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IR at UVA or Minnesota


iroquois

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Haven't seen much discussion about studying IR at UVA or Minnesota. They are my only options left. Considering faculty, funding, placement, and environment, where would you go?

My interest is IR in general but leaning more toward IPE than security. Intend to pursue an academic career. Posters mentioned John Freeman at Minnesota but also the bad weather. Funding from UVA tends to be limited. Threads discussing the IR sub-discipline at UVA are scarce.

I've already posted this question at the poliscijobrumor, but I would like to seek some advice here as well. Thanks!

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To add a bit of info on UVA (which should not be taken as an endorsement of one program over the other): David Leblang will be starting at UVA this fall if he is not there already. If you're an IPE type, that is a big addition to the department, which has made some strong young hires recently (to name two relevant for your purposes: Pandya, Gingerich), and has some strong CPE folks (Schwartz, for example) and some strong comparativists (Medina, Waldner).

I agree with plisar about funding, but would add that it is true for both programs.

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To add a bit of info on UVA (which should not be taken as an endorsement of one program over the other): David Leblang will be starting at UVA this fall if he is not there already. If you're an IPE type, that is a big addition to the department, which has made some strong young hires recently (to name two relevant for your purposes: Pandya, Gingerich), and has some strong CPE folks (Schwartz, for example) and some strong comparativists (Medina, Waldner).

Thanks for the information! Anticipating the hirings, do you see UVA

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It depends on your specific interests, of course, but the impression I get is that Minnesota is perceived to be a stronger overall IR program than UVA. However, Minnesota has something of a focus on constructivism with Bud Duvall and Michael Barnett (they also produced Alexander Wendt). They're also strong on human rights, global governance, etc. For straight IPE though, Freeman is something of a lone soul there. For what it's worth (which isn't terribly much), the William and Mary study that created a ranking for IR programs had Minnesota at 15 or 16 and UVA wasn't on it at all (the study only ranked to 25). UVA, obviously, is a great program though, so I don't think you can go wrong.

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My read on UVA is that they're particularly strong in the security end of IR. As for funding, that is tricky. They guarantee funding for years 2-4, but that's all. You may or may not get funding for the first year, and I'm not sure what happens after year four.

They say that they can offer some sort of financial aid to 70% of their first-year students, but this can be read in two ways.

One: "Wow, 70% is a high percentage."

Two: Most of the students who aren't offered funding for the first year decline the offer. Of those who accept (i.e. those do not decline the offer for lack of funding) 70% are actually getting something in the first year.

I think that interpretation #2 gives you a fuller picture of what's really going on. But then again, this says nothing about the quality of the program at UVA (or about the quality or funding of the program at Minnesota).

Just my two cents.

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I am in my last year of undergrad at UVA in the Politics dept.

The people who have been stating that the overall quality of the department is very strong - are quite correct. We have some superstar professors and some rising names: John Owen, Waldner, Mel Leffler, Dale Copeland, etc.. What is even better is that a lot of the "top" professors are incredibly nice. I have never felt that I couldn't work with any of them, and they certainly did not shun undergrads or grads for their own research. In fact, its pretty common to see large groups of professors and students engaged in intellectual conversations outside of the classroom.

I happen to love the department, and know many grad students within it. They have found it a pretty good place to work and study. Also, I believe most first year grads do get TA-ships of some kind.

If you want any info on the department - don't hesitate to pm me.

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