Many colleges now offer international-affairs majors, which may be interdisciplinary programs combining history, political science and languages. These majors are a good start for someone already committed to international work: they provide a general background in international studies and help in finding internships. But, if you are really interested in having a internationally related career, a graduate degree is almost essential. Most international firms and organizations require or at least encourage applicants to obtain a graduate degree. Some will not hire people without one.
Business, Law and Medicine
Many of the banks, financial institutions, consulting organizations and businesses surveyed for this book require or prefer a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) for employment. The MBA is a two-year graduate degree in accounting, finance, microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, computers, marketing, administration and management. It has become a very popular degree in the U.S., and admission to business schools, especially the "top ten," is highly competitive. While many people currently view the MBA as the ticket to the upper echelons of the business world, some analysts predict a glut in the market of MBA-holders, which could affect the degree's value.
Another popular graduate degree is the JD, or law degree. Law school is a three-year program in which graduate students are trained in the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system. Some law schools also offer international and comparative law courses. Getting into one of the top-ten law schools is extremely competitive-but their graduates are assured work, particularly in business-related law. Because of the rapid rise in the number of lawyers, the most prestigious firms generally hire only graduates in the top of their classes and from the best law schools. The law degree has traditionally been a passport to politics, government and business. While it is still useful in these fields, some people consider other degrees more relevant-such as the MBA for business and the MPA for government.
Many internationally oriented nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations provide health care abroad. These organizations hire doctors, nurses and health-care technicians (that is, laboratory technicians, X-ray technicians, and the like). This is a growing field, and technicians' degrees are generally not difficult to get. Getting into a nursing program, either at the undergraduate or graduate level, can be competitive for the top schools but nowhere near as difficult as getting into medical school. An RN degree takes one and a half to two years, depending on summer-school attendance or previous course work. Medical training requires a four-year graduate program, a one-year paid internship and then a residency, which can last from two to six years.
Standardized Tests, Application Procedures
For these three super-competitive fields, business, law and medicine, there are separate standardized tests. Most business schools require the GMATs; law schools insist on the LSATs; and medical schools want the MCATs. Other graduate schools require the GREs, for admission to doctoral and masters programs. Doing well on these tests is crucial.
Information about these tests can be obtained from your undergraduate-school career office or from the graduate school to which you intend to apply. Look into the tests early; you will want time to study, as the tests are only offered a few times a year and can be difficult. You might also consider preparing for the test by taking a practice course. The courses are expensive but, by most accounts, well worth it.
Carefully study the academic requirements of the program that interests you, and do so early. Many master's programs require or strongly encourage students to have taken certain math and economics courses. Some master's courses prefer students who have studied history or political science and/or a foreign language. Many students, including those who are not going directly from undergraduate to graduate school, take night classes to make up the requirements before applying to graduate school. It is easier (and cheaper) to take the courses while still an undergraduate. (Fewer than 50% of students going to graduate school go directly from college.)
Doctorates vs. Masters
Students with a scholarly bent may choose to enroll in PhD programs. There is no doubt that in many areas of international relations a doctoral degree is either extremely useful or required. Liberal arts doctorates in economics, area studies, modern history or political science are useful for international work. There are more people today with such doctorates than there are jobs, especially in teaching, with the possible exception of economics. While the situation may change as older professors retire, students pursuing liberal arts doctorates should be aware that their degrees may be hard to market. On the other hand, doctor (or even master) of engineering, life sciences or physics have not had trouble finding professional jobs.
Those anxious to get out into the working world-as well as avoid a lengthy doctoral dissertation-are often satisfied with a master's degree. Master's programs generally run one to two years with a bachelor degree as prerequisite. MA degrees are offered in most fields, including such internationally related fields as political science, area studies, modern history and languages. In addition, there are two specialized master's programs in international affairs: international relations (Master of International Affairs-MIA) and public policy (Master of Public Affairs or Public Administration-MPA, Master of Public Policy-MPP).
The MIAs and the MAs in international relations tend to take a social science approach to international relations, tend to pay close attention to area studies and are more useful as preparation for doctoral studies than MPAs. Many MA degree holders, however, go directly into the public and private sectors.
Graduate schools that offer public policy programs tend to consider themselves professional schools, the trainers of tomorrow's decisionmakers. Students therefore spend relatively less time studying history and relatively more time learning to create and analyze public programs and policies. MPA/MPP candidates attempt to bring economic, statistical, organizational and political analyses to bear on current issues; many programs require integrated exercises in policy review and creation. The MPA/MPP programs attempt to blend the academic rigor of an MA/MIA program with the practical disciplines of an MBA.
The general distinction between MA/MIA and MPA/MPP programs made above begins to blur once one examines the actual requirements and course offerings of many of the schools. The admissions officers of many MA programs would no doubt bridle at their schools being characterized as "less practical" than the public policy schools. A number of the international relations courses offered by the MPA/MPP programs could just as easily fit into the curricula of their "more academic" counterparts. Finally, certain MIA programs are viewed as "professional" degrees whereas some MPA programs are not very highly regarded in the marketplace. It is imperative to explore the reputation and placement records of prospective graduate programs before signing up.
Joint Degrees, Study Abroad
Below is a list of MIA and MA programs in international relations. It is followed by a list of MPA/MPP programs. We have tried to make the lists complete, and apologize in advance for any inadvertent omissions. Note that the lists do not include master's programs in political science, history or area studies, doctoral programs, international education programs or programs at universities abroad. These are simply too numerous to include.
For the purposes of this essay, a joint-degree program refers to studies leading to two separate degrees. The benefit of pursuing two degrees concurrently is that, at most schools, some courses will be credited to both degrees. Consequently the program can be completed in a shorter time. A joint law and area-studies degree, for example, takes four years. If pursued consecutively, the degrees would require five years. (Some schools offer dual-degree programs, wherein a student pursues two courses of study but receives one degree.) Joint degrees are popular because they allow a student to combine two interests. There is a risk, however, especially with professional degrees, that students will find the requirements for one degree so demanding that they cannot give adequate attention to the other.
Some of the public policy programs listed have domestic concentrations, which we have not indicated. Public policy programs generally take two or three years. A master's in journalism, on the other hand, can usually be completed in a year.
Studying abroad not only increases language skills but provides an understanding of foreign cultures that is not attainable from simply reading and studying about them. Undergraduates interested in international affairs might consider spending a semester or junior year abroad. Many undergraduate institutions now allow students to count credits earned abroad toward their BA degree. Some also provide financial aid for foreign study. Programs for graduate students are less common, but they do exist. Some schools sponsor foreign programs; others may allow their students to participate in outside programs, with arrangements made on a case by case basis.
Most colleges and graduate schools have information about study-abroad programs and can advise students in planning their travel. The Information Center at the Institute of International Education (ME) can also assist students, scholars and teachers in finding opportunities to study or teach abroad. Information is generally not given out over the phone.
Language Training
Students seriously interested in learning a language might consider participating in an intensive summer program, either in the U.S. or abroad. Intensive training is the best way to learn a language, and training abroad in a setting where the language can be used is particularly advantageous. There are two respected summer language programs in the U.S. that deserve mention.
Middlebury College offers an MA in French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish, which can be earned through a series of 12 courses to be taken over several summers. A Master of Modern Languages degree (MML) may be earned by taking an additional 12 courses beyond the MA degree and passing comprehensive written and oral examinations. Middlebury also offers non-degree language programs in Arabic, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. These summer programs are roughly the equivalent of one year of undergraduate study in the language.
The Monterey Institute of International Studies offers programs in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. It also offers a tutorial program, Training for Service Abroad, which enables executives and representatives of American and foreign firms, journalists and students to acquire language proficiency and cross-cultural business skills.
Most universities offer intensive summer programs. Students are encouraged to check with their school and study-abroad offices for information.
