Hi!! New here....

I want to ask for some opinions please. I am looking into Masters programs for once I finish my Bachelor's. I am a completely online student, and I am torn between 2 colleges.

Which do you think would be the better way to go:

Norwich University's MA in Diplomacy or Webster University's MA in International Relations.

I am hoping to go on and get a job with the UN as either a Diplomat, working for UNICEF, an Ambassador, or something involving foreign diplomacy and conflict resolution. I do not have any military affiliation. Here are the courses for each. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!!

Webster University (each class worth 3 credits):

INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations
INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives
INTL 6000 International Relations: Theory and Practice

INTL 5625 Middle East Area Studies
INTL 5675 Russia and Eastern European Area Studies

INTL 5510 Theories of International Relations
INTL 5530 International Law
INTL 5550 War and Diplomacy
INTL 5570 Comparative Foreign Policy
INTL 5700 Humanitarian Issues in International Politics
INTL 5860 Issues in International Politics
INTL 5890 Terrorism in World Politics

Price for the degree is $24,300.


Norwich University (each class worth 6 credits):

Theory and the International System
Economics and the International System
Law and the International System

Conflict Avoidance, Prevention, and Containment in the International System
Conflict Resolution and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in the International System
Human Rights and Conflict in the International System

Price for degree is $27,250.


Both seem to be well known and well respected. So Im having a hard time choosing between them. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

Hi, NMTDD. A warm welcome to Degree Info. Here's why your posts don't show up right away: http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/35100-new-users-ask-where-did-my-posts-go.html

Both schools are regionally accredited and are about the same price. You probably should go with the school that offers the program that interests you the most. Are you sure there are not some less expensive options? Hopefully a member here will know of something cheaper.

 

I'd choose Norwich just because I think it has better name recognition (maybe that's just me) but before you decide you should read through this old thread:

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/40713-masters-international-relations-diplomacy-best-school.html

 

Are you a US Citizen? You might consider a career in the Foreign Service:

Foreign Service Officer - U.S. Department of State

I took the FSOT years ago, and did well enough to start the hiring process before deciding that b-school was the path I really wanted to take. My wife loved the idea of foreign postings, until she realized it would pretty much mean giving up her own career. Good luck!

 

Fortunato, Yes, I am a US citizen. I actually love the idea of being a Foreign Service Officer. I just looked at the link you gave it. Thanks so much!!

Kizmet, I will look at that thread now. Thanks for the link!!

 

Are you sure that Webster and Norwich will accept your degree?

Are you sure that Webster and Norwich will accept your degree? Schiller is not regionally accredited. It currently has accreditation from Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). As has been said here in the past, this type of accreditation has its limitations. I know that the school has a campus in Heidelberg, Germany. However, it is a U.S. school.

 

It has a campus fully online as well as land campuses in Germany, Florida, Spain, and France. Yes, both colleges will accept my degree. I already called and asked.

Schiller has well known known and respected reputation in the International community, which is why I ultimately chose them. I was contemplating APU but in the end I really liked the classes, content, interaction, and attention Schiller gives.

I'm very meticulous about my research and I would never choose a college that would, in any way, hinder my future goals. Being that the 2 colleges I am trying to choose between will accept the degree, it has a very good international reputation, and it offers EXACTLY what I need for the job I want, it was kind of a no brainer for me. lol

Now if I could just figure out which college to get my Master's at.....

 

Yes, Im sure they will take my degree. I called and asked them. They said there would be absolutely no issues with it at all. I asked that before I even enrolled. There's no way I would go to a school that might, in some way, stop me from reaching my goals. Schiller International University is Nationally accredited, has a really great international reputation, and has land campuses in Germany, France, Spain, Florida, and a fully online campus. So, for me, it was kind of a no brainer. lol

 

Norwich specifies "A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution" as one of the admissions criteria for the MA in Diplomacy program.
However, they may be flexible about this policy, since they also state that "Applicants not meeting these criteria will be assessed on a case-by-case basis."

Webster only requires "an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution recognized by Webster University".

 

Thats why I called them. And they said they have admitted other students from SIU but they needed to have a higher gpa and have their bachelor's in a related field to the Masters they want. And they still review anyway, but I dont foresee any issues. And Webster just said the bachelor's has to come from an accredited university. They said NA or RA is fine as long as its currently accredited and in good standing.

 

I called them and they said they have admitted people from SIU before. They said I would need a higher than usual gpa, my degree would have to be in a related field to the Masters I want, and the college has to be currently accredited and in good standing. Webster said that they only require the college be accredited either regionally or nationally and in good standing. So Im good no matter which one I choose. So now it just becomes me choosing which one I want to go to.

 

Sounds like you are excited and planning is definitely a good thing. Many things can change in the 03 years to your graduation though. There may be many more program offerings or different options.

