Ranking International Relation Programs

College Majors
681

<p>I'm considering majoring in IR at JHU(just acc two days ago) but I'm also interested in economics and poltical science. I know that the standard IR major has poli sci and econ components, as it is an interdisciplinary major, so would double majoring in IR and econ or IR and poli sci be redundant? Both of my parents were IR majors, and are about to retire from successful government careers, but both warn me not to go into government. Would economics with a concentration in international trade or business be more marketable for a private sector job than IR with equal components of int. studies, econ, and poli sci? </p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

682

<p>I am a senior in high school, and I am planning on majoring in IR. I was just accepted at American U, GWU, and St. Andrews for undergrad. Which of these schools will give me the best IR degree and opportunities?(connections, grad school placement, etc.)</p>

683

<p>inccidentally: what can you do with an ir degree?</p>

684

<p>AVR,</p>

<p>Econ is definitely useful if you go private sector. Quantitative skills never hurt!</p>

<p>uoflondon,</p>

<p>Government, private sector, lots of things. Depends on how well you sell yourself and spin things.</p>

685

<p>I'm currently weighing the accepted offers I've received from these 3 schools for an MA in IR. I've been reading through this forum since I was looking for schools to apply to, and the info. has been truly helpful, so now I'm hoping I might receive some more opinions more specific to my situation.</p>

<p>I'm an international student finishing my final year of college in Pennsylvania. The type of career I would like to see myself in is with international organizations or nonprofits such as the UN, or foundations which provide funding for developmental projects. I've double majored in IR and Econ (though the econ has been far less quantitative work and more writing based), and my work experience has been limited - some work at a university in Thailand in the summers, and small-business development/consulting during the past two school years). These are the feelings I've gotten about the schools and the possible benefits they can provide me:</p>

<p>American: The SIS program seems to have good recognition and respect. The location in DC makes me think it would be a beneficial location for internship and job opportunities. I'm not sure how difficult interning while doing my studies would be, but I figured with my lack of professional work experience, it might be something to consider. Also, I have some friends/relatives in DC and the NY area, which helps my personal situation.</p>

<p>UCSD: I could easily see myself working back in Southeast Asia, where I grew up. The quantitative work sounds demanding, but I believe it would be helpful. I see a large number of graduates end up in the private sector, which my interviewer suggested was due to students wanting to repay their school loans. I like the idea that the program prepares you well for a variety of fields, as it does somewhat seem like an MBA program. San Diego also sounds like a great place to live, though it would be an adjustment for me not knowing anyone. I don't know how the location will play a role in terms of connections for jobs/internships.</p>

<p>Syracuse: I really have the least amount of info or feedback on this school. It sounds like a good program, but it doesn't seem like the IR program is better than the other two, and would probably be the one I drop off from my consideration, along with Fordham.</p>

<p>If anyone can provide feedback, perhaps UCLAri since you're at UCSD, or others at the other schools, it'd be much appreciated. I need to spend more time looking at the classes themselves also, and talk with my advisers here at school, but there also seems to be great insights and knowledge from this forum. Any help would be appreciated!</p>

686

<p>Great thread!! I got admitted to NYU M.S. in Global Affairs and Seton Hall Whitehead School of Diplomacy's M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations. I am 23, passed the Foreign Service Exams at 21 in the Public Diplomacy cone but was not called into a class before I "expired" 18 months later. I work at a law firm in NYC right now but don't really have any real work experience (I was waiting for "the call"). I will start this fall at one of the programs! Whitehead School offered me a 24-credit scholarship (a little over half tuition), and I haven't heard back from NYU yet. Seton Hall is ranked Tier 3 but there is no information available about Whitehead's ranking. The difference in price is HUGE. SHU is only 826 per credit and NYU is 1628 for the first, and around 1400 for each additional with a 10-12 credit flat rate tuition of 13,533. I'd have to get a car in New Jersey at SHU, so that's an additional expense but definitely not big enough to make the difference between paying 5K per semester at SHU vs. 13533 at NYU.</p>

