I’m currently a sophomore trying to decide between these two majors. They are both really similar and that’s why I’m having difficulty deciding. I’m about 80% set on law school (international law or human rights law), but if I change my mind about that I plan on going to grad school and studying something somewhat similar.
I like learning about how countries interact with one another, but I also feel like learning about the public policies of different countries is just as interesting. I have no interest in double majoring because of how similar they are. Could you guys list the pros/cons of majoring in each or simply your opinions?
There will be a few courses that International Relations will require that International Public Policy doesn’t and vice versa. I suggest making the decision on the basis of these courses’ instrumentality in advancing your aspirations.
It won’t make any difference at all for pretty much anything- except how much you enjoy the courses now. Either will get you similar jobs (and your internships will matter much, much, much more in getting those jobs than either major), and either major will get you into any of the grad schools you are looking at. Honestly- go for the one where you can take the more of the classes that are interesting to you.
You can see some different views on the value of an MPP / MPA [url=<a href=“https://mic.com/articles/4870/a-graduate-degree-in-public-policy-is-not-worth-your-time-or-money#.NxsFlZTMn%5Dhere%5B/url”>https://mic.com/articles/4870/a-graduate-degree-in-public-policy-is-not-worth-your-time-or-money#.NxsFlZTMn]here[/url]; [url=<a href=“http://www.governing.com/columns/gov-understanding-value-of-mpa-mpp-degrees.html%5Dhere%5B/url”>http://www.governing.com/columns/gov-understanding-value-of-mpa-mpp-degrees.html]here[/url], [url=<a href=“https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-education-issue-more-students-getting-graduate-degrees/2012/01/26/gIQAGQTvHR_story.html%5Dhere%5B/url”>https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-education-issue-more-students-getting-graduate-degrees/2012/01/26/gIQAGQTvHR_story.html]here[/url] and [url=<a href=“https://www.themuse.com/advice/should-you-get-a-masters-in-public-policy%5Dhere%5B/url”>https://www.themuse.com/advice/should-you-get-a-masters-in-public-policy]here[/url].