MSc International Relations Vs MSc Global Politics Vs MSc Human Rights?

I was thinking about Masters Degrees... I still have years to figure out if it's worth the investment but i wonder if anyone of you lot could shed some light on the matter.

MSC International Relations and MSC Global Politics at LSE caught my eye.
Both look like really fascinating courses. So does MSc Human Rights.
could someone please tell me a bit about them.

Obviously they have different emphases.
for example, is IR a more "top-down" analysis of power?
does GP deal more with people?
I hear IR is more respected in the world of work, but it depends what you want to go into...

I'm also considering MA International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS - it looks amazing, and I really love SOAS. But I thought I'd ask about these anyway.

cheers! :smile:

Reply 1

shady lane

16

MSc Global Politics (I'm on it) is the study of globalization. It's based in the Government Department but officially interdisciplinary and shared with Development Studies, IR, Economic History, and the European Institute. You can look at globalization from political, economic, social, or cultural perspectives.

MSc IR is IR theory pretty much, the traditional way.

Don't know much about Human Rights, sorry!

Reply 2

Exoskeletal

OP

1

thanks!
oooh interesting. I'm revising globalisation right now.
there was a final year undergraduate module at SOAS called "the ethics and politics of globalisation" but they've had to discontinue it because the lecturer left.
They're going to make a new module though along globalisation lines, or post-modernity in international politics. should be introduced by the time i get back from my year in japan.

I'm thinking if i get a first in my 2nd year, i might start to think quite seriously about a masters degree.

Reply 3

Phoenix Wright

8

One certainly doesn't need a first over all to do a Master's degree, even at LSE. I have a 2.1 and I'll be doing one next year in IR history, don't write yourself out if you don't have a 1!

Reply 4

Exoskeletal

OP

1

Phoenix Wright

One certainly doesn't need a first over all to do a Master's degree, even at LSE. I have a 2.1 and I'll be doing one next year in IR history, don't write yourself out if you don't have a 1!

I know, if you get a high 2:1 then that's enough.
However, i realise that a lot more reading and writing is involved in a Masters degree. I would need to feel like I'm naturally inclined to studying, reading and understanding. If i find an UG degree hard work then i wouldn't be cut out for the next level.
1st year has been pretty hard, but i guess it takes time to get used to it all. and plus i was working part time, which i won't do again. I do Japanese, and we get about 4 hours homework a night... never mind my politics reading and essays!

next year i pretty much want to spend all my time in the library.

Reply 5

Phoenix Wright

8

Oh, God, I did Japanese in my undergrad too. It was brutal. Since it wasn't my major, I dropped it because it was tanking my GPA. Since you're at SOAS, that's probably not an option. :p:

1st year's pretty tough anywhere, I figure. But you're right, postgrad isn't for everyone. See how you feel in a year, eh/

Reply 6

oregon

I asked a similar question about a month ago (on the postgrad board). I got some handy answers from various folks. If you do search, it should pop up.
Good luck!

MSc International Relations Vs MSc Global Politics Vs MSc Human Rights?

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