Study international relations in USA - 26 institutions

Understanding how cultures and customs integrate into business, politics, and society creates an excellent foundation for many professionals and students. Degree programs in international relations are designed for undergraduate and graduate students to learn about the complex relationships between international governance institutions.

Courses in international relations allow students to analyze the complexities and processes associated with world politics and international affairs. The coursework introduces key sections of the discipline and related issues: globalization, human rights, humanitarian work, and economic development.

The program can help prepare students for competition for jobs in a government agency, intergovernmental organization, non-governmental organization, or transnational corporation. This field is also recommended for students planning to pursue a doctorate or build an academic career.

In the 21st century, studying international relations at universities in the United States for foreign students can also be done online — in this case, the cost will be noticeably lower. Thus, students can study part-time, choosing courses that fit their schedule and professional goals.

The duration of courses in this specialty usually ranges from 2 to 5 years (bachelor's degree — 4, master's degree — 2, doctoral degree — 4-5), depending on the preferred pace and the number of courses you want to take each semester.

Studying international relations in the USA for foreign students does not require any special, unique skills before applying, but it is generally useful to have good reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking skills if you are considering a bachelor's or master's degree in international relations. Outstanding schools with international relations studies require their future specialists:

• Complete 30 sections of core courses in political science, economics, history, and statistics,
• Obtain 40 credit hours of primary and secondary specialization courses,
• Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by completing at least two years of university-level study or passing a qualifying exam conducted by the language center (foreign language units are not counted towards the main specialization).

Each international relations faculty in the USA offers the following subjects:

• International Politics,
• Introduction to International Relations,
• Comparative Government,
• History of the International System,
• Democracy, Development and Rule of Law,
• American Foreign Policy,
• America and the World Economy,
• War and Peace in American Foreign Policy,
• The Cold War: International History,
• America as a Global Power in the Modern Era,
• American Interventions from 1898 to the Present,
• Presidents and Foreign Policy in Contemporary History,
• Diplomacy in the Field: Case Studies of Representing Your Country,
• Principles of Economics.

Institutions with the largest number of degrees awarded in international relations:

• George Washington University,
• American University in Washington D.C.,
• Johns Hopkins University.

The most common sector by the number of degrees awarded in international relations and relationships is the private non-profit sector with a study period of 4 years or more (8107 degrees in 2021).

The average salary for specialties «Studying International Relations in the USA» is $105,132 per year, and the most common professions are lawyers, judges, magistrates and other judicial workers, managers, elementary and secondary school teachers in «Law» and «Economics».

A typical program graduate has a foreign language proficiency, studied abroad, is familiar with quantitative research methods, and has completed advanced training courses in several different disciplines. It is not surprising that these graduates are well prepared to stand out in many fields! In recent years, graduates of the «International Relations» field have been accepted into the Peace Corps, joined PRA International as a proposal analyst, received a position as an Air Force intelligence officer, become intelligence analysts at AT&T, and gone on to work in major financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank in Europe.

You can also work in the following areas:

• International Affairs,
• Economics,
• International Marketing,
• International Business,
• Political Science,
• International Security,
• Public Policy,
• International Development.

Students with a degree in international relations can start their careers in the following positions:

• Advertising Manager,
• Analyst,
• Archivist,
• Campaign Worker,
• Congress Assistant,
• History Teacher,
• Journalist,
• Lobbyist,
• Public Relations Officer,
• White House Assistant.

The cost of education directly depends on the level — bachelor's degree, master's degree or doctoral studies. Usually, studying international relations at universities in the USA for foreign students costs a significant amount, especially in the top universities. Additionally, it is necessary to consider such expenses as housing, administrative fees, and document translation.

• Completed online application,
• Application fee,
• Academic transcripts,
• Diploma from previous education,
• Proof of English proficiency,
• SAT/ACT scores (optional),
• GRE/GMAT results (required for some programs only),
• Letters of recommendation (required for some programs only),
• Statement of purpose/Letter of intent,
• Resume.