Ranking Undergraduate International Relations Programs

<p>How does the Global College in the University of Long Island rank here? Its got a very unique curriculum.</p>

<p>If you can get accepted and pay for an Ivy/Tier 1 school, more power to you. However, 99% of Poli Sci/IR programs are going to be basically equal.</p>

<p>It all comes down to what you want to do with the degree and where you want to work (geographically). </p>

<p>I majored in Poli Sci with a concentration in IR at WVU. I’ve worked in a quasi-government affairs (private) since I graduated. Now I’m trying to get into a field that is more closely related to my degree.</p>

<p>If anyone has any questions I’d be happy to help!</p>

<p>I’ve heard that Occidental College has a very strong IR program, but it hasn’t yet been mentioned here. Does anyone have info on how well their IR program is known, whether it is well-respected about employers in the IR field, etc?</p>

<p>Hello! I was reading one of your comments and noticed that you said going to school for international relations can depend partly on where you want to work geographically. If I was mainly interested in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, do you have any suggestions of a good undergraduate school? I would really appreciate the advice.</p>

<p>^ Go to school in Europe.</p>

<p>edwin 7 - # 1 - University of St. Adrew’s in Scotland. Been there - Phenomenal program. Also, consider # 2 - King’s College London if interested in War and Peace/Conflict Resolution. Also, consider # 3 - UCL-London - in the Top 5 World Universities.</p>

<p>If you know French - Sciences Po is a good option.</p>

<p>CJ</p>

<p>quick question>
what is the take between these two programs?
LSE-PKU double MSc degree in international affairs - 2 yrs
Columbia MARSEA regional studies China MA - 1 yr</p>

<p>?
coming from a management and east asia undergrad degree, and later probably moving into private sector consulting, PhD or even media…
where to go?
whats a better choice?
(the two degrees come out to be the same cost)</p>

<p>THANK YOU</p>

<p>I am student in the US and I am extremely interested in studying international relations. After all the threads I have read throughout the site, everyone keeps saying “University of St. Andrews”, anyone have any insight on their program???</p>

<p>Is NYU any good in the IR department?</p>

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I’ve been accepted into LSE, St Andrews and Georgetown SFS, all for IR. I was stuck between the 3 programs for a while but I did alot of research and I’ve basically ruled out LSE, purely because it seemed a little bit too narrow and also I wasn’t sure about the social scene/campus life of LSE students. I’ve not heard many rave reviews lets just say. </p>

<p>I looked into St. A ALOT, and eventually chose SFS over it. I’ve heard its IR program is absolutely phenomenal, although the desolate location (I’ve also visited) sort of belies its ‘internationalism’ St A attracts alot of international students, esp. for its IR program - however there is a LARGE discrepancy between EU/UK student quality and International student quality. I reckon it’s because the university is short on money, but their requirements for Intl. students is significantly lower than EU/UK students. This could potentially effect the graduate quality in the years to come. I was predicted 43 in the IB (I am an international), as was another EU friend of mine. I got an offer of 35, he didn’t get an offer at all. Although this says little about the program itself, I don’t know how I feel about a school so money-orientated. Another anecdote: A student gets an offer to study History at StA, but realized they admitted him as an International Student. He informed the school of his scottish residency/tax payer status etc. and they immediately rescinded his offer and rejected him. His IB predicted grades were far above the ‘international fee status’ offer StA first gave him.</p>

<p>Regardless, I have many friends at StA who absolutely love the place. After visiting myself - I can see why. The IR program itself there is undoubtedly spectacular, and if they didn’t seem to so blatantly value money over quality, I would have had a much more difficult time deciding between it and Georgetown SFS.</p>

<p>hi there.
my son will be going into university next year. He wants to do IR. We live in Singapore but he is very keen on doing his undergrad in the US . I have just begun to do some research to help him make an informed decision. Would appreciate insight into any of the following queries I have:-

  1. is it better for him to get a law degree first as a general degree and then do a post graduate in IR?
  2. if he were to do an undergraduate program in IR and then onto a graduate in IR what is the most recommended university we can apply for in the US in terms of a good campus life as that would be key for HIS success</p>

<p>^

  1. In the US, law is a 3-year postgraduate professional degree. There is no particular “pre-law” major at the undergraduate level. Students enter law school with a number of different majors, ranging from engineering to philosophy to political science. Law school admission depends more on one’s GPA and LSAT score than on a particular undergraduate major. The usefulness of a law degree for IR depends on his particular area of interest in IR.</p>

<p>Some universities offer dual postgrad degree programs in law and IR. A first professional degree in law (JD or LLB) is usually prerequisite for a specialty professional degree in international law (for legal practice—though as an area of theory and research, international law is also a topic in academic programs in political science subfield of international relations, and as a subfield in professional schools of IR.) If he decides to obtain both a first professional degree in law and a postgraduate degree in IR, there isn’t necessarily a preferred order in which to obtain each of these degrees. </p>

<p>2) Many universities offer a “good campus life”, depending on how you define that. The “fit” between a particular student and a particular university depends on many factors, e.g., size, location (urban, suburban, rural), region/climate, etc. Many of these factors are a matter of personal preferences. Earlier posts in this thread list some of the universities that offer strong programs in IR. I would recommend that you research some of those in terms of curriculum, selectivity, finances, personal preferences, etc.</p>

<p>What the difference between academic careers and policy careers? I’ve applied to colleges for International Relations, and so far have gotten accepted to George Washington, UCLA, UC Berkeley. I am waiting on Georgetown.</p>