Schools that offer Masters in International Relations

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice...

I have been looking at schools that offer a Master's program in International Relations and the two that I keep running across are Salve Regina and Troy State. Are there any other schools that offer this degree with no residency and between these two, which is more highly regarded? Also, what about the international schools that offer this degree, such as the University of Kent, University of London, and UNISA- are these looked at the same way as an American degree would be and what are some of the best schools outside of the US?

Thanks for any help!

 

Not exactly International Relations, but Norwich University offers a M.A. in Diplomacy. There is some residency, but only a week at the end of the program.

 

Fletcher School - Tuffs

http://www.fletcher.tufts.edu/gmap/Default.asp

American Military University

http://www.apus.edu/AMU

Texas A&M/George Bush School of Government & Public Service
*Certificate Program in Advanced International Affairs - Distance Education Option*

http://bush.tamu.edu/programs/caia/admissions/distant.stm

 

I have a couple of thoughts on this topic. The first is that I believe you will find that there is a bigbigbig difference in cost when you compare Salve Regina with Troy State. I couldn't say which is more highly regarded. I think that when you start talking about grad programs you have to compare the programs and not the schools. There may be some organization that rates such programs, similar to the professional accreditation organizations that rate business programs. Second, you've identified several non-US programs. I'm certain there are others. I'd look for them in the Australian schools. These non-US programs may be great programs (or they may not) but in either case, I think you have to resign yourself to the fact that a foreign degree is going to raise some eyebrows. I don't believe that it necessarily means they are less useful but you should be prepared to answer a couple of extra questions in those upcoming job interviews.
Jack

 

TSU offers its IR programs on many military bases, many officers and a few NCOs have this degree in their resume. It is recognized well, at least in military circles. I took four courses (on-base, not DL) before I decided to switch to Education.

AMU looks very interesting, with a lot of variety in thier courses. I would say they are on the rise, especially with RA coming. I bet they ar going after the lucrative military base contracts. U of Phoenix just beat out U of Oklahoma here with a mix of on site and DL. The service is not as good but they undercut OU and won the contract for my bases MBA and M Ed. I wouldn't be surprised if AMU would go after U of Maryland's and TSU big money contract.

I wish AMU would would turn away from the DETC after getting RA and offer a Doctorate in national security studies or a related field...

 

I'm just guessing, but I think AMU/APUS will offer a doctorate program the minute they are allowed. I'd even wager that the program is ready to go now. The state of Virginia granted approval for AMU to enroll students in the Doctor of Military Studies degree in November of 2000.

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4634

To my knowledge the Doctor of Military Studies program never enrolled students. My assumption is that it did not commence due to DETC regulations.

AMU/APUS moved to West Virginia which enabled it to apply for accreditation from the North Central Association.

DETC accreditation has been good for AMU/APUS. AMU's status as a nationally accredited university allowed it to build a substantial student population of mostly military personnel utilizing tuition assistance. When achieved, regional accreditation will make AMU/APUS far more competitive with schools like UMUC and UoP.

 

Now that I'm home and can consult the ol' BG14 I can tell you that it names:
University of Wales-Aberystwyth and
University of Wales-Lampeter (in the Int. Relations category)
Also, it says see Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies
see also Intelligence Studies
This brings us to:
CSUDH
Monash University
Nova Southeastern University
Royal Roads University
University of Bradford
University of New England
University of Pretoria (in the Conflict Resolution category)
followed by
American Military University
Charles Sturt University (in the Intelligence Studies category)
Good luck,
Jack

 

If a AMU/APUS Doctor of Military Studies (D Ms, D Mi?) allowed felexibility within the curriculum (with the many graduate certificates and coursed offered by AMU in national security/history/political science) it would be an attractive DL option. There are few DL terminal degrees outside of education, business and management, and pscyhology. And I bet AMU would find a way to accedpt full VA benifits.

What do AMU grads think? any more good rumors?

 

Don't know anything about Salve Regina...

But Troy State is a well regarded state university that offers their e-learners an education at a cost less then some in-state rates. My wife is taking her MPA from them and it is very inexpensive compared to any other program she looked at, local or online. They operate on an 8-week term so you can take one class a term and complete the 10 class program in 2 years. You could try two classes and complete it in a year, however, some of the classes have been extremely demanding. Her last one required about 5 papers (from 3 to 15 pages each) and assorted other assignments in an 8-week period. Hard to do if you're working full time and a mom at the same time. She seems to be pretty satisfied otherwise with the program. Troy State should be known throughout the federal government as they are big education providers to the US military.

 

Thanks alot for all the info...

I had also wondered about the work load. I am starting my second year of law school and didn't know how intensive the work load would be for an online program. Any thoughts? Anyone do two different programs at the same time?

 

Re: Thanks alot for all the info...

The workload for any legitimately accredited online program will be exactly the same as a classroom-based program.

If you're in law school, I really wouldn't recommend tackling a graduate program on top of that. In my Master's program I took 3 classes a semester, which, in retrospect, I shouldn't have done (my personal & professional lives suffered as a result). Granted I was working full-time, but law school is also a full-time job in and of itself.