Is Studying International Relations Worth It? (Truth From an IR Graduate)
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- Опубліковано 24 тра 2024
- Hello, future IR grads :) In this video, I share a bit of my experience as well as the wonderful benefits of studying International Relations (IR)!
In summary, studying IR can help you:
🌍 Gain a Deeper Understanding of The World
Studying IR can help you gain a deeper understanding of complex global issues that transcend borders. Through IR, I've dived deep into pressing global issues-from security to human rights. In this interconnected age, understanding these multifaceted challenges feels so crucial.
🔍 Sharpen your Skills and Stand Out in Any Career!
My journey in IR wasn't just about theory. It honed my critical thinking, sharpened my analytical edge, and made me a research whiz. These skills have made me feel confident to stand out in any job setting.
💼 Explore Endless Career Opportunities!
An IR degree will open doors to a vast array of possibilities and careers. From diplomacy to working with local community organizations (or international ones), sharing knowledge as an academic, helping shape public opinion through journalism or influencing policies through public policy.
🌐 Embrace Cultural Competency and Thrive in a Diverse World!
Diving into IR, I got to immerse myself in diverse cultures and perspectives. This journey has been invaluable, teaching me to navigate and appreciate the mosaic of our global society. This has been my most cherished takeaway from my studies.
💥 Be a Catalyst for Change and Make a Meaningful Impact!
Whether your passion lies in tackling climate change, championing human rights, or addressing geopolitical conflicts, your IR education equips you to be a catalyst for transformative change.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out, and I'll be sure to do my best to answer them! ❤️
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - intro
01:46 - time & money
03:10 - transferable skills
04:11 - the value of cultural sensitivity
06:11 - career opportunities
07:00 - summary
Music:
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Tags:
#CollegeDegrees #CollegeMajors #Degrees #Majors #CareersInInternationalRelations #CareersInPolitics #InternationalRelations #InternationalRelationsDegree #InternationalRelationsMajor #MasterOfInternationalRelations #BachelorOfInternationalRelations #WhatYouCanDoWithAnInternationalRelationsDegree #GettingAJobAfterIR #ProsAndConsOfInternationalRelationsMajor #ShouldIMajorInInternationalRelations
Thanks for watching! If you have any questions about IR and job opportunities in the field, feel free to leave them in the comment section below and I'll do my best to help!
What are the best IR jobs in Europe?
As an IR graduate, I have to say that we have to study a lot more than just purely politics like everyone else thinks. When we look at the relations between countries, there are many different angles to consider, be it politics, economics, culture, ideologies, psychology, philosophy etc. The IR major, and Political Science as well, for me, is truly a great place for people who have a voracious mind, want nothing but broaden their horizons, and try to make sense of how the world works. There are rules, theories, assumptions, mind games etc., and that's what makes me partial to it.
Well said, and I couldn’t agree more!
Hi, how would you suggest I study for classes. It seems no matter how I bang my head against the wall and read all the chapters, I still don’t catch up or meet what (some) of my professors want.
I’m assuming history plays a big part as well ?
@@ankfarsanalex213 Absolutely yes, and geography as well. I love both of them!
I was nervous at first to hear your answer...but really good refection on all the different aspects.
Hello, James! Thanks a lot. I am currently preparing for my undergraduate in IR major. I was scared about this subject. But now I feel confidence again as I really love global issues. Hope that I can do my best in this field. Thanks again to make it clear.
I’m so happy you visited my country. Sending you lots of love from Ghana 🇬🇭 ❤
I really want to pursue this course and that’s what led me here.
Thank you so much for this!
It was such a memorable experience. Amazing food and kind people 😺🙏
Hey James, I enjoyed watching your video. I like the slow yet steady pacing of your narrative, and I resonated with many facets of your experience, like "thinking about a variety of things" and "I am happy when I am working with others". I am so glad to know that IR gives you access to those kinds of jobs.
Hey there, I really appreciate your comment. Thank you.
Really loved this video! Please make more content on IR. I’m taking it next year but there isn’t much content on it in YT.
Hey! Thanks so much for that-it means a lot. What kind of videos do you have in mind??
That was a great video...very informative! I loved your clips from Ghana! ❤✌️
MERCI MAMA
Nice video keep the good work, loved the hair and vest combo.
Hey! Thanks I really appreciate it :D. hair is short now though haha.
Hi Clark! Wonderful insights that I really appreciated as I'm pursing a majors in Political Science and IR. I would really like to hear from you the recommended textbooks and sources especially for the theoretical part in the 'approaches to study IR' section. Thanks!
