you an idea of my priorities, anyway.</p>

<p>Originally I was absolutely set on studying in the United States, but I've since looked into those two Canadian universities and they both appear to be excellent. And Canada strikes me as a lovely, cosmopolitan place to live (at least Montreal/Toronto, anyway).</p>

<p>My application needs to be in within another day and a half (I'd actually already applied but my Berkeley app was rejected - so not much time left now), so any quick responses would be hugely appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance - I hope my post isn't too long!</p>

<p>1234,</p>

<p>If you're interested in being in a really vibrant and "big" urban area, go to Boston.</p>

<p>If you want the best department, go to Michigan.</p>

<p>My $.02.</p>

<p>Thanks UCLAri - quick reply!</p>

<p>Are those two Canadian universities not worthwhile in your (and others') opinion?</p>

<p>I've been trawling these forums for the last couple of days and have found the general consensus to be fairly split between McGill and U of T (and since I am just attending on exchange their reputation comparitive to the esteemed "public ivy" American colleges is not <em>such</em> a factor), but I am also wondering what kind of academic experience I would get there regarding international politics/studies specifically.</p>

<p>In the end it may come down to a simple choice, as you've posed it above - academic versus culture. Bloody decisions :/</p>

<p>But I appreciate the help. (Hopefully I will be offer some of my own advice to this community by the way - I hate to be just asking questions in only my first two posts!)</p>

<p>To be honest, I just can't say much about the two Canadian schools. McGill and UT are great schools, but I can't really tell you anything about them other than "they're really good."</p>

<p>UCLAri-</p>

<p>I'm a prospective IR student, applying to GW, Georgetown SFS, Brown and WashU. Input on any of those programs? I want a very very very language/linguistics heavy IR. </p>

<p>Also, I want a nice, fun city with lots of opportunities. Would I HATE WashU? Would Brown's proximity to Boston give it that? I've visited all four by the way, but I'd love your opinion.</p>

<p>Also, which school is best at middle eastern studies? Regardless of if there's that specific major or not, just class wise etc.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>No problems :)</p>

<p>Anyone else perhaps? Bueller? Bueller...?</p>

<p>salpert,</p>

<p>Georgetown SFS, to the best of my knowledge, has the best MidEast people. As for its language options, I think any of the schools you listed will have great options. </p>

<p>I don't think you'd hate WashU. Everyone I know who went there said it was a good experience. As for Brown, my cousin who currently goes there seems to be enjoying it quite a bit. I still want to hear how the first winter treats him though. ;)</p>

<p>Looking at your stats profile, you look like a good candidate for any of the programs you're applying to, so I think what we have to do now is wait to see where you get in first. Then I can start making more serious suggestions-- though I should by no means be any true arbiter for you-- about where to go.</p>

<p>I am an army officer in the Indian Army with 17 years of service in the Gurkhas, who is interested in pursuing a course in IR.I have extensive counter terrorist and UN peacekeeping experience.I am particularly interested in studying and exploring methods of resolving ethnic and tribal conflicts in Africa.I grew up in Africa and I'd like to work there.</p>

<p>However my qualifications are:Master of Defence and Strategic Studies,Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Management;these do not exactly match the qualifiactions which most of you guys have. Is 40 yrs a bit late to make such a career shift ? Which of these graduate programmes would suit me? While Harvard and Yale sound glamorous,its really beyond me now after 10 years of foot slogging in Kashmir,to bone up on economics!! Since I've already done the Staff College I'm inclined towards security studies and conflict resolution,and the UN;but are they the means to a paying job? Next finances/ aid are very imp,so which schools are the best considering all these factors? i'm bit of a pioneer from my organisation so I'd be grateful for some honest advice.</p>

<p>Gurkha, your experience is impressive and will make you a strong/competitive candidate for any grad program you apply to. However, if you're looking to find a high-paying job, you may eventually grow disenchanted with the low-paying non-profit sector (and things like the UN). You don't have to worry about being older than most of the other grad students in IR; most of them are not wide-eyed 22-year-olds (mostly because the grad programs usually REQUIRE experience in the field).</p>

<p>Anyway, Defense and Strategic Studies? That's really good. Truthfully, you seem qualified enough, even if your interest lies in Africa. You have UN peacekeeping experience, for Pete's sake. You should apply to the jobs you want right now. It's worth a shot, especially if it means that you don't need to squander $60k+ on grad school!</p>

<p>That's what I was thinking! I'm a wide-eyed 2(3) year-old, and I'd give a leg to have qualifications like that. Maybe even both legs.</p>

<p>Me too, onetwothreefour. I doubt Gurkha needs additional education. That seems cruelly excessive! C'MON, do not make IR even more difficult for the pasty American college kids who want a gig in IR as well. YOU HAVE THE WORK/FIELD EXPERIENCE, WHICH TRUMPS EDUCATION ANY DAY.</p>