Middle Eastern or South Asian Studies -> Govt Service

[David_R]

Hello,

 

I posted this elsewhere but realized that it makes more sense on this forum.

 

I will be applying in a few months for graduate programs in Middle Eastern Studies or possibly South Asian studies. Both areas interest me, although my interest is in current politics and issues- not the history as much. Security issues, counterterrorism, recent political changes, and the problems in Iraq and Syria interest me far more than the Ottoman Empire or the Safavid Dynasty. It's hard to tell which of these programs is more focused on contemporary issues.

 

My goal is government service either in the Department of State or some government agency. I believe a Master of ME Studies or South Asian Studies will help. My background is in international development and I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the late 1990s after college. I speak Afghan Persian (Dari) fairly well from two years of development work in Afghanistan for an NGO and would like to enter a graduate program where I can continue to study Persian. Money will be an issue so it doesn't make sense for me to apply to Georgetown, GW, AU, etc. since the tuition will likely be too high for me. I have done some research but am reaching out to those on here for some opinions. These are not in any particular order.

 

1) University of Chicago's M.A. of Middle Eastern Studies. Is this oriented toward contemporary political issues in the Middle East? Since my interest is in counterterrorism, international security, and contemporary politics, I'm not sure this is the best fit. It seems to have a solid reputation and I have heard that Chicago is a nice town. They teach Persian (and six quarters are required for the M.A.) so that part seems like a good fit. However, does it have a good reputation among government agencies in DC? Are graduates heading into government service from here?

 

2) University of Washington's MA in International Studies. South Asian Studies concentration. Since they include Afghanistan under South Asia, I noticed that Persian is included as a "South Asian" language. Apparently I could focus on South Asian studies and still study Persian. However, the South Asian courses seemed more focused on history and culture than current issues. The Middle East Studies course list wasn't available on their webpage. The program doesn't seem focused on contemporary security issues or anything like that.

 

3) University of Wisconsin's MA in Languages and Cultures of Asia (LCA). Out of all the universities on here, this is the only one with fifth and sixth semester level Persian. The language component of this program is obviously very strong, requiring six semesters of one Asian language or four semesters of two different Asian languages. There is some sort of American Institute of Pakistan Studies there, but my impression is that it is in name only.

 

4) University of Virginia's MA in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies. This seems like a great fit because it combines the two areas and they also have a Language and Literature Concentration that would allow me to focus even more on Persian studies. However, I know nothing about this program's reputation and don't recall anyone on grad cafe ever mentioning it before. Any opinions?

 

I'm going to be older than most of my fellow students by 10+ years since this is a mid-career decision, however my preference is to focus on Middle Eastern or South Asian studies instead of going for a Master of Public Policy or Public Administration since Persian language studies are important to me. Will my age work against me in terms of admissions? Or will I be more likely to obtain financial aid since I have a great amount of relevant experience?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

David

[Authorization]

I think your experience would be to your benefit, and I say this as someone with a significant amount of education and little/no work experience who is pursuing a similar degree with the intention of a possible career in government service. That experience will probably give you a leg up in finding a position of the type you are describing. 

[tomasdavis]

The FLAS scholarship is available for several languages, Persian might be one, and if so then consider the higher-priced programs (check which ones work with the FLAS scholarship, its only available at certain schools).  Im also applying to grad program after many years out of school, with the plan to emphasize my work and personal experience as an asset to the programs I apply to, I think you have the same opportunity.

Edited August 18, 2014 by tomasdavis