swmass

I posted this on the existing IR thread, but it seems that the thread has become supersaturated and a bit chaotic.
I guess we can start fresh with this.


Copied and Pasted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
These rankings were published in the March/April 2007 Issue of Foreign Policy Magazine.
I think these maybe the most valid/credible rankings so far.

Top 20 Undergraduate Programs

1. Harvard University 48%
2. Princeton University 46%
3. Stanford University 30%
4. Georgetown University 28%
5. Columbia University 28%
6. Yale University 23%
7. University of Chicago 21%
8. University of California-Berkeley 12%
9. Dartmouth College 11%
10. George Washington University 10%
11. American University 10%
12. University of Michigan 9%
13. Tufts University 8%
14. Swarthmore College 8%
14. University of California-San Diego 8%
16. Cornell University 6%
17. Brown University 6%
18. Williams College 5%
19. Duke University 5%
19. Johns Hopkins University 5%

Top 20 Master's Programs

1. Georgetown University 65%
2. Johns Hopkins University 64%
3. Harvard University 46%
4. Tufts University 42%
5. Columbia University 39%
6. Princeton University 38%
7. George Washington University 28%
8. American University 19%
9. University of Denver 9%
10. Syracuse University 7%
11. University of California-San Diego 5%
12. University of Chicago 4%
12. Yale University 4%
14. Stanford University 4%
15. University of Pittsburgh 3%
16. University of California-Berkeley 2%
17. University of Maryland 2%
18. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2%
19. Monterey Institute of International Studies 2%
20. University of Southern California 2%

Top 20 PhD Programs

1. Harvard University 65%
2. Princeton University 52%
3. Columbia University 45%
4. Standford University 45%
5. University of Chicago 30%
6. Yale University 26%
7. University of California-Berkeley 25%
8. University of Michigan 22%
9. University of California-San Diego 20%
10. Cornell University 12%
11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 11%
12. Johns Hopkins University 10%
13. Georgetown University 8%
14. Duke University 8%
15. Ohio State University 8%
16. New York University 7%
17. University of Minnesota 5%
18. University of California-Los Angeles 5%
19. Tufts University 4%
20. University of Rochester 4%


I guess all the IR power houses (Ivies, JHU, GWU, American, Georgetown, Tufts, UC's) are represented, as expected.

Notice that some of Top undergraduate programs are not represented in graduate programs. It is because either that they completely lack graduate programs in IR or have a very small PhD programs.

Enjoy

lolabelle

We already discussed the odd quality of the survey that produced these results -- many of these schools listed, especially in the undergraduate category -- don't even have IR programs (i.e. Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, etc.).

Also, comparing public administration programs like Harvard's Kennedy grad school with policy programs like Tufts' Fletcher school is ridiculous.

brwah

columbia university should be on top

anton1212

Columbia is outstanding - but in terms of other professors perception of undergraduate programs (which is how this survey was done) Harvard is going to win for almost any field.

LakeWashington

Oh yeah? Well how many senior government ministers/officials from abroad attended Harvard rather than Columbia? And don't forget the pride of Columbia, Professor S. Breziewski.

juventus10

yea but columbia doesnt even have IR for undergrad

LakeWashington

Yes, Juventus10. But Columbia does offer great flexibility in crafting an independent major. A highly motivated undergraduate student can take advantage of this and will receive much encouragement from faculty advisors (History, Pol Sci, Foreign Languages depts.) in the area of International Affairs.

lolabelle

A plan-of-study major is not an opportunity unique to Columbia. It exists at nearly EVERY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.

If you have a problem with admitting that this list is flawed for listing schools that DO NOT have International Relations DEPARTMENTS, then let's just end the conversation here, because obviously we're going to go in circles.

WorldbandDX

Where on earth did those rankings come from? Tufts - 13? JHU, Tufts, and G-town are the top 3 for IR, hands down.

lolabelle

Worldband - Foreign Affairs just ask professors of IR, mostly at the grad level for a ranking. That's why schools that don't even have IR udnergrad programs are listed -- because grad professors have no idea what's going on. It's a severly flawed ranking. And I agree that JHU, Gtown, and Tufts have the best undergrad programs.

LakeWashington

Lolabelle, have a margarita and simmer down. Yes, many schools state in THEIR CATALOG that students can craft an 'independent' major. But few schools offer the required academic and mentoring support that Columbia does for students whom choose this option. And the fact of the matter is that some employers and graduate schools don't look very kindly upon an independent major unless the applicant's candidacy is back-up with substantive evidence of special (extra effort) achievement, which Columbia's advising helps nourish. If you want or need graduate training, then the applicant should look into I.A. School at Columbia. Wasn't this thread about undergraduate study?

lolabelle

Yes, it IS about undergrad study. Why do you think we're wrong in stating that this survey is flawed in its including schools that DO NOT OFFER UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS IN I.R.? It's illogical to the rest of us!

Welsh0913

Hopkins at 19 for undergrad really surprises me.....


From what I've heard previously, Hopkins has one of the top programs in the country. International Studies (IR) is actually the most popular major at Johns Hopkins, even moreso than the biology, chemistry, etc, health/science major that JHU is famous for.

lolabelle

^ ^ ^ Yeah, same at Tufts and Georgetown!

Porsche 06

This is exactly why I always tell people to not pay too much attention to a school's individual department. At the end of the day, the schools with the best reputations will always be perceived to be the best picks. In this case, schools without IR departments, HP&C, are considered better for IR than schools with known programs, Tufts, JHU, etc.