IR degree or ME studies degree

[talons1025]

My dream goal is to work in counter-terror or foreign policy, but I am having a tough time deciding what Masters to pursue. I absolutely love the Mid east, the language, the culture, etc, so a ME studies degree would make me happier. My concern is, what can I do with it if government work does not work out due to its difficulties getting hired? International relations probably has a lot more opportunities elsewhere than a ME studies degree I would assume. Am I wrong? Anyone have any input?

On a sidenote, I know Arabic at an intermediate level and am thinking of applying to Tel Aviv University in Israel for 2012.

[beefmaster]

Why would you apply to Israel for university if you love the Middle East?

Once you have studied there you will not be free to travel in the region, with a few exceptions.

If I was you I would look into a international relations program in the US or Europe then do a semester abroad at the American University of Beirut or Cairo.

What sort of Arabic do you know intermediately? Fus7a?

[Zahar Berkut]

If you want to do government work, the Middle Eastern Studies degree should be fine. If you're concerned about getting hired (and if you're thinking of working for the American government, they're probably more likely to hire than most companies out there), then your concern should not be the subject of your degree but its prestige and career network. There's a reason tons of people go to the top 5 professional schools for a myriad of careers that only have the vague anchor of "international" connecting all of them.

(Just since you posted in the political science thread, you definitely don't want to apply to a polisci MA program for your interests.)

[talons1025]

Why would you apply to Israel for university if you love the Middle East?

Once you have studied there you will not be free to travel in the region, with a few exceptions.

If I was you I would look into a international relations program in the US or Europe then do a semester abroad at the American University of Beirut or Cairo.

What sort of Arabic do you know intermediately? Fus7a?

Why wouldn't apply to a school in Israel if I love the Middle East? Last I checked, Israel is a big part of the Mid East..

[beefmaster]

Why wouldn't apply to a school in Israel if I love the Middle East? Last I checked, Israel is a big part of the Mid East..

Yes but it means that you can't travel to most middle eastern countries afterwards!!

[Zahar Berkut]

Or at a minimum you won't be able to use the same passport with an Israeli visa or stamp to travel to some places. It will just create some extra difficulties, presuming you are not asked about your education in any possible visa application, and if you are, it's not considered an issue. It could also cause some professional complications later on by having it in your background-- maybe. It's hard for me to say about that one, but it's a possibility worth thinking over.

[beefmaster]

It most certainly will cause problems later on. I know someone who was arrested in the middle of the night in Syria just for writing a dissertation on Israel. Let alone studying in Israel!

[talons1025]

I understand that it would pose problems in relation to travel to other areas of the Middle East considering the conflicts between the Israeli world and the Arab world, but travel is not really my focus point. I just want my masters, come home to the US, and try to land a job in the Dept of State or FBI. Travel would eventually come afterwards, but as of travelling while working on my degree...not likely.