Hey! Thanks for your kind comment :) Congrats on starting your IR studies! So as for textbooks, they will usually be assigned by your school/course itself. That being said, regarding your class "approaches to IR", I would take a look at three (IR) theories: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism. As well, there are three levels of analysis (individual, national, and international levels). Personally, I found tons of UA-cam videos on these subjects to help :)
@@jclarkelister Thanks a ton man!
@navneeth where are you studying
Hi James! This video was very helpful to me. I am a freshman and majoring in Cybersecurity, but recently I have been pretty bored withe the cirriculum. Sometimes it is just straight up uninteresting. I was wondering if you would recommend International Relations to someone who really wants to travel the world and have understanding of it. I am not sure what I want to do but I want to help and possibly change the world. Thank you!
It's so helpful, Your video helps me know more about IR, which is the major i'm going to study in the future. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences ❤
Thank you so much for your kind message. I’m glad I was able to help in some way! Good luck with your future studies!! 🌎🌍🌏
This was very helpful🙈 I start international studies in a month and I’m scared. It’s getting real now and I’m terrified to regret picking it. Everyone says it’s not the world to change majors but I don’t want to feel like I wasted time😅
Congrats! It’s an exciting nervous, though?! I felt the same way, but honestly I couldn’t be more happy! Before, I planned to go into something more specialized. However, specialization has a high chance of becoming irrelevant due to technological innovation (AI etc), but the world on the other hand will always need fixing! (Sad, but true).
Something my professor told me was that every time he teaches an IR class, he says “this is a very good year to be studying IR” - he’s been teaching for over 20 years and ends up saying that every year! Reason being, there is always something going on in our crazy world!
I feel the skills you learn in such a degree (analytical, qualitative, theoretical; and all the different facets, being economics or anthropology, gives you such a well rounded skill set that is transferable across multiple industries.
Anyways, bonne chance! 🌎❤️
Thank you so much , it was really informative
Thank you!
I just finished my master's in International Relations. It was one of the worst decisions I have ever made. I found it challenging and vague, and I have cried a lot. 😢
thank you for this video-I could relate to a lot what you mentioned! I’m currently in my last year of undergrad majoring in IR (and minoring in german) and i’ve been stuck between looking for careers post-grad or applying to grad schools. although i’ve applied to countless internships, I unfortunately haven’t had any luck, so I’m leaning towards the latter. I enjoyed studying abroad in Europe so much that i’m considering going to grad school in Germany, but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do. I’m especially interested in US-East Asia and EU-Asian relations, but would you think going to germany could be worth it? I know there is no definitive answer and I apologize for how long this is, but I would appreciate your input 🙏
Hey! No worries, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I think we’ve all been there. I know how hard it is to get your foot in the door-I’m actually in a very similar position myself.
In my opinion with the Information you mentioned, I think the best thing to do is to keep applying for an internship and just focus on graduating. Since you havnt graduated yet, there’s really no point to stress about what to do after because it’s still far off! (But graduation does come quick).
If you still have no luck after graduating, then I feel considering grad school can be a great option if you enjoyed studying in Europe and especially because of your German minor. I’m not sure if you’re fluent in German but this can also be advantageous because you will be able to practise the language, and it’s always good to have international experience! And to be honest, A LOT of the more “international” related jobs, say like the UN, will always require a masters. This is also the case if you wish to progress your career in international relations related fields!
Lastly, I would personally choose to go the post grad route if I had the financial ability to do so. Because I love learning and school is awesome and also because in most cases you will need a masters regardless!!
Hope this helped a bit! Best of luck.
See if you can do something with Science Po Paris they have an asian campus in the city of Le Havre (2h30 drive north of Paris in Normandy)
Im going to starp my Ms in IR and this video helps alot Thanks
Hey! I loved your video, may I please ask a question? While studying it can we still do other things as dance classes etc? Does it take your whole day to study it?
Thank you very much. It will ultimately depend on your school. I would recommend calling them or connect with a grad from the program! But in my school, I was able to take options in any field, such as dance :-)
great video! thank you
Thank you so much!
Hey James, I am studying romance languages right now at the University of Stuttgart (Germany). After my BA I would like to study IR as a master program. I've checked some universities on Google and I would really enjoy studying there. Unfortunately I've seen, that at some universities you need to get at least a B- in each course to succeed it. Is that normal for IR and is that difficult to get? I know you said, that you got a lot of A's but I don't know if I can get that. My second question is, how are the assessments normally? Do you have to write difficult exams and if, how do they look? Or are there more essays, presentations, summaries, etc?
