International Relations major
International Relations: courses, careers, and where to study
International Relations studies how countries, institutions, and global actors interact through politics, law, and diplomacy, for students drawn to world affairs and policy.
International Relations examines how nations and global institutions cooperate, compete, and resolve conflict across borders. Students study the theories that explain why states behave as they do, analyze foreign policy decisions, and learn how treaties, international law, and organizations shape outcomes on issues like trade, security, human rights, and migration. Coursework pairs the comparative study of particular countries and regions with the practice of diplomacy and negotiation, and many programs encourage students to build reading proficiency in a foreign language. The field draws on political science but turns its lens outward toward the system of states rather than inward toward a single country's domestic government, and it leans more on history, economics, and language than the data-modeling focus of a quantitative policy or economics degree.
The major is typically offered as a bachelor's degree, often within a political science or government department, and it generally does not involve laboratory or clinical work; instead, hands-on learning comes through research seminars, model diplomacy simulations, study abroad, internships, and a senior thesis or capstone. There is no single license to practice the field. Graduates frequently pursue a master's degree to advance into analytical and specialist roles, and entry into government service often requires a competitive written examination and a security clearance. People with this background work in government agencies and foreign service, international and nongovernmental organizations, research institutes and think tanks, advocacy groups, multinational businesses, and journalism; any accreditation or credential expectations for a specific employer or graduate path should be verified directly.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of political scientists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $139,380 and projects employment to decline about 3.1% from 2024 to 2034; a master's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, International Relations maps to CIP 45.0901, International Relations and Affairs, within the SOCIAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the systematic study of international politics and institutions, and the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy. Includes instruction in international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, international law and organization, the comparative study of specific countries and regions, and the theory and practice of diplomacy.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential International Relations is awarded as
Of the 11,659 International Relations credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%65
- Associate<1%18
- Bachelor's61%7,144
- Graduate38%4,432
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 32 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 4 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- International relations theory and explanations of state behavior
- Foreign policy analysis and decision-making
- International law and the role of global organizations
- Comparative politics across countries and regions
- International political economy, trade, and development
- Diplomacy, negotiation, and conflict resolution
- Foreign language proficiency and cross-cultural communication
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods
- Senior thesis, capstone, or model diplomacy simulation
Typical careers
- Foreign Service Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Intelligence Analyst
- International Development Specialist
- NGO Program Manager
- Diplomatic Affairs Specialist
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 political scientists median $139,380).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with International Relations, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | 106,700 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $94,680 | 1,600 | +2% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political Scientists | $139,380 | 500 | -3.1% | Master's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 3 of these 3 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying International Relations does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a International Relations major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific International Relations program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the International Relations department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a International Relations program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most International Relations credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · 856
- American UniversityDC · 794
- George Washington UniversityDC · 716
- Georgetown UniversityDC · 639
- Tufts UniversityMA · 334
- Florida State UniversityFL · 301
- Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · 266
- New York UniversityNY · 239
- University of GeorgiaGA · 234
- Florida International UniversityFL · 233
- Boston UniversityMA · 197
- University of ChicagoIL · 186
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where International Relations credentials were awarded
25 states have a distinct enough set of International Relations colleges to be worth its own page.
Search International Relations schools by state
- International Relations in California
- International Relations in Florida
- International Relations in Georgia
- International Relations in Illinois
- International Relations in Maryland
- International Relations in Massachusetts
- International Relations in New York
- International Relations in North Carolina
- International Relations in Pennsylvania
- International Relations in Texas
Related majors
Political Science
Political Science studies governments, political behavior, and policy, preparing graduates for law school, public service, journalism, and policy research.
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
History
History trains graduates in research, evidence, and argument, feeding into law, education, museums, government, and any field that values long-form analytical writing.
Public Administration
Public Administration trains graduates for careers in government, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships, combining policy analysis with management practice.
Anthropology
Anthropology studies humanity across cultures, languages, and time, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, qualitative research, and questions about how human societies live and change.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a International Relations degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single International Relations degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a International Relations path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.