Anyone with an IR Degree?

[bmy78]

Hello,

I've been thinking about going back to school to get a Master's in International Relations / Affairs. I was just wondering what types of jobs are out there with a graduate degree in IR? I'm interested in U.S. foreign policy and am thinking about working for the government in some fashion as an analyst or whatnot, but I'm interested in other avenues a degree in IR could take me. Anyone out there with similar experiences?

[wordsmith]

My friend, who was our foreign exchange student my senior year of high school, just got his PhD in IR, like, last week. He's got a fellowship at the United Nations this summer. But I don't know what mere mortals do.

[phuong]

I graduated in Intl Law, since I wanted to get into IR but also wanted a cushion in case things didn't turn out as planned.
Some of the possibilities:
- government - not just the mainstream foreign affairs, different governmental bodies cooperate internationally in their fields
- para-governmental agencies
- intl. organizations (WTO, UN,...), arbitrational bodies
- various large intl NGOs, like Red Cross, Human Rights Watch...
A lot of people end up in completely different fields but that's another story.
Networking is seriously everything, since a lot of people are trying to break in and a foot in the door is worth gold. Distinct yourself from others and work you way into career from the beginning of school and you should be fine.

[Patchwork]

I didn't take an IR degree, but I do know someone who took an IR master's at Johns Hopkins (which is supposed to have a pretty good program for IR). She now teaches grade school social studies. I don't know whether this is something she wants to do, feels obligated to do, or has to do because it's what was available and/or it's what she found. I really hope it's the first of the three.

[wordsmith]

Lots of people who work for the State Department as Foreign Service Officers have their degrees in IR.

[uscuba2]

Lots of people who work for the State Department as Foreign Service Officers have their degrees in IR.



I have been thinking about the same thing as you.
wordsmith is right. alot of state dept employees have a degree in IR. You need it to pass their test just about. I passed the written but failed the verbal. :cry:

[wordsmith]

You're ahead of me. I got a flat tire on the way to the written exam. Too bad it's only given once a year.

[phuong]

How hard is it to land such jobs in the US? Here it's virtually impossible without connections or being on a MFA scholarship. But on the other hand I never applied since the pay is worse than my current temp pay and almost all of the people I know who work there are show-off incompetents.

[wordsmith]

All of 'em, or ones with the State Dept.?

The State Dept. is EXTREMELY stringent in their admissions testing. Most people fail several times before getting in, and they only do testing once a year.

[phuong]

I meant State department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and associated agencies and the like.

At least they test the people for their abilities. Most of the countries around here I know employ people on connections/politics/nepotism basis - that's why it's such a mess.

[wordsmith]

This breaks down the complexity a little. It's a pretty involved process:

http://careers.state.gov/officer/join/index.html

[Taza Tikha]

What's your undergrad in? If you're interested in stuff like the State Dept, IR degrees are a dime a dozen. You might put yourself in a better position if you have a specialization in another social science like history, anthropology, or regional studies w/language. Granted that would require additional years while MIA's are quick and easy.

I would not recommend going to grad school if you don't know exactly what you want to do afterwards. I'm not saying you aren't allowed to go with the flow once you get started and discover new options, but in general I think it's a bad idea to say, hmmm this looks interesting so I'll spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get a masters in it even though I'm not sure what I'd be able to do with it.

That's what college is for. :mad:

[istartedyoung]

I'm going to apologize ahead of time for my minor outburst here.. im a little irritated that someone said IR degrees are a dime a dozen. Most of the decent programs are 2 years and at very good schools.. Georgetown, American, GW, U of Denver, Tufts, Seton Hall, U of Chicago..Etc. Within IR degrees you can specialize theyre not all just generalized. Some programs make u have two specializations functional and area specialties (this is where your language skill would come in) some schools functional specialties are national security, foreign policy, etc. There are also programs which are based mostly on foreign policy ( look at moneterrey in California) Some Masters of Public Policy or Public Admin have specialties in Foreign policy as well. If you are worried about getting a job an internship would be a good start. There is a book which I own published by Georgetown U. Press called Careers in Inernational Affairs. Theres a ton of good info in there including some advice on breaking in to the various industries. From what I have read (Im looking in to these degrees/programs myself) places to get experience for foreign policy stuff are various institutes such as CATO or something like it.. why not do a web search and look at the employment announcements and the requirements to help you decide on you graduate program.. *crossing my fingers for both of us* good luck

[Bugsey34]

I think what Taza was saying was that if you're going to apply to the State Dept. IR degrees will be a dime a dozen, which I think is true. A ton of people at my school graduated with IR degrees (though we called it International Studies), and went on to apply to the State Dept.

