American University of Beirut M.A. in Political Studies

[mwg4]

I graduated undergrad last May with a B.A. in Comparative Government and Politics. I am currently living in the Middle East and am considering grad school in the near future, and am curious as to how the program at the American University of Beirut (M.A. in Political Studies) compares to top programs in the U.S. How does it look on the job market? Is it respected academically? I can't seem to find much info online.

I graduated from a top-10 U.S. private University with a 3.8 GPA and got a 1580 on the GRE (790 V, 790 Q, 6 W). However, because all I am doing in the Middle East is teaching English at an international school (to sate my wanderlust and learn some Arabic), if I end up going to grad school back in the U.S. I will get some professional experience under my belt first. I am only bringing this up because I feel that with some experience I could be a fairly strong candidate for a good program, so I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by entering a vastly inferior program here in the Middle East. However, I really love being in the region so close to the political action as it unfolds, hence my consideration of AUB.

Thanks.

[zeinas75]

A degree from the Middle East is still a degree form the Middle East even though AUB is prestigious in the area. It depends on what you want to do in the future. If you plan to continue into academia, and work in a Western country, I wouldn't recommend it, but then again you could still potentially get into a good PhD program in the U.S/Europe or Canada. AUB is great if you plan to stay and work in the Middle East specially the gulf, but a Western degree is your best bet if you decide otherwise.

Goodluck

[something]

I graduated undergrad last May with a B.A. in Comparative Government and Politics. I am currently living in the Middle East and am considering grad school in the near future, and am curious as to how the program at the American University of Beirut (M.A. in Political Studies) compares to top programs in the U.S. How does it look on the job market? Is it respected academically? I can't seem to find much info online.

I graduated from a top-10 U.S. private University with a 3.8 GPA and got a 1580 on the GRE (790 V, 790 Q, 6 W). However, because all I am doing in the Middle East is teaching English at an international school (to sate my wanderlust and learn some Arabic), if I end up going to grad school back in the U.S. I will get some professional experience under my belt first. I am only bringing this up because I feel that with some experience I could be a fairly strong candidate for a good program, so I don't want to shoot myself in the foot by entering a vastly inferior program here in the Middle East. However, I really love being in the region so close to the political action as it unfolds, hence my consideration of AUB.

Thanks.

I think it depends on what you're looking to specialize in. Are you interested in a Middle East politics/ policy (or a comparative PhD that includes the Middle East as an area of study)? AUB is very well regarded in the Middle East, but it also has an excellent reputation among academics in the Middle East / Near Eastern field. Not uncommon to find scholars with BAs or MAs from AUB, with a PhD from a top ivy or top public US school. Having said that, most of these come from History depts with a focus on the Mid East.

AUB isn't well known among the general public in the US so you it could go two ways. It might spark some interest or confusion on your resume. For those in the know, I think it's a great addition. I have a friend who's doing the MA you're describing at AUB after doing his undergrad at a top Canadian school and he's loving it. Then again, his academic interests are in the Middle East. Hope that helps a bit.

[gravityflyer]

As someone who spent several years with the State Department I can tell you that AUB is very well regarded. Keep in mind this is a professional opinion, not academic. Although known in government/policy circles, many outside the USG may not be familiar with it.

On the other hand, there is AUC. Not only is it very well regarded professionally, it also has a solid academic reputation. In fact, the former dean of Columbia's SIPA now serves as its provost.

If I had my choice I'd go with AUB.

[curiousgeorge84]

I don't know what you want to go into but I went to an ivy undergrad and did my M.A. at AUC and I just got into a PhD program as a comparativist focusing on the Middle East. If you are applying to a PhD program and want to focus on the Middle East, an advisor focusing on the region will have more respect for a student who has spent time and studied there, not just read books about it.

[Amani]

I'm currently at AUB as visiting student and last semester i took several grad courses offered by the politics department. They were really great and aub is a fantastic university with a beautiful campus and beirut is my favorite city anyway. The grad students (several from the us or canada) were really happy with the program, however, some of the undergrads told me that they would prefer to study in the us or uk.

I think if you want to focus on the middle east, aub is one of the best options.