Thoughts on international relations major

[Anonymous]

I'm about to turn 30. I majored in International Studies (double major in Spanish, minor in Geography) and then got my Master's in Political Science. I studied IR because of all the reasons one typically does - I was interested in it and I wanted to save the world. I now have a very successful career that has basically nothing to do with IR (though it's Government-related), and if I could go back, I probably would have done an MBA instead given my career path, I think IR was beneficial in a lot of ways. It teaches critical thinking and writing skills in a way that many majors don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need IR majors now more than ever -in diplomacy, defense, international development, foreign policy, global health etc. Good luck to your DC!

No. I spent 30 yrs in defense. I'm a double major in engineering with military service and an MBA. Multiple tours abroad and a foreign language. That's what you'll find in defense, at least in the exec ranks.

[Anonymous]

I think it is in the same category as Communications, with all that implies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need IR majors now more than ever -in diplomacy, defense, international development, foreign policy, global health etc. Good luck to your DC!

Should be fluent in at least two languages by the time he graduates.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting to study but doesn't really give you a basis for entering the work force. You inevitably need another subject or graduate school. I've worked in international institutions for almost 20 years. You need a core subject like economics, finance, statistics, history or languages.

[Anonymous]

Almost all IR type careers require/prefer people with IR grad degrees, and an IR grad degree doesn't require an IR undergrad degree. He's better off doing something like econ/stats/finance, something that can be applied to IR work as a technical skill.

[Anonymous]

It really depends. IR at a top school is an excellent major, especially if coupled with serious language study and economics.

[Anonymous]

op here-thank you for your thoughts! He loves economics so that is a viable option. To the person that mentioned GIS-that is right up his alley. I looked it up and sent him a link and he seemed interested,and least he replied "looks cool" so more than I usually get . Really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

I would do rither history or economics.

[Anonymous]

The only person I knew who picked a college and started as an IR major switched to engineering between their freshman and sophomore years.

They said the education part was nothing like they thought it was going to be despite having spent two summers interning for someone in IR.

My suggestion, OP, is to make sure whichever school DS attends is both large enough and isn't so expensive that DS can't change his mind.

[Anonymous]

The best way to have a career in IR is to:

- Go to an excellent school for IR (Georgetown, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, etc.)

- Learn a strategically important language (Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Urdu, etc.)

- Travel extensively in the regions corresponding to the languages above (Russia, Middle East, Asia, etc.)

- Keep a clean personal record (little to no drug use, keep current on debt payments)

- Consider an MA. Not required, but it helps.

Then he'll be well-positioned for jobs in international development (WB, IMF) or the intel community (CIA and NSA especially).

If he gets those jobs (esp the IC ones) he won't have to do the unpaid internships people were talking about. Internships at those places pay very well ($40-50K salary rate for a summer) and almost always lead to a full-time offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best way to have a career in IR is to:

- Go to an excellent school for IR (Georgetown, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, etc.)

- Learn a strategically important language (Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Urdu, etc.)

- Travel extensively in the regions corresponding to the languages above (Russia, Middle East, Asia, etc.)

- Keep a clean personal record (little to no drug use, keep current on debt payments)

- Consider an MA. Not required, but it helps.

Then he'll be well-positioned for jobs in international development (WB, IMF) or the intel community (CIA and NSA especially).

If he gets those jobs (esp the IC ones) he won't have to do the unpaid internships people were talking about. Internships at those places pay very well ($40-50K salary rate for a summer) and almost always lead to a full-time offer.

And if kid cannot get into top school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op here-thank you for your thoughts! He loves economics so that is a viable option. To the person that mentioned GIS-that is right up his alley. I looked it up and sent him a link and he seemed interested,and least he replied "looks cool" so more than I usually get . Really appreciate it!

I strongly encourage him to reach out to people currently working in whatever field he is interested in and ask for information interviews. Find out how people doing what he wants to do got there.

I also strongly encourage serious language study. Speaking the language(s) of the area you are interested in matters, both in terms of study and getting jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best way to have a career in IR is to:

- Go to an excellent school for IR (Georgetown, Tufts, Johns Hopkins, etc.)

- Learn a strategically important language (Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Urdu, etc.)

- Travel extensively in the regions corresponding to the languages above (Russia, Middle East, Asia, etc.)

- Keep a clean personal record (little to no drug use, keep current on debt payments)

- Consider an MA. Not required, but it helps.

Then he'll be well-positioned for jobs in international development (WB, IMF) or the intel community (CIA and NSA especially).

If he gets those jobs (esp the IC ones) he won't have to do the unpaid internships people were talking about. Internships at those places pay very well ($40-50K salary rate for a summer) and almost always lead to a full-time offer.

And if kid cannot get into top school?

Not pp, but I would say don’t do it. I’ve hired a lot of people in DC and undergrad IR majors from the top schools are a dime a dozen. An undergrad degree from a lesser school is not useful. As others have said, major in Economics/finance, do well, and get into a good graduate program.