Masters in Conflict Resolution or IR? Georgetown and SAIS

[clove75]

Hey all, I have noticed that for Georgetown a masters in conflict resolution is not contained within SFS, while at SAIS conflict resolution is.

Two Questions:

1. Does anyone have anything to say one way or another about the Georgetown Conflict Resolution Masters Program? Is it considered vastly inferior to SFS?

2. What about the Conflict Resolution concentration within SAIS - Strong program?

Thanks!

[Dan Rust]

I noticed this as well after being admitted to GU's program, unfortunately under the impression that it was under SFS.  I then thought the exact same question.  

[Augustine864]

Any thoughts on this?  I applied to GU Security Studies and am waiting to hear from them and I was accepted to SAIS Bologna.  For SAIS I elected to go for Conflict Resolution but whether or not I was given entry to that part of the program was not said in my acceptance letter, though many others indicated that their choices were either confirmed or denied.

[PrattIAFF]

Hey all, I have noticed that for Georgetown a masters in conflict resolution is not contained within SFS, while at SAIS conflict resolution is.

Two Questions:

1. Does anyone have anything to say one way or another about the Georgetown Conflict Resolution Masters Program? Is it considered vastly inferior to SFS?

2. What about the Conflict Resolution concentration within SAIS - Strong program?

Thanks!

 

I can speak to this somewhat... not from personal experience or anything. 

 

I personally know two people who went through the conflict resolution program at GU... and I've known several MSFS-ers as well...

 

The Conflict Resolution Program (CR) is housed in Georgetown's school of government, while THe SFS is its own free-standing school...

 

MSFS students can take courses from the school of Gov't, and vice-versa.... so if you're admitted to the CR program, you would technically  be able to take MSFS courses...MSFS students have priority at SFS, so if a SFS class fills, you wouldn't be able to enroll.

 

What sets the CR program apart is its flexibility.... about half of the courses are electives... so you can build an interdisciplinary program across multiple depts and within the dept of government... that's an attractive option.

 

As far as ranking, I don't have a clue how CR programs are ranked. I do know that American and GMU are better-known CR programs.... But SAIS is a dual-concentration degree... half of the required courses are in economics.. So if you don't particularly want an economics focus, you would be better placed in a CR program like GU or an IR program with a CR concentration like many of the other schools (GW, Tufts, Columbia) offer.

 

My two cents...