IR or SS

[Doubleshott]

Hey all,

A similar idea was mentioned on another thread from a few months back, but I didn't see an exact (or at least satisfactory) answer to the question. I am extremely interested in a number of the SS programs on offer, in particular Georgetown, Columbia and GWU, however I am a tad wary of pigeonholing myself for the future. I am at a crossroads in my decision making at the minute, I can either choose the more numerous but less specific option of a solid IR MA or I can elect to go with my heart and proceed with a SS MA. My fear is that the particular area of IR/govt affairs I want to go into may be too specialised and I may come to regret it a few years from now. Essentially, I would like to know: does studying too specifically for security limit any lateral movement into other areas of politics or government? Did anybody else have any similar fears or doubts? Can anybody in the field confirm or allay my worries?

Cheers and Thanks

Edited April 1, 2011 by Doubleshott

[Soccergo9]

Excellent question! I have been wondering almost the same exact thing (deciding between Georgetown SSP and Fletcher), any insight on IR vs. SS would be great.

Hey all,

A similar idea was mentioned on another thread from a few months back, but I didn't see an exact (or at least satisfactory) answer to the question. I am extremely interested in a number of the SS programs on offer, in particular Georgetown, Columbia and GWU, however I am a tad wary of pigeonholing myself for the future. I am at a crossroads in my decision making at the minute, I can either choose the more numerous but less specific option of a solid IR MA or I can elect to go with my heart and proceed with a SS MA. My fear is that the particular area of IR/govt affairs I want to go into may be too specialised and I may come to regret it a few years from now. Essentially, I would like to know: does studying too specifically for security limit any lateral movement into other areas of politics or government? Did anybody else have any similar fears or doubts? Can anybody in the field confirm or allay my worries?

Cheers and Thanks

[flyers29]

I think there are pros and cons depending on one's personal situation. The conventional wisdom was that it was better to show specialty in something. As someone currently having trouble finding a job in the field right now, however, I'm thinking that the outside world has a better idea of what "international relations" is versus "security studies." I really can't give you a solid answer, though fwiw I don't think the courses you can take as part of a general IR program will be vastly different than the ones you can take as part of a more focused security program.

[Doubleshott]

Shameless bump.

[mkt123]

bump

[carpecc]

I really know little about the security field, but the best advice would be with alumni from the programs you're looking at and colleagues in the field. Most people here are looking for admissions advice, not a lot of graduates offering advice..

With that aside, I'd say go for a program where the name of the degree is not security but IR or MA with a security specialization. Did you closely at the classes and curriculum requirements? At SAIS and SIPA for example your certificate is an MA in International Relations/Affairs. It doesn't even say your specialization, so you wouldn't be worse for wear if you wanted to keep options open. The key is that the degree offers some flexibility and functional classes (ex. policy making, accounting, budgeting, management, maybe regional classes) that can be applied to a wide range of careers. SIPA, SAIS and Fletcher are like this, I'm sure others as well.

[MYRNIST]

With that aside, I'd say go for a program where the name of the degree is not security but IR or MA with a security specialization. Did you closely at the classes and curriculum requirements? At SAIS and SIPA for example your certificate is an MA in International Relations/Affairs. It doesn't even say your specialization, so you wouldn't be worse for wear if you wanted to keep options open. The key is that the degree offers some flexibility and functional classes (ex. policy making, accounting, budgeting, management, maybe regional classes) that can be applied to a wide range of careers. SIPA, SAIS and Fletcher are like this, I'm sure others as well.

Not that going to SAIS or Fletcher is ever a bad thing, but if you want to work in security and get the chance to attend Security Studies at Georgetown or GW at a reasonable cost, that is probably a better option. The top security studies programs are absolute feeder programs for the DoD, 3 letter agencies, State, etc. The curriculum is more specialized, your professors all worked in the field, there are recruiters everywhere, a massive alumni network, special hiring programs, etc. Look at the employment statistics for both programs - the vast majority of graduates are walking out of there directly into relevant security positions. The generalization you cite as a strength of SAIS/SIPA/etc. could also be viewed as a weakness, since specialization is the name of the professional game - they are great degrees no doubt, but they are not uniquely focused on getting you a career in security, ala Georgetown or GW.

Honestly, I would say over-specializing yourself in IR is a way, way smaller concern than under-specializing. There are a lot of people walking around with generalist IR degrees who, for all their education, can't articulate a specific professional skill set of actual value in the "real world." If you're going to drop 80k+ on a degree, you better be damn sure you're getting a well-paying career out of it, and you seriously up your chances at that by having an immediately recognizable specialization backed up by a strong university's brand.

Edited January 30, 2012 by MYRNIST

[jhpigott]

MYRNIST - I've applied to both GU's SSP and GWU's Security Policy Studies M.A. programs. Any thoughts on American University's US Foreign Policy M.A. (which I've also applied to) as it relates to a specialized degree in security studies and prospects for employment within the public security field (State, Defense, 3 letter agencies) compared to GU and GWU's programs.

I get the impression from my research of AU's USFP program that it is not quite as "specialized" as the other two but that it's location provides similar networking and employment opportunties.

[MYRNIST]

The issue is that American is not generally perceived as a top flight IR school. Georgetown is considered by a lot of people as the best professional IR grad program in the US, and GW is not far off it. So you're not just getting a specialized SS program, you're getting the prestige, brand, alumni network, etc. that go along with an elite institution. American is undoubtedly a good school, but no one would claim it's in the first or even second tier of IR programs.

I don't know your personal situation, but you might face a trade-off between going to a "better" school without a SS program and DC location (Tufts and SIPA would be good examples), or going to less-prestigious American and getting all the benefits (networking, internships, etc.) that go along with being in DC. Obviously, only you can decide which is a better choice for yourself.

Don't forget about Pitt, Maryland, and Missouri State, all of which have specialized SS programs.

Edited January 30, 2012 by MYRNIST

[jhpigott]

The issue is that American is not generally perceived as a top flight IR school. Georgetown is considered by a lot of people as the best professional IR grad program in the US, and GW is not far off it. So you're not just getting a specialized SS program, you're getting the prestige, brand, alumni network, etc. that go along with an elite institution. American is undoubtedly a good school, but no one would claim its in the first or even second tier of IR programs.

I don't know your personal situation, but you might face a trade-off between going to a "better" school without a SS program and DC location (Tufts and SIPA would be good examples), or going to less-prestigious American and getting all the benefits (networking, internships, etc.) that go along with being in DC. Obviously, only you can decide which is a better choice for yourself.

Don't forget about Pitt, Maryland, and Missouri State, all of which have specialized SS programs.

I think American and FP Magazine would take issue with that characterization given the recent rankings But I do understand the gist of what you are saying and was thinking along the same lines myself. I look at American as my back-up to GT and GWU.

I do like the thought of studying and living in DC. I'm looking for programs that are going to maximize the likelihood of obtaining employment within the security establishment (whether that's within the IC, State, Defense, on the Hill in some kind of advisory capacity or with a think tank) and I believe being in DC is going to provide opportunities that may be otherwise difficult to come by at some of the other programs you mentioned, despite their prestige, simply due to location.

This is going to be a 2nd career of sorts for me. I've been practicing law for 8 years, am 34 years old with a wife and young daughter. Quickly running out of time (IMO) to switch gears and want to make sure wherever I end up getting admitted I will be positioned to network quickly and efficiently with the community within which I ultimately seek to be employed. Location, location, location as the real estate folks like to say.

Edited January 30, 2012 by jhpigott