UCSD Among Top Universities for International Studies

By Barry Jagoda I October 31, 2005

UCSD has been awarded high ranking in another survey of the best American colleges and universities. In a new listing of the top schools for studying foreign affairs, professors from all over the U.S. have said that the university's programs in international relations are among the nation's top ten. The survey of more than 1,100 college and university scholars, which asked international relations professors to name the best schools for both academic and policy careers, was published in the influential journal Foreign Policy.

UCSD was ninth in the nation on a list of the best schools for students pursuing an international relations career in academia. Harvard University topped the list in that category. UCSD was tenth on the list suggested for students aspiring to a career in public policy, while Johns Hopkins University was named first for public policy studies.

"We have stellar international affairs programs, and we are pleased to have this recognition from scholars in the field, those who are in the best position to recognize outstanding departments and superb teachers," said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox.

Under Fox's leadership a renewed universitywide focus on globalization and international activities is currently underway. UCSD is the only institution west of the Mississippi that appears on the top ten lists in both the Ph.D program category and public policy school offering.

The complete rankings are below:

Top 10 International Relations Schools for Academic Careers:

1. Harvard University
2. Columbia University
3. Stanford University
4. Princeton University
5. University of Chicago
6. Yale University
7. University of Michigan
8. University of California, Berkeley
9. University of California, San Diego
10. Cornell University

Top 10 International Relations Schools for Policy Careers:

1. Johns Hopkins University
2. Georgetown University
3. Harvard University
4. Tufts University
5. Columbia University
6. Princeton University
7. George Washington University
8. American University
9. Syracuse University
10. University of California, San Diego

The survey is based on responses from professors who teach or research international relations. Scholars were contacted at 1,157 U.S. colleges and universities by researchers from the College of William and Mary. Complete results are featured in the article, "Inside the Ivory Tower" published in the November/December issue of Foreign Policy and available (November 1) at www.ForeignPolicy.com.

This newest academic ranking follows a recent announcement that UCSD was named the "hottest university for science" by Newsweek and the 2006 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide. An annual report by U.S. News and World Report also rated UCSD as the seventh best public university in the nation and a ranking of world universities published by the Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, listing UCSD as thirteenth among 1,000 international institutions ranked.