<p>I’m a senior and have been accepted to all three schools for fall 2011. I’m OOS for all and received a half tuition scholarship from UConn. I applied undecided to all three but am leaning towards majoring in international relations. UMD has been my top choice and still is then Pitt next then UConn. So if anyone has any ideas or opinions or attend any of these schools please help. Btw I have visited all of the schools already.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you go on the websites and compare the academic offerings for your intended major. The half scholarship at U Conn would be tempting but only if they offer the international studies major you are interested in. I believe that U MD with its close proximity to Washington DC would likely offer many international programs and languages and offer the most opportunity for internships. Pitt offers a variety of international studies majors and certificates and seems to offer some decent study abroad oppurtunities.</p>
<p>Thank you for your help pamom. When I went to visit UConn the tour guide said something about being in the business school to do international relations never thought it would be there. Does anyone else have any advice or opinions on my choices.</p>
<p>that sounds a little odd if I were you I’d check their website to see whether they offer the major you want</p>
<p>Honestly, looking into this, I think Pitt has the best program in international relations.</p>
<p>In Foreign Policy’s 2009 rankings, none of those schools were ranked in the top undergrad and PhD Programs report, neither of the three schools were ranked (listed only to the top 20). However, Pitt was ranked #17 for its masters program. In another study, Pitt was ranked [24th</a> in the world (pg. 66)](<a href=“http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/projects/trip/Final_Trip_Report_2009.pdf]24th”>http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/projects/trip/Final_Trip_Report_2009.pdf). Maryland and UConn also weren’t ranked in the later one.</p>
<p>Really you could argue Pitt’s international studies are, collectively, in the top 20 in the nation because only 16 other schools have as many different Dept. of Education designated National Resource Centers (Asian, Latin American, Eastern Europe/Russia, Europe), in addition to Pitt being one of only 10 schools with a EU Center of excellence (EU sponsored) as well as having one of the first Confucius Institutes (Chinese government sponsored) that also just was named as one of the top ones this past year. Neither Maryland nor UConn have any designated National Resource Centers or an EU Center. </p>
<p>Something to be aware of for Pitt’s undergrad program is that the international studies are coordinated through the [University</a> Center for International Studies (UCIS)](<a href=“http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/main/]University”>Pitt to the World | The World to Pitt | University Center for International Studies). UCIS basically oversees curricula in specific topics (like business or whatever) with existing departments/schools in those specialties. For whatever area a student wants to delve into, internationally, you have to combine the strength of that program with the strength of that area of UCIS, which is very strong in its areas of expertise. Pitt also has a large offering of different foreign language programs, more than most, and a large variety of [study</a> abroad programs<a href=“and%20scholarships,%20like%20the%20%5Burl=http://www.pitt.edu/~natrooms/pages/allnr1.html]Nationality%20Room[/url]%20scholarship%20program”>/url</a> including a program that has multiple destination in foreign study.</p>
<p>Pitt’s graduate level programs run by the [url=<a href=“http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/]Graduate”>http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/]Graduate</a> School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)](<a href=“http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/]study”>http://www.abroad.pitt.edu/). It is extremely well respected, and one of the seven founding schools of the APSIA. Like many top programs, they have a [physical</a> location in Washington, D.C](<a href=“http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/StudentLife/WashingtonDCConnection/tabid/110/Default.aspx]physical”>http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/StudentLife/WashingtonDCConnection/tabid/110/Default.aspx). What I don’t know is how GSPIA may interact with undergrads. I would imagine there would be opportunities for interaction and research, but that question would need to be addressed specifically to individuals at GSPIA.</p>
<p>wgmcp–I was doing some research recently on international relations at Pitt. I did not see an undergraduate major in international relations (which I think is probably explained in your links). Pitt offers many certificate programs, which I know the links above explain. Part of the OP’s decision might hinge on location. UMCP is close to D.C. Pitt is in a city. And UConn is in the middle of nowhere. Of course, I am a HUGE Pitt fan and with essentially the same $$$ deal, my daughter picked Pitt over UMCP.</p>
<p>Thank you both very much for your insight. Anyone else?</p>
<p>International Studies and International Relations overlap but are different areas of study. At Pitt, for undergraduates, International Relations is a major field in the department of Political Science. A Political Science major could choose to focus on International Relations by making that his or her major field: <a href=“http://www.pitt.edu/~politics/PS.pdf[/url]”>http://www.pitt.edu/~politics/PS.pdf</a></p>
<p>The Honors College at Pitt offers a BPhil in International and Area Studies:</p>
<p>[Bachelor</a> of Philosophy in International and Area Studies (BPhil IAS)](<a href=“http://www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/bphil/bphil-ias.html]Bachelor”>http://www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/bphil/bphil-ias.html)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/bphil.html[/url]”>http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/bphil.html</a></p>
<p>Thank you so much so Pitt seems to be winning this lol so since I’m undecided and if I decide international relations is not my thing which college would provide me with the best education overall if I were to explore other majors.</p>
<p>The overall education at all three would be good, and really not different enough to make a huge difference. Each has strengths in different majors.</p>
<p>Ok thank you anyone else have an opinion on which one of the three I should choose.</p>
<p>The BPhil that quakerstake references requires an additional major that overlaps on not more than two courses, so to me it appears to be a certificate and not a major (though the requirements are rigid).</p>
<p>It’s a major (8 approved classes in the selected track). A second major is also required. </p>
<p>For strictly international relations, one would do Poli Sci at Pitt.</p>