[uscuba2]

All of 'em, or ones with the State Dept.?

The State Dept. is EXTREMELY stringent in their admissions testing. Most people fail several times before getting in, and they only do testing once a year.


The US state dept has been called the hardest test in the world. Basically, that is true since there is only about 250 questions that cover just about anything in the world. It's alot of general knowledge. I have taken it 4 times and passed once. Everyone I've talked to was is about in the same boat.

The state dept used to offer it twice a a yr up till 2004 or 2003.

[uscuba2]

I think what Taza was saying was that if you're going to apply to the State Dept. IR degrees will be a dime a dozen, which I think is true. A ton of people at my school graduated with IR degrees (though we called it International Studies), and went on to apply to the State Dept.


That's b/c you learn alot of what you need to know on test in your course work. w/o a doubt anthropology, or regional studies w/language skills gives you a higher weight but you still have to pass both rounds of testing.

[Taza Tikha]

To respond to the three posts above me:

Yes, I meant that when you try to break into certain organizations, you'll find that IR degrees will be a dime dozen, not that they're a dime a dozen in the general population.

The Foreign Service Exam is tricky but not because it tests specialized knowledge. It's like Jeopardy! It doesn't matter how much you know, it just matters whether you know the select questions they ask, which are in the reach of any reasonably well-educated person. And there's a written section that tests your creative thinking skills and your general background but not your knowledge of current US policy.

You don't have to have any formal training in IR to do well on the exam. I passed the written test on my first try with only general high school history and government. I took a grand totoal of one IR elective in college, and found it to be way heavy on theory and not so practical for the exam itself. Read the Economist and the newspaper on a daily basis and you'll absorb the kind of info that's useful.

If you want a degree in IR, do it because you want that degree, not because you think it'll give you a leg up over any other degree.

[wordsmith]

yeah, he was a Fulbright scholar, too. Sickening, huh?

[wordsmith]

The Foreign Service Exam is tricky but not because it tests specialized knowledge. It's like Jeopardy! It doesn't matter how much you know, it just matters whether you know the select questions they ask, which are in the reach of any reasonably well-educated person. And there's a written section that tests your creative thinking skills and your general background but not your knowledge of current US policy.

Right, I think it's challenging because it's so very broad. When studying for it, I felt like reading a brief history of the world was in order. I'm also sure that my negligible background in economics would have been my Achilles heel.

[Taza Tikha]

Right, I think it's challenging because it's so very broad. When studying for it, I felt like reading a brief history of the world was in order. I'm also sure that my negligible background in economics would have been my Achilles heel.

There was economics? My inability to draw a supply and demand curve must have caused me to block out the memory of anything economics-related on the exam. Egads.

[wordsmith]

I don't know...I got a flat tire on the way to the test site. But all the study prep stuff highlighted economics.

[uscuba2]

There was economics? My inability to draw a supply and demand curve must have caused me to block out the memory of anything economics-related on the exam. Egads.


LoL, usually there is econ but only one or 2 questions.

[bmy78]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the interesting advice. Given that becoming a FSO is extremely competitive and that I'd probably end up placed in Iraq I don't think I would want to pursue that route. Though I am interested in finding out what other jobs an IR degree would bring. Analyst positions? Working at the UN in some fashion? Though I imagine those positions are also very competitive.

[uscuba2]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the interesting advice. Given that becoming a FSO is extremely competitive and that I'd probably end up placed in Iraq I don't think I would want to pursue that route. Though I am interested in finding out what other jobs an IR degree would bring. Analyst positions? Working at the UN in some fashion? Though I imagine those positions are also very competitive.


Ahh, no actually, I do not think you be placed in a Iraq. Unlike the armed forces you usually DO have a say as to where you are placed. you pick your top three and are placed on those BUt if there is no need at any of those then you go where they send you. regardless do not plan on going to the UK or other easy countries as they are sunset tours. Call me crazy but I rather do a tour in Iraq than the UK. Just give me my danger pay ( which you do get) and chance at history ( although like most state dept ee's you'll never see my name in a book) and you can color me happy.

[bmy78]

Okay, okay, I was exaggerating. But my point is, I'm not interested in becoming a FSO because I'd prefer not to move out of the country (or really the Northeast, for that matter). I suppose employment prospects are best in the DC area, though do you think an IR degree would be useful in the NYC metro area? I'm interested in US foreign policy, though I'm not sure what type of positions I could get with such a concentration.

And thanks again, everyone, for your input.