<p>Do you think NYU's program is so much better that it would warrant going wayyyy into debt (about 60K) for? I'm so confused!!! Please help!</p>

687

<p>After skimming through the 46 pages, I wanted to ask a more specific question for my college choice. Under the following criteria:</p>

<p>-I'm looking to major in IR for undergrad; however, i'd like a school that would allow me not be boxed in to IR if it turns out i didn't like it. Any social science field would probably be great and a school with good int'l econ program would be even better</p>

<p>-I'm leaning towards Middle Eastern studies (do south asian studies exist?) since it is relevant and enjoyable to learn about the ME.</p>

<p>-Being near an urban center is a must.</p>

<p>-Accessible and academically renown professors</p>

<p>-Contacts with professional IR people (diplomats, etc)</p>

<p>-Gov't speakers have frequent visits (not limited to various intellectual speakers like Chomsky, etc)</p>

<p>-a decent journalism program would be great too</p>

<p>-atmosphere of intellectual peers</p>

<p>-and to a lesser extent, an aesthetically pleasing campus in a decent neighborhood (i've been told columbia is in a bad neighborhood)</p>

<p>I can't really think of any way to trim down the choices any further, but it'd be great if someone can give me a few colleges that would fit all or most of these criteria unless they're too vague. Thanks.</p>

688

<p>feudal_</p>

<p>Check out Georgetown, American and George Washington. All meet most of the criteria you listed.</p>

689

<p>Anyone know anything about St. Andrews' IR program and how it compares to the various American colleges?</p>

690

<p>nts,</p>

<p>UCSD is only worth it if you're ABSOLUTELY SET on Asia and willing to put up with the very significant quant work.</p>

691

<p>UCLAri, I'm curious by what you mean in regards to "is only worth it." would you think that the Maxwell or SIS have better overall programs, but UCSD has the superior Asian focus? Or is it a matter of you feeling the workload is too intense unless that's what I'd really want? I was imagining that all the programs would be extremely demanding though, since I get the feel they're all at the same tier and still very good programs.</p>

692

<p>OK - I've just stumbled on this thread which is very informational, and thought I'd share my dilemma with you. I'm interested in an IR career and I've narrowed down my undergrad choices to 2 places: American (in Honors, and with half-tuition), and Berkeley (but I'm out of state, so no savings there!). I'm totally torn between a solid Political Science degree at Berkeley with an IR focus, seeing Cal doesn't offer IR at the undergrad level, and American's SIS. What should I do? </p>

<p>I am definitely planning on pursuing a Masters degree in IR, after working for a couple of years, to get some experience for my resume. Assuming my GPA would be the same, what would grad schools look at more positively: a Berkeley degree (PolSci) or an AU IR degree.... Please help - I can't make up my mind...</p>

693

<p>I'm really sorry if this question has been asked and answered already but I was flipping through about 13 pages and I'm not one to sit for a long-sitting and read every post. sorry! :(</p>

<p>what is the difference between international studies and international relations?</p>

<p>I was just at Cal Day and Berkeley has many majors in their International and Area Studies department (ie: peace and conflict studies, political economy, developmental studies, etc.)</p>

<p>What are the nuances, if any, and is Berkeley a good choice?</p>

694

<p>Hello,
I read through the topic (yes, all 47 pages) and I saw a few mentions of both programs I am considering, but I was hoping I could gather some more specific information.</p>

<p>I want to stay in the state of Michigan for college, and I was wondering if anyone here has any knowledge of how the James Madison College international relations program at Michigan State compares to the new undergraduate program in the Gerald Ford School at the University of Michigan. I know that their curricula are different, but just overall, how do they compare? In the area I live in, James Madison is held in high esteem, but I was wondering if that is true nationally, or just in Michigan. Is it worth turning down the amazing opportunities available at University of Michigan in order to attend James Madison College?</p>

<p>Any information you could provide would be highly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