I would be very happy to hear from you and thanks for the nice video!
Julian
Hey! Thanks for taking the time to reach out. Romance languages sounds like a very fascinating major, and that’s great to hear you’re considering studying IR for your masters! Personally, I don’t have my masters yet, so I’m not exactly sure about the grading. I do think a B- average on the grading scale for Canada at least is considered average, or rather a minimum average needed to apply to many masters programs. I would make sure to check how Germany’s grades transfer over. I believe the European grading system is much more challenging than in Canada-not exactly sure about Germany though. And don’t worry, you don’t need to get A’s, even though I know you could! At the end what matters is that you are learning and more importantly that you enjoy learning about it!
(PS it was more like A- after many Bs😅)
Hi James! This was a really insightful video, and it helped me a ton, Thanks a lot for it. However, my question is if you could help me in differentiating between IR and IS? I'm in a jam regarding that. If you do have any information about that, do tell me. Thanks again for the video!!
🥹🥹 Thank you so much! And that is a great question! From my understand, IR focusses more on the economic and political (and military) side of things, while IS (international studies yes?) is more interdisciplinary and broad, incorporating classes about cultural communication, anthropology as well as the other IR components. Personally, I took this approach while studying IR because I loved studying about other cultures and the anthropological side of things instead of just economics / politics. I hope this helped and please do let me know what you decide!!
Hey james! i am planning for (online )masters in international relation from foreign universities could you provide a video of roadmap how to move forward for it query from india
Thank you so much for this video , I am interested in IR degree
Thank you very much for your comment. Good luck with your studies! 💡
Ty so much 🎉
Hi James! Thank you for this video, do you think International Relations is a employable degree? I just wonder how emplorers think when they see a international relations degree versus a business one. I'm interested in Journalism and writing mainly and have always wanted to travel and help the world, so this seems like the perfect degree. I also heard that it teaches skills in business, marketing, public speaking and/or economics, is this true? if so, it fits my needs perfectly.
TRUE! You learn so much about economics, business, and so much more. Because journalism requires a broad understanding of everything in the world, I actually think an IR degree will be more beneficial for you. Plus, you have to write A LOT in IR. This will greatly improve your writing, research, and critical thinking skills. At least my friends that went into business, they didn’t have to write many papers.
Go into IR if you want to study the world, go into business if you want to go into business 😛(also you can work in business with an IR degree)!
Hi James, so I am a second year students and not moderated (not specialized) yet and for now I am doing Human Rights and International Law and many people scare me from this degree and I started doubting my whole life. There is another major which is Political-science, economics and social thought, I do not like economics but there is not a lot of courses about economics in this major, also I was thinking about minoring in Urban and spatial practices because of the research aspects it will open to me, even though I am also scared not to minor in digital media communication. Any advice?
Hey :) I totally understand - I also switched majors myself to IR. However if you enjoy what you’re studying, I would suggest to stick with it unless you know you will be better of switching. If you don’t enjoy economics then I would not recommend you specialize in it, although I do suggest to take some economics courses as they’re very valuable to the field of IR. Don’t be intimidated by other people. Just do YOU!
And digital media communication sounds like a super cool minor! I would do that myself! Digital media is so important in our current world and will be the medium of communication for years to come, so I think it is absolutely relevant to the field of IR and human rights in general.
Just a thought but maybe you could look into how digital media is used for human rights purposes, as it has been used as a platform for change many times!
Good luck and don’t give up!
@@jclarkelister Thank you so much for replying. I have only two motives for the urban and spatial practices which is that I am gonna receive a huge push from my professor like (abroad research opportunities) and my interest in the environment. Do you think they are good reasons to take it over media?
Hi I’m in Australia and was wondering if there are and what are the differences between doing a whole degree in ir vs just a major as I’m looking at doing a bachelor of art at unsw major in ir and media but am not sure
Hi! From my understanding, majoring in IR would be the same as completing your degree in IR. Your major is what you choose to specialize in during your studies. It is totally possible to have two majors, in which case I think your time extends due to more classes you will have to take to fulfill both of their requirements. Sorry if I misunderstood your question!
