Which college is good for International Relations?

bclintonk
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:59:59 +0000

Take a look at the colleges that offer a specific IR major, and you’ll quickly see that in almost all cases that “major” is really just a combination of some poli sci courses, some econ courses, a foreign language requirement, perhaps a few history courses, and possibly a geographical “area” concentration requirement. That’s a course of study that can be replicated at any top college or university. An undergrad IR degree confers no real advantage in the job market, in internships, or in admissions to graduate programs in IR (or in any other field) over a BA degree in poli sci, econ, history, or area studies, provided your course selection is appropriately focused on international affairs. Bottom line, a BA in political science from a school like Harvard, Princeton, or Yale will likely get you farther than an IR degree from any school in the land that offers one. Get into the best school you can, and work from there.