Ranking International Relation Programs

College Majors
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<p>O.K. this board is full of some (SOME) good answers and a whole lot of uninformed speculation. For undergraduate-</p>

<ol>
<li>Georgetown (Best in North America)</li>
<li>University of St. Andrews (Best in Europe and the rest of english speaking world)</li>
<li>Tufts, Yale (International Studies), JHU, Columbia and on and on (This is for U.S. schools, there are much better ones like Science Po in Paris)</li>
</ol>

<p>It does not really matter undergraduate. As long as there is a good departement and faculty, but more importantly that the school overall is good (Yale, Tufts etc.)you will be fine. At the Undergraduate level it is very hard to determine the ranking of these schools beyond Georgetown, Tufts, Yale, JHU, Columbia.</p>

<p>You guys are all only looking at schools in the U.S., and don't understand that when it comes to graduate IR that the field is divided into VERY specific fields, Security Studies, Government, etc.</p>

<p>Monterey is the best graduate in the U.S. for Non-Proliferation Studies. And in reality, Georgetown SFS graduate has only two degrees possible, Security Studies (their's is not that good) and Foriegn Service (really good).</p>

<p>But schools like American University Cairo are also amazing IR graduate programs.</p>

<p>Stellenbosch in South Africa is the best school (this is undisputed) for Security Studies, followed closely by St. Andrews in Scotland.</p>

<p>Kings College in London is also great for a general IR graduate program.</p>

<p>What really surprises people is that LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard (save Kennedy which is more domestic politics) have TERRIBLE IR programs for graduate level work, that people don;t dare go near.</p>

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<p>I think peopl have to keep in mind also that they shouldn't go to a school just because their IR program is good. Georgetown may be the greatest IR school, but its not the right fit for everyone in a different aspect. College should be a well rounded experience. I'm not saying jump into a real crappy program either. Just chose the school that fits you (my #1 choice is not known at all for IR, but I would rather go there than any other top notch IR school just because the atmosphere fits me)</p>

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<p>I didn't know JHU has a great IR program...</p>

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<p>Yes AU = American University.</p>

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<p>i'm headin off to JHU in the fall as a transfer student (found out today!), majoring in international studies :) it was between nyu and jhu, but i always remembered jhu being ranked pretty high up for IR, and now i know for sure- thanks for the rankings olischulze~
anybody have ne suggestions for transfers- how i can get easily adjusted to new surroundings, etc...??</p>

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<p>So which grad schools are good if you want to go into the foreign service after? I'm going to SFS for undergrad and thinking of Columbia for grad (if I'm lucky enough to get in).</p>

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<p>is columbia's programme 5 years long?</p>

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<p>Does anyone know anything about Pitt's GSPIA?</p>

<p>Specifically, their security and intelligence grad program (SIS)?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>I stumbled onto this posting thanks to google. I'd like to second what olischulze wrote. Beware of what you read on the Internet, as the advice proffered – though well-intentioned – is sometimes misguided. </p>

<p>I was trying to make sense of the seemingly schizophrenic nature of the posts on this bulletin board, but I realize this forum is ostensibly for undergraduate programs, so I'll address them first. I won't purport to know which undergrad schools currently have the best IR programs. When I applied to college, I looked at Georgetown, Tufts, Johns Hopkins and GW...all of which have strong IR programs. </p>

<p>One thing to keep in mind: You needn't major in international affairs in order to work in the field. Indeed, there are plenty of solid undergraduate programs that don't have a formal IR/Int'l Studies program. Doing very well at an Amherst means more to a grad admissions officer than subpar grades from a "top" IR undergrad program (unless, of course, it's from one of the very top schools). Moreover, if you do well as, say, a Mandarin or economics major, you'll be in a great position to study IR in a strong graduate program. </p>

<p>Another point I can't stress enough (even if your undergrad scores are stellar): Go out and do something after undergrad. Join the Peace Corps. Work for an international business firm. Travel to India. Learn Vietnamese. Work for a refugee agency. Teach English in Japan. Volunteer for the UNDP. This will help you distinguish yourself from other applicants, should you decide to pursue post-graduate studies. Yet, more importantly, it will make you a more interesting, well-rounded individual who will excel as a foreign affairs practitioner. It will also help you figure out what it is you like and dislike, as you narrow your interest in IR to specific sub-fields. Remember, working after college will help you figure out exactly what it is you want to do. </p>

<p>In regards to grad school IR Master’s programs, any list of rankings will mask the strengths and weaknesses of each school's program. Overall, my top three U.S. grad programs are probably Johns Hopkins (SAIS), Columbia (SIPA), and Tufts (Fletcher). Georgetown is great for what it is, but, in my opinion, it lacks the depth of the other three schools. Harvard and Princeton have wonderful MPA grad programs, but there is a less of an emphasis on IR, strictly speaking (although both are exceptional for international development). I'll be attending Columbia in the fall. I chose it on the merits of its program, its location in New York City, its alumni network, and its strengths in subject areas that interest me. That said, I'd be perfectly happy with several of the schools found in the above-posted lists. </p>

<p>Don’t make a decision based on a list.</p>

<p>Interested in working for the State Department? Georgetown MSFS may be the place for you. Want to marry your interests in IR and education/training? Try the School for International Training in Vermont. Think the UN would be a great place to work for and/or reform? Columbia's SIPA boasts of many alums at the UN. Want to explore international trade policy? GW has a strong program for that discipline. Looking for a program oriented towards the Asia/Pacific region? UCSD is among the best. Trying to land a solid foreign policy internship in DC? American U is a great option. Want to develop strong relationships with top-notch professors in the field? Tufts' Fletcher School has what you're looking for. Have a desire to mix it up with PhD students in a small, academically-challenging environment? Then Yale may be the right place for you. Think realpolitik is cool? Try the University of Denver. Think you want to parlay your Master’s degree into a PhD program? Look into the University of Chicago's IR program. Want to work for the World Bank? Check out SAIS. Want to work for the World Bank without any grad school debt? Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School should be at the top of your list. </p>

<p>I hope I've made my point (perhaps I've beaten it to death?!) that there are lots of options available. It’s simply a matter of knowing what you’re interested in (and, of course, going through the stressful application process). Olischulze made another good point: The United States is not the only country with strong programs in international relations. Sciences Po (in Paris), SOAS (in London), HEI (in Geneva), St. Andrew's, etc., are all excellent schools. Keep this in mind when you’re making a decision on where to study. (With regard to LSE having a "TERRIBLE" graduate program in IR, I'll respectfully demur.) </p>

<p>Before closing, I'd like to mention the fact that a Master’s in IR isn't the sole route to a field in international affairs. Getting a degree after college is increasingly important, but there are tons of grad programs beyond strictly IR that have an international focus, such as: MBA/Int'l Business programs, law schools w/human rights/int'l law concentrations, international public health MPH programs, economics programs, development studies programs, etc. Don't neglect to look into these options as well.</p>

<p>I encourage you to talk to people doing whatever it is you want to do and ask them for advice. We have a wealth of academic options in the field of IR. Choose yours wisely.</p>

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<p>I think this might be a good place to ask. I'm going to JHU next year and currently I'm thinking about double-majoring in Writing Seminars and Political Science. I am interested in International Relations, but there isn't quite as much overlap and I think it would be too hard to double-major w/ writing seminars, whereas Poli Sci would work out perfectly. My only question is, since JHU has such a great IR program, does that mean that the Poli Sci is great there as well? I know Poli Sci is a component of IR, so it would seem to be so? Thanks for the advice.</p>

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<p>dacoffebean: To answer your question of what can a person with a degree in IR do? I must quite simply say: in an ideal world, become an ambassador. In the real world: do any kind of job that isn't really related with was he/she studied.</p>

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<p>gee. i thought an IR degree can get u places in, say, a business chool or other grad schools.</p>

<p>btw, i plan to study for an architecture masters after I.R. it sounds weird, i know, but what do u guys think abt it?</p>

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<p>monosierra. It's not a bad idea, actually I think that IR does give you a great culture, what I mean is that those guys usually end up doing different things, and they have to give up their ambassador's dream. Architecture is cool, the only concern you must have right now should be whether you're not lacking some mathematical formation after studying IR.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
My only question is, since JHU has such a great IR program, does that mean that the Poli Sci is great there as well? I know Poli Sci is a component of IR, so it would seem to be so? Thanks for the advice.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Remember that SAIS is a separate campus, so that affects your ability to tap into its great resources.</p>

<p>IR and political science are in many ways different fields. Many brilliant IR scholars are not political scientists in the strictest sense, and many political scientists have a poor eye for IR.</p>

<p>Don't worry too much about the quality of the undergrad program at JHU, however, it's great.</p>

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<p>atu23: u think so? i'd feared that til i saw that many people with undergard degrees in fields completely different from architecture earn a place in architecture school.</p>

<p>still, i know its a risky route and pretty long shot. just need more time to build up the portfolio.</p>

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<p>monosierra: well , I mean, it all depends, if you do have the math skills and are able to fullfill the requirements entailed for architecture, it doesn't matter what your undergrad major was about. The only thing I'm saying is that IR might not precisely be the safest way to architectural admission</p>

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<p>Does anyone have an opinion on the MS in International Affairs major at Georgia Tech? It's a great engineering and science school, but I'm not sure what people think of the INTA program.</p>

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<p>I will be applying to graduate schools, and would like to specialize in international development (it could be a MPA w/concentr. in IN Dev). These are the schools I have been thinking about, I would love to get some feedback, or suggestions about other possibilities:</p>

<p>USA:
Harvard (MPA/ID)
Johns Hopkins U.- SAIS (MA IN Relations w/conc. In IN Dev)
Columbia (MPA)
American (IN Dev)
Syracuse (MPA)
Cornell (MPA not so sure if it is that good, has not been ranked well in USnews, but I have been told that it’s probable to get financial aid)
Probably GWU- Is the program in IN Dev good?</p>

<p>UK:
Oxford (Mphil Dev studies)
LSE (MSc in Dev Studies or in Dev Management)
Sussex (Mphil Dev Studies)
Bath (MRes Dev Studies- not sure if it’s good, liked the program)</p>

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<p>I need help! I am currently spending my junior year abroad in Switzerland and will be coming home in July. I have been seaching for my colleges online for international relations. After taking the collegeboard.com college search, I found myself drowning in a list of over 400 different schools. I would like to know a bit more about IR. At the moment I am speaking German so a college where German is taught is a must. Can anyone offer some advice about how to search or where to go???? Danke!</p>

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<p>I heard good things about UCSD in that area too</p>