List of All U.S. Colleges With an International Relations Major
A major in international relations can open many doors in many fields. Businesses, governments, and the non-profit sector are united in their need for leaders who understand the complexities of human political interactions on a global level. If an analytical career for globalized stargazers is what you are looking for, international relations major programs are available across the country for you!
Interested in majoring in international relations? Learn which schools offer the major and what to look for in a program.
Overview of the International Relations Major
International relations is an interdisciplinary topic that involves the study of how the different actors of the international community interact with each other on a daily basis. Political science, history, economics, and law are the core fields of the major. Studying one foreign language in-depth is often a major requirement. Intercultural understanding is also taught throughout the major. Students often focus on one geographic area for their major, e.g. Central Asia or Latin America. Assignments typically include tests and short papers.
The secret to success in international relations is to be curious. Be ready to study topics from a wide range of fields, and dig into their finer details out of passion. Strong memorization skills are necessary for the major, as remembering laws and treaties is important for exams. I may be biased as a history major, but I would say that history is the most important component of the international relations major ─ foreign policy is based on history and creates history.
It is quite common for international relations students to pursue a Master’s degree. This is because the best opportunities in the field are highly specialized roles, often requiring advanced legal knowledge and unique political science expertise. It is also important to note that international relations is a popular Master’s degree itself.
An international relations degree opens doors in all sorts of places. Foreign affairs analyst, diplomat, international businessperson, political scientist, journalist, economist, and even working at a secretive three-letter agency ─ these are just some of the hats that international relations majors wear. The career paths for those who study “IR” tend to be well-paying, intellectual, but also quite competitive and elitist if you are going for something rooted in the major. The good news is that the interdisciplinary nature of international relations makes it easy to parlay the skills it teaches ─ such as intercultural communication, foreign language skills, and an understanding of “people problems” ─ into almost any field.
What to Look for in a College as an International Relations Major
Regional Studies
Since specializing in one region of the world along with its accompanying language is an important part of the major, consider schools which have strong programs in your region of interest. Look at how many levels of your target language they offer, study abroad programs, and faculty who have regional expertise.
Internships near Campus
Location is key when it comes to any decision about your college experience, especially if you are majoring in international relations. Since many career paths in the field are tied to niche institutions located in the same areas, being in the right place at the right time can give you a big advantage in the internship market. Networking, which is crucial in the small world of international relations careers, is another benefit of choosing a good IR ecosystem.
If you are looking to use your degree to work for the federal government or political advocacy groups, living in Washington, DC would be very advantageous. If international business, international law, or working for the UN are options that are more your forte, four years in New York City would give you the best shot at applicable internships. Though these big cities are the top destinations for international relations majors, there are hidden pockets of internships and networking in smaller ponds, such as Kansas City. It is also important to note that you do not need to study in these areas to gain access to opportunities ─ it just helps, as you can apply for internships outside of the competitive summer season.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Extracurriculars can be enriching educational experiences outside the classroom for international relations majors. Model UN is the stereotypical club for IR students, as it provides opportunities to put theories into practice, learn about global careers, and best of all ─ travel.
There are many more options to consider while looking at college offerings. Cultural societies, non-profit chapters, political groups, and student-run media all can help you deepen your classroom learning and take a test drive of possible career paths as an international relations major.
List of All U.S. Colleges With an International Relations Major
|
School |
City |
State |
|
University of Alabama |
Tuscaloosa |
Alabama |
|
Samford University |
Birmingham |
Alabama |
|
Northern Arizona University | NAU |
Flagstaff |
Arizona |
|
University of Arkansas |
Fayetteville |
Arkansas |
|
Hendrix College |
Conway |
Arkansas |
|
California State University, East Bay | CSU East Bay |
Hayward |
California |
|
California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach State |
Long Beach |
California |
|
University of California, Davis | UC Davis |
Davis |
California |
|
University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside |
Riverside |
California |
|
Claremont McKenna College | CMC |
Claremont |
California |
|
University of La Verne |
La Verne |
California |
|
Loyola Marymount University | LMU |
Los Angeles |
California |
|
Mills College |
Oakland |
California |
|
Occidental College |
Los Angeles |
California |
|
University of the Pacific |
Stockton |
California |
|
Pitzer College |
Claremont |
California |
|
Pomona College |
Claremont |
California |
|
University of Redlands |
Redlands |
California |
|
San Diego State University | SDSU |
San Diego |
California |
|
University of San Diego | USD |
San Diego |
California |
|
San Francisco State University | SF State |
San Francisco |
California |
|
University of San Francisco | USF |
San Francisco |
California |
|
San Jose State University | SJSU |
San Jose |
California |
|
Saint Mary’s College of California | St. Mary’s |
Moraga |
California |
|
Sonoma State University | SSU |
Rohnert Park |
California |
|
University of Southern California | USC |
Los Angeles |
California |
|
University of Denver |
Denver |
Colorado |
|
Connecticut College |
New London |
Connecticut |
|
Fairfield University |
Fairfield |
Connecticut |
|
University of Hartford |
West Hartford |
Connecticut |
|
Yale University |
New Haven |
Connecticut |
|
University of Delaware |
Newark |
Delaware |
|
American University |
Washington |
Washington DC |
|
George Washington University | GW |
Washington |
Washington DC |
|
Georgetown University |
Washington |
Washington DC |
|
Eckerd College |
Saint Petersburg |
Florida |
|
Florida International University | FIU |
Miami |
Florida |
|
Florida State University | FSU |
Tallahassee |
Florida |
|
University of Miami |
Coral Gables |
Florida |
|
Nova Southeastern University | NSU |
Fort Lauderdale |
Florida |
|
Rollins College |
Winter Park |
Florida |
|
University of South Florida | USF |
Tampa |
Florida |
|
Stetson University |
DeLand |
Florida |
|
University of West Florida | UWF |
Pensacola |
Florida |
|
Agnes Scott College |
Decatur |
Georgia |
|
Berry College |
Mount Berry |
Georgia |
|
Emory University |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Tech |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
|
Georgia Southern University |
Statesboro |
Georgia |
|
University of Georgia |
Athens |
Georgia |
|
Mercer University |
Macon |
Georgia |
|
Spelman College |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
|
University of West Georgia | UWG |
Carrollton |
Georgia |
|
University of Idaho |
Moscow |
Idaho |
|
Bradley University |
Peoria |
Illinois |
|
University of Chicago |
Chicago |
Illinois |
|
DePaul University |
Chicago |
Illinois |
|
Benedictine University |
Lisle |
Illinois |
|
Knox College |
Galesburg |
Illinois |
|
Lake Forest College |
Lake Forest |
Illinois |
|
Loyola University Chicago |
Chicago |
Illinois |
|
Northwestern University |
Evanston |
Illinois |
|
Principia College |
Elsah |
Illinois |
|
Roosevelt University |
Chicago |
Illinois |
|
Wheaton College (Illinois) |
Wheaton |
Illinois |
|
Butler University |
Indianapolis |
Indiana |
|
Earlham College |
Richmond |
Indiana |
|
University of Evansville |
Evansville |
Indiana |
|
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis | IUPUI |
Indianapolis |
Indiana