Troy or StMary's U for IR MA

Guys,
I'm trying to decide between these two colleges for a graduate degree in IR!
Can anybody shed some light on the reputation, faculty approachability, and relevance of classes to future application of IR for a doctorate degree.
I'm dubious of Troy because of its heavy marketing to military students, similar to many other tier 3-4 schools but I want to obtain a good master's from an american school that could be mobile enough to allow me study time during my deployment.
Troy has their degree as a Master of Science. I wonder what science would be included in an IR degree as opposed to the customary master's of ARTS from many colleges that I checked.
Thanks all.

 

St. Mary’s is an old (1852) small Catholic San Antonio liberal arts university. Their MA in International Relations with its focus on security policy is their only online degree offering. And in that St. Mary’s isn’t known for non-traditional education; that could be a plus (?). The University’s school of business is AACSB accredited and moreover, the university has its own ABA school of law.

I’m unfamiliar with either St. Mary’s or Troy’s international relations programs; however if it were me, I’d go with St. Mary’s. On-the-other-hand, flexibility during deployments might be another story as regards St. Mary’s vs. Troy.

Some additional international relations online programs you may also want to explore:

Webster University: MA in International Relations
Webster University: Online Programs

Norwich University: MA in Diplomacy
Norwich University Master of Arts in Diplomacy Online

AMU: MA in International Relations and Conflict Resolution
AMU Degree Program: Master of Arts in International Relations and Conflict Resolution

Texas A&M University (George Bush School of Government and Public Service): Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs with an emphasis on Defense Policy and Military Affairs
Bush School of Government and Public Service - Texas A&M University - Certificate in Advanced International Affairs

Northeastern University: Graduate Certificate in Global Studies and International Affairs
Certificate in Global Studies and International Affairs | Northeastern College of Professional Studies

Deakin: MA in International Relations
Master Of Arts (International Relations) - Accredited distance learning & online education

 

Does Salve Regina University Salve Regina University - Learn. Live. Make a Difference still offer the MA in International Relations via distance learning?

 

Yes they do offer the MA in International Relations. I completely forgot about Salve Regina; thanks for your recall.

Salve Regina University - Graduate Studies - International Relations

 

What kind of IR doctoral programs are you looking at? Have you contacted those schools to figure out what types of PhD candidates they go for? Many times, you can get the basic bio information on PhD candidates (academic and work background) from the university and other sources.

I mention this so that you can find out whether the MA programs you looking at are in the same league as the MA degrees current PhD students at your prospective schools hold. You can also compare other things to determine how competitive you are with those students.

 

I haven't researched potential IR PhDs frankly. Now that you mention it, do you have any in mind that you can recommend to kickstart a search?
What confused me about Troy's offering is the categorization as a Master's of Science as opposed to the customary MA.
I read plenty of military officers' resumes that list Troy or Webster as a graduate alma mater and I didn't know if I'd be following the masses or if they provide much of a solid education?