Top Colleges for International Relations

College Search & Selection
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<p>William & Mary does seem to have a quite good IR program, and the Albright quotation about it being the “finest in the nation” is repeated all over the place. BTW, the IR program is an interdisciplinary major, not a department.</p>

<p>Apparently, W & M’s president cited the Albright quote at a fundraiser for the Reves International Center on 11/19/04. The report of W&M’s president citing this quote is found in a news release by W&M’s Office of University Relations. As far as I can determine, Albright did not say this herself at the fundraiser, as the news release does not mention that she was present. [Reiss</a> outlines global concerns at Reves Center fund-raiser | University Relations](<a href=“http://web.wm.edu/news/archive/index.php?id=4079]Reiss”>http://web.wm.edu/news/archive/index.php?id=4079) So, it is not known when or where Albright supposedly made this remark, but it is basically cited in the context of university PR. </p>

<p>From the news release:
"In his introduction of Reiss, College President Timothy J. Sullivan lauded the accomplishments of the Reves Center under the direction of both Reiss and Associate Professor Ann Marie Stock, who is serving as acting director of the center. He called the center’s collective achievements “an amazing success story” and “one of the happiest chapters in the modern history of William and Mary.”</p>

<p>“Today,” Sullivan remarked, “a William and Mary education is unimaginable without an international dimension.” He cited the center’s securing of a chapter of Phi Beta Delta—an international studies honor society—and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s calling the international studies curriculum at William and Mary “perhaps the finest in the nation” as recent proof of the center’s vital role in facilitating student learning in international affairs."</p>

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<p>I think it’s great that William and Mary has a chapter of Phi Beta Delta! Especially since Phi Beta Kappa was founded AT William and Mary! And as I stated earlier, there are more than a few institutions of higher learning at which to gain a robust education in IR. William and Mary happens to be one of them. And that was the topic of the question posed by the original poster.</p>

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<p>Okay–my memory failed me–Albright got her doctorate from Columbia, not Georgetown. It really doesn’t change the point of my post since I listed Columbia as one of the top 5 programs.</p>

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<p>Bonanza…I’m not sure how to interpret some of these comments, esp. yours. The OP asked for good IR school recommendations, not “top 5” (which is an opinion/art not science). I shall sign off on this thread…it seems to have become a bit contentious and that is not the intent of these forums. Best of luck to the OP with her decision. And to all posters, the advice/info on these threads is free. And there is a reason for that! (with the exception of the college/university moderators, of course). Those of us who have information that will assist others should provide it in that spirit, not in a manner that spars with other posters (unless the poster has shared info that is blatantly erroneous).<br>
Have a good day!</p>

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<p>I love how this thread is dictating that a good IR program is based on one alumnus. I am sure all the schools mentioned are great programs. Clearly the OP knows the top ones. But I would never judge a program by their alumni. Especially one individual person. There is so much more that goes into a program. Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Nor would I judge a program by a poster on a forum such as this! Now I REALLY am leaving! LOL</p>