I was searching through youtube related to IR graduates and IR career/job opportunity and ended up in this video. I did my IR Bachelor degree back then in July and I'm still pretty unemployed until now. I'm from Indonesia and its kind of hard to find a job with IR degree here even an internship in the government field is also lacking. And my question related to this is would you suggest taking the next degree so that more boarder job opportunity will be easier to spot on? Thank u so much excuse for the long words 🙏🙏
Hey! I totally understand how challenging it can be finding work. A masters degree can definitely help, but I recommend you try to find work experience first. Keep trying and changing things up until you land that position!
@@jclarkelisteryes thank u for ur reply! Wishing the best for u as well ❤
Hi James☺️ hope you’re doing well. I’m currently studying business administration in Germany and maybe will start a minor in international economics and development. I would love to do my Masters in IR but I’m afraid that I don’t get the chance to do it. Does a Master require a Bachelor in IR?
Thank you so much in advance ☺️
Hey! That sounds very cool! Germany is well known for their amazing education! I loved it there 🇩🇪 As to whether you need a bachelors in IR to pursue a masters in IR, I would say generally, no, you don’t need to have a bachelors in IR. However, I would say that having a relevant major that you can somehow tie to the program would be helpful for your application. Regardless, I wouldn’t worry because business administration, or anything business related is still relevant. Especially with a minor in international development, which is what I studied so I’m biased to say go for that!! Honestly, IR is so broad really any major could tie into it 😅 Best of luck!
@@jclarkelister thank you very much!!!! This is really helpful and I’m more motivated now to finish my studies and start a master in IR🙏🏼✨
Hy james i have done my BS ( IR) degre from Pakistan and yes afcourse i am a citizen of Pakistan and next i want to adopt Political science for MS is it good for my future or i should adopt IR for MS please give me an advice.
Hey! Congrats on your graduation. Whether I’m not you want to do a masters in poli sci or IR will be up to you. Often most places just look to see if you have a masters, and not necessarily what it’s in specifically (given that it’s still relevant to the job). Both IR and poli sci are broad enough to be great additions to your experience! Just don’t forget about work experience, which is the most important! Good luck!
I have a question
Can I become a history teacher or historian if I study International Relations?
I love History so much but in my city there are no history degrees to study, only Bachelor of IR and I think this might be related to History.
Thanks in advance
That’s a great question! I believe this will depend on where you are located. In Canada, yes, it is possible. Teaching will require a PHD or for you to be enrolled in a PDH program, in which case this should be something to do with history. Undergrad doesn’t matter as much! Also, there’s a lot of history in IR - it’s all history, actually!
@jclarkelister Thank you very much!
One more question,
What kind of history courses did you took as an IR major?
I mean, did you learn about ancient history, medieval?
Beacuse many people that I asked told me that a BA in IR has a lot of history lessons and many were taught courses about the Peloponnesian War, Punic wars, etc.
I'll study this soon
Woohooo!
Wishing you best for you,an I have a question about IR, Recently,I did bachelor in international relations, but now I want to take admission in Canada in master programs which subject name that I further pursue my study will be beneficial for me as a specialization,I confuse please guide me, and also mentioned what scope of IR in Canada.Thanks.
Hey! Specializations will be different at all schools. Ultimately you want to take focus on the one you enjoy the most! In Canada, it doesn’t really matter your specialization as long as it’s a relevant degree to the field of IR!
James, do you know if, having graduated from IR, we can join the military? Like air force.
Not too sure as I’m not familiar with the airforce, and the application process would be different from country to country-but I wouldn’t see why not! At least in Canada, I don’t think you even need a degree. I would be more concerned with other aspects that might impact your ability to join, like height, mental health, eyesight etc. Sorry I couldn’t be much help!
The answer yes to be honest having a degree is better...not needed but better you can go the officer route....and make waaaaaay more money go in as a lieutenant as opposed to a private lol
Is it advantageous to have studied some extra course like foreign language for a student taking IR am from Kenya
YES!!! The more languages, the better!!
Hi
I am from India and I have already done my masters in Social work from India. Now I am planning to take masters in IR from UK. Is there any good job opportunities in UK after masters in IR. Your insights will be highly appreciable and helpful for me.
Hey! Congrats!! I would recommend you check with the supervisors in your program about any internship opportunities. There will be opportunities in the UK for sure! However I’m from Canada so I don’t have any specific organizations in mind, but I know the UK is a great choice to take your masters :)
What is the job market for a BA IR graduate from Hungarian University in particularly Europe for an Asian?
Hi Ahmed! I’m actually in Hungary right now :) Budapest especially has TONS of international jobs, including many UN headquarters like the FAO and ILO! Europe in general is home to numerous international organizations throughout! Just make sure you know French and English! As for Asian, I’m not so sure, but outside of international orgs there’s plenty of not for profit work and NGO’s out there to choose from!
@@jclarkelister What a coincidence, are you currently studying there or are attending a seminar or something? What I understand is that you are trying to say that Europe has few opportunities for Non-EU graduates apart from Non-Profit Organizations?
What are the chances of getting a full time job like after doing MS in IR?
Not necessarily. There are PLENTY of opportunities both within the EU and outside, regardless of where you went to school. Jobs are in international groups, non-profits, and more. But it's competitive, so keep applying always and consistently look fir opportunities online. You can use LinkedIn, company websites etc. They will never discriminate based on where you got your education, at least I hope!
PS, A master's degree can really help you stand out. Don't give up!
@@jclarkelister Woa! thanks a lot for your insightful information.
By the way, I have just completed my Intermediate and am planning to pursue BA IR from Hungary🇭🇺, just weighing on the possibility and diversity of this wonderful career.
Thanking you again 🌹
My pleasure!! I’m happy to hear I’ve helped a bit! It’s awesome to hear you’re pursuing this path. Our world needs more people like you!
Hey brother, I need help. Currently doing my masters in IR but I need to know the basics. I didn't do it as my first degree. How can you help me, please?
Maybe I should make a video on IR basics? 😅
After completing my graduation in IR from Bangladesh, are there any job opportunities in Canada? Is biochem better than IR?
There are lots of job opportunities and Canada and all over. The best thing about IR is you can work almost anywhere as it is so ‘broad’. Biochem is a very different field from IR, so it’s ultimately up to you which route you decide to take.
Good preparation for a career as a Barista.
😂😂 well we do love our coffee
Hello .. I'm currently pursuing masters in IR . So can you please give me some suggestions on what should i do next?
Hello! congrats on your masters :) it will depend one what you would like to do! My advice would be to apply to all the jobs you find interesting and see where you get accepted - it kind of makes the choice for you that way! Let’s call it… meaningful drifting 😄
Hello James! Thanks for the video! I wanted just to say something more about the way that I feel about IR. I want to choose this as my career path but I have seen multiple videos and read various comments and to say the truth some comments discouraged me. But after watching this video I understood that if I choose a specialization like being an ambassador for example it will be easier to work on this field. Please correct me if I am wrong. At least I want to know if at the end of the day I am going to find a job in my dream career. Thanks from heart♥️
Don’t let other comments or videos discourage you. IR is an excellent and relevant degree with many opportunities. Many people I know working in high level positions have a background in IR. You will be able to work in various fields and roles, including an ambassador, politician, and various leadership levels in the profit and NFP industries - what’s most important is building « career capital »!
@@jclarkelister Thanks James! This was really helpful♥️
I'm about to apply in the university to do my degree in studying international relations. But I'm scared.
It’s normal to be scared. Try your best to embrace it and take as much from it as you can. Meet as many people as you can and experience as much as you can!
Hello James great insight can I study lR and I become a Counter Terrorism Expert
Of course! That’s a super interesting concentration!
Hey bruh i am watching from India it's 2024 i wanna pursue ir but I can't find any scope here so can i pursue ir degree abroad ....?
Yes! I have a friend from India that did his undergrad in India and masters abroad :-) he plans to go and work back in India in public service
@@jclarkelister got it thank you ✨💐
Are there many job opportunities for IR graduates??
Absolutely! I plan to make a video on this :)
@@jclarkelisterwould love to see this
❤
♥️♥️
❤️✅🏁I have no education in international relationship course, But now too interested, hence the reason I make Universe friendship Group#Admin 🕊️Ⓜ️
🙏🙏
Richard Rapport, is that you?
Hahahaha I take that as a compliment !
god bless you
🙏
After my master's degree in IR in Pakistan,can I work in USA in any field???
Not sure, I’m Canadian 😸🇨🇦
@@jclarkelister ohh it's ok😄
Horrible advice. Most of us have to eat and Western IR departments are horrible. You guys couldn’t predict that sanctioning Russia would ruining European economies 😂
I can tell you a rich dude “I didn’t study get a job”.
Thats true, all schools will have some form of bias. That's why it's beneficial to study abroad as well. Also I wish I was a 'rich dude' so I could then pay off my student loans 😃