best international relation schools

best international relation schools

A Comprehensive Guide to the Best International Relations Schools

1. Introduction to International Relations Education

This section of articles considers all the important things for excellent international relations education, such as traditional education programs, and also some different approaches, including a summer school, interdisciplinary programs, or specific programs. No matter if it is a Ph.D. or Master’s degree, we should provide our readers with full knowledge. And we don’t make a separation of schools located in one geographic location or of the same teaching approach, for it provides readers with few choices. Keep reading for the most comprehensive guide on the internet to select the best International Relations Schools for you.

International relations is always one of the most popular subjects of many highly-ranked universities and colleges. From excellent faculties to wide resources for research, international relations study becomes more and more beneficial to students. However, due to the diversity of international relations, such as issues, methods, coverage, or even the name of the major, different schools may have their own top-ranked programs. What kind of factors can help us decide what kind of schools are the most suitable for us? In the good way of making the best combination of your first interest and the best school, relatively detailed information is the first demand for students who like international relations and who expect to pursue a higher degree in this area.

2. Factors to Consider When Choosing an International Relations School

When evaluating IR programs, use this list of questions as a starting point. What is the program’s specialty or area of special emphasis? How good are the faculty members (reputation, quality of research, etc.)? What is the quality of the student body? What unique opportunities are there for students, such as fellowships, internships, research assistantships, etc.? What is the quality of teaching, including faculty-to-student ratio? Does the school have a record of success, including a number of distinguished alumni? If your plans include earning a Ph.D., how successful are graduates at being accepted into top-ranked Ph.D. programs?

In addition to academic competitiveness, students should consider a variety of factors when choosing among international relations schools. Most importantly, students should decide what is right for them based on career goals, location, and the overall feel of the program. Consider faculty reputation, opportunities to gain real-life experience through research assistantships, student fellowships, and internships, and joint degrees to supplement your knowledge in your area of interest.

3. Top International Relations Schools Worldwide

Another place where you can build a successful career in international relations is the United States. Home to not only one of the most diverse international relations programs in the world but also to many of the world’s greatest experts in the field, the School of International Service at American University is the ideal place for international students to kick-start their careers in international relations. Another great option is Harvard University, which offers two renowned Master’s programs in the area. Aurora University is also fantastic when it comes to international relations. Oxford University Press not only publishes a significant number of journals in international relations but also offers free access to many of its online resources especially useful for students and young professionals from developing nations or economies in transition.

The field of international relations is exceptionally broad, encompassing historical, political, scientific, cultural, economic, and military relationships between different entities, such as countries, nation-states, organizations, and civilizations. Although establishing a career in international relations is a thoroughly challenging process, one of the best ways to help you achieve this goal is by studying in some of the world’s finest schools in the field. Two of the best programs can be found in the United Kingdom at the London School of Economics and at the University of Oxford. All classes in these programs are in English; thus, you could pursue either a Master’s in international relations if you did not study this discipline as an undergraduate or a certificate in order to complement what you already know. The University of Geneva, in Switzerland, also has fantastic programs.

4. Notable Alumni and Research Contributions

The U.S. Naval Postgraduate School’s Department of National Security Affairs is one of the largest departments in the School of International and Defense Studies. Students can pursue an MA in National Security Affairs, where they can concentrate their studies in the regional studies of: Africa, Asia, Border and Homeland Security, Europe, Middle East, Western Hemisphere, and International Security. In addition, the Department prepares and positions officers for senior leadership roles in public and international affairs through the Ph.D. program, which offers three tracks of study: security studies, regional studies, and defense management. Dual-degree programs blend Ph.D. coursework with the MBA/MS in management or MBA/MS in financial management.

The George Washington University (GWU) offers a Master of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) and an MA in International Affairs (2-year track or 1-year track). The Elliott School of International Affairs houses several research centers, institutes, and policy programs such as the Global Gender Policy Program, the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP), the Space Policy Institute, the Sigur Center for Asian Studies, and the Institute for Korean Studies Research.

Alumni of Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs include two United States Presidents, two United States Secretaries of State, a Supreme Court Justice, and three Secretaries of Defense, as well as many members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The School has been associated with 42 Nobel laureates in Economics. The research programs are centered on four broad areas: foreign policy, international relations, and international security; international political economy and development; domestic and international policy; and economics. The School’s campus facility is the Louis A. Simpson International Building. The new building offers a five-floor academic and research center that is double the size of the School’s former quarters under Robertson Hall.

5. Conclusion and Future Trends in International Relations Education

As one of the editors of this guide wrote of this guide’s 2005 predecessor, “During several stages of the production of the guide, I found myself reflecting on its importance as the sort of resource that my colleagues in the profession and I would have liked to have found when we were contemplating graduate studies, preparing for the graduate application process, and embarking upon the coursework and degree requirements that culminated in the master’s and Ph.D. degrees that we were to earn at some of the leading institutions then and now active in the professional education of international relations scholars.” This second edition of the guide revives the subject, and aims to be yet an even better resource for new generations of graduate students about to embark upon their professional studies and futures in international relations. I hope that readers find it helpful.

The higher-education experience is a time defined by distinct choices and decision making. The undergraduate years require one to select a course of study, to satisfy general education requirements, and to prepare for a career or advanced graduate study. The graduate years require a serious self-selection: a choice to master some small area of long-studied content. For the student interested in international relations, however, the most basic decision—the selection of a professional graduate training program—can be a confusing one. This guide was thus put together to provide prospective graduate students insight into the professional international relations education market. It aims to do so from an insider audience, in this case the world’s current leaders and shapers of professional education for international relations.