empress727

USC has International Relations:Global Business which will allow me to take business classes at Marshall. That sounds pretty exciting..

But UCB is a great school overall...but I also heard that any major with the word "studies" in it is considered a fluff major. I don't want to be looked down on since business and engineering majors are the top there.

So, how differnt is international studies and international relations...and which school would be better?

LeftistHominid

actually most of our "studies" departments are great.

cenire

if you're interested in international relations, you could look at the Political Economy of Industrial Societies major at berkeley. it's basically int'l relations.

and yes, the "studies" departments at berkeley are amazing, but the thing is, a lot of students in them are indeed looking for an easier time. that said, i don't know if people will necessarily "look down on you" because sometimes, people in those majors are looking for an easy major that will get them a high GPA to get into grad school (law school is probably the most common).

Sambago

You could double major in international studies and business if that's what you're interested in. Does anyone know if this is possible?

empress727

^ that actually sounds like a great idea...but it sounds waaaay too tough. the prerequisite classes for haas are tough enough. add onto that courses of another major that prob won't have classes that fulfill business requirements. ouch!

does anyone know which school would be better for IR? USC's global business part would seem like it would definately help in career prospects in comparison to Cal's international studies...

LeftistHominid

Cal is way better known. Haas would get you better jobs than Marshall. You should just do PEIS

empress727

Of course Haas is better but it's not guaranteed admission. Two of my friends who are intended business majors chose USC Marshall over Berkeley because they didn't want to risk not getting in. I dont' blame them. The prerequisites are competitive.

PEIS sounds great but lacks the business component that USC's IR: GB would offer. sounds like i'm leaning towards SC. uh oh!

business_bear

Haas has a Global Management concentration program:
Undergraduate Program - International Study - Haas School of Business

You can be a PEIS major and take Haas classes. It's really your work experience and coursework that is important, not necessarily the degree.

That being said, the course offering structure at Haas is not conducive to studying abroad and although Berkeley has a lot of international students you don't really interact with them much unless you make an effort.

From what I see, USC Marshall has an in-built International Relations joint degree business program and is very encouraging of not just studying abroad but interning/working abroad. And it being a private school, it will naturally have a large international student population that you will probably have more interactions with.

ultimately boils down to your geographic preference and financial situation.