 

Am I the only one that thinks the OP is a shill for Schiller?

 

Sorry you feel that way. I just happen to love my college. Is that so bad? Im not a "shill", whatever that is. Im a happy student. I love my school, they have a great IR program, and they are respected in the fields Im looking to go in. Whats so bad about that?

 

Sorry, but something does not sit right with the statement based on a phone inquiry that Norwich will accept this degree. Norwich will accept any foreign degree that is evaluated by the WES, AACRAO, IERF, or SpanTran. It does not appear that SIU degrees are evaluated by any of these services and do not appear to be actual foreign degrees. Sorry, but a branch campus in Madrid does not make a degree from a school run out of strip mall in Florida a foreign degree. The SIU website indicates it is NA and recognized by the "Consejería de Educación y Cultura in Madrid (local higher education authorities)" or whatever that means - it sure sounds Spanishy-official.

I am sure whoever the OP talked to at Norwich if it indeed happened would not say that there would not be any issues at all with the degree. No matter what school you are talking about, it is very unlikely that a person on the phone at a legitimate school is going to commit to the acceptance of a credential without more information and supporting verification before you have even applied. Yes it has happened before and has gotten a few schools in trouble for deceptive marketing, but I can speak with 100% confidence that Norwich is not in that group. It is quite possible that NU may have accepted this degree before, but it would be on a case-by-case basis which makes this phone call a little unlikely in my view.

I am also having a hard time believing that NMTTD is not in some way connected to SIU. I know people who were less enthusiastic about being students at an Ivy on a full ride - this schtick seems a little thick. Suggestion - keep the cheer leading to a few threads initially, then you can carpet bomb more threads after you have been a member of the site for more than a few days.

 

Well, frankly, this doesn't need to get nasty or accusatory. The best way to handle this is simple.

@NMTTD - You are proud of your school. You have stated it has a wonderful reputation in your field. Please provide us with references and contact information of those who have given you that information. Preference will be given to academics who have had extensive experience in your field and publications where appropriate. I'll be glad to make phone calls and check things out via the Kennedy School of Government here in Cambridge.

Re: Norwich - Great school, but admissions has been known to be really flexible in the past when it comes to the online grad programs. Not so much with undergrad or the fully in person grad cohort.

 

Agreed. Problem solved.

 

They said that the fact that its a NA school would not keep it from being accepted. I also said that it would have to be REVIEWED as well as meet certain criteria. I never said they would just blindly accept it, I said they told me they dont expect that there would be any issues with it since they have accepted degrees from SIU before and as long as I meet the rest of the criteria they dont see where there would be any issues.

Also, I have been through A LOT in my life, so the fact that I am able to go to school and get the education I have always wanted and follow my dreams makes me happy and excited. And I happen to love my school. Sorry if the rest of you arent as happy with your schools or excited by the fact that you are getting an education, but I dont see why I should act less happy than I am just to please you.

And I dont remember who I spoke with at Norwich, or Webster, or several othe schools. But if need be I will gladly call again. And this time I will take notes of every single thing said just to please you all.

This thread was created to ask opinions about 2 schools and their programs. It was not made to be a debate, insulting, or anything else. I dont know how or why this turned into a personal attack on me, but if this is the way new people with legit questions are treated, maybe I should think about finding a different forum.

Spend more time on your studies and less time trolling threads and attacking people and maybe you will actually enjoy your studies more and be happier with your school.

 

I'm sorry, but I've got two bachelors degrees, I'm working on a second Masters at Harvard Extension and waiting on admission to a doctoral program. I highly doubt that I'm not happy, but if you have further insight into my psyche, please elaborate..

Seriously though, no one is bashing on you for being happy about your choice. We're happy that you're happy. The core issue is that your posting behavior, perhaps through no fault of your own is very similar to those who do come here to spam and troll threads, so you're being treated the way the culture of the site treats anyone with similar behavior.

Other discussions about accreditation, size of grad class and other things are secondary to the main point in the second paragraph above. Sometimes the threads get caught in tangents. Personally, I'd still like to know the source of your information about Schiller's reputation. Best way to shut people up is to speak with data.

Thanks,
ITJD

 

If you look at my post history, I post about more than just Schiller. Im not a "shill" or troll or whatever. Im an almost 34 year old wife, mom, and FINALLY full time college student who happens to be in a good place and likes my school and college in general.

As for my "data", it wasnt that hard to gather. I did extensive internet research, spoke to students from the land campuses in other countries, spoke with admissions people from grad schools who said they have heard the school is well respected in my field, etc. I didnt spend half a lifetime doing research on it, I gathered what I needed to be happy with my choice.

Maybe because there arent many people on here from Schiller it seems like weird that someone would come on singing its praises. But for ME and the field I chose, its awesome. And thats all that matters.