Hello everyone,
I'm brand new to these forums but I have been exploring looking for some answers to what master's programs are the best for entering into federal service in the IC or in other internationally focused agencies. This is a field that I am highly motivated to join, as are countless others I'm sure. I graduated this past December with a degree in history from a very small no-name state school in Oklahoma. After doing a little soul searching I decided on the path of International affairs about 9 months ago just before I graduated. Because I decided on this area pretty late in my undergrad career and because money for international experience was nonexistent in my situation I have very little time abroad. Although I am headed to Mexico City for a couple of months this fall to intern with a US agency there.
I am looking at a few programs to get my master's degree so that I can improve my chances of finding employment in this field. The main program that I have looked at so far is the MPIA program at TAMU's Bush School of Government. From what I can find on these forums there are a range of opinions about this program, ranging from fairly positive to that it is a bottom feeder school. I wanted to ask about it here to see if I could find some consensus opinions about it. Is it a good program for someone in their early 20s looking to break into the international affairs field?
I am not looking to go on to higher academic programs after I finish my master's. I simply just want to find the best way to break into the field in Washington with the Federal government. Any thoughts or opinions you could offer about how to do this or on the Bush school would be greatly appreciated. There seem to be some highly knowledgeable posters on here and I would love to read their thoughts. Thanks in advance.