695

<p>General rule of thumb is that for undergraduate studies, the reputation and the name of the particular program or department is less important than the overall strength/reputation of the school. I'd probably choose UM simply because has a more stellar reputation than MSU. Its one of the best universities in the nation and people are well aware of this fact.</p>

696

<p>I am an international student who gonna study international studies. Which schools do you think I would have better opportunity (e.g. better internships, oversea study, etc.) BTW, I think I will follow the economic track in both school.</p>

<p>UW-Seattle Jackson School
Center</a> for International Studies</p>

<p>UW-Madison
The</a> Division of International Studies at UW-Madison</p>

<p>Thank you my friend :D</p>

697

<p>hey.</p>

<p>im a transfer student. i got accepted to AU as well as Syracuse University. I am in my 2nd semester rt now. In SU, 72 credits got transfered including from my high school, so if i go there, i'll graduate in 3 semesters. I'll have to pay around 60K for that.
I'll have to pay the same amount in AU but for 3 years.
I am plannin to major in Political Science/International Relations. I want to make the best out of the college life and earn experiences through internships and more.</p>

<p>I am having difficulty in choosing between the 2 colleges..in 1 i'll graduate in less time and hav more opportunities for internships. in another theres more to offer for the major.</p>

<p>i need ur help guys.</p>

698

<p>Hi</p>

<p>I am currently a senior in high school, headed for Johns Hopkins next year. I spent most of my years country-hopping between Korea, Turkey, China, Germany and spent four years of high school at a prep boarding school in the US. Given this background, I am looking to major in international studies (subdepartment of their political science department) at JHU. Reading through all of the pages in this thread made me realize just how little I know about this field...So I'd like to ask a couple of questions.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The general consensus seems to be that SAIS is one of the best grad schools for international relations out there but everyone seems to be reluctant to discuss undergrad programs (with the exception of Georgetown's SFS, which seems to be highly praised). How does the undergrad program at Hopkins compare, in terms of getting me into the top masters programs? Does coming out of JHU undergrad hurt, help, or do anything at all to my chances of getting into SAIS?</p></li>
<li><p>Once again, SAIS. Johns Hopkins has an accelerated BA/MA program with SAIS. This sounds like a godsend...but nearly impossible.
"Applications consisting of an up-to-date transcript, a brief statement of purpose, and a resume are accepted from students early in the second semester of their sophomore year. By late March, approximately eight students are accepted into the program."
This gives me less than 2 years to demonstrate my abilities. Is there anyone out there who know more about this program and can give me some more info? Like how many people apply for this program? And tips on gaining a competitive edge? I REALLY want to get into this program!!!</p></li>
<li><p>This is about something that I know really nothing about, so please correct any misconceptions that I may have. I'm looking into international bussiness as a career. I was thinking of pursuing a masters in international relations, finding a job in a firm for a few years to gain experience, and then going after an MBA. Does this sound like a plan worth going through? Again, there are programs that I've heard about that offer a joint MA in IR/MBA (SAIS-Wharton is one that popped up a few times). How feasible does this sound?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Please feel free to comment, correct, leave suggestions or give tips to this uber-ambitious 18 year old.</p>

699

<p>sangasong,</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Your undergrad is almost entirely meaningless for admission to IR programs. JHU = Harvard = USC = any other top 50 or so school. Don't worry. Just do well and avail yourself of plenty of opportunities here and abroad.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't know much about it, but I'm sure people will be available at JHU to tell you.</p></li>
<li><p>No. It's redundant. I would either just get a degree from a top IR school with a focus in finance/management, or better yet, get an MBA from a top management program. The opportunity cost of two MAs is simply too high to be worth it.</p></li>
</ol>

700

<p>Hi. I created a thread similar to this one, except that instead of talking about graduate programs this one tries to talk about undergraduate programs. Do you guys think that you could add to it (my thread)? (I know that they say that undergraduate programs are harder to rank because the overall education/prestige of the school gets in the way. But, could you guys try anyway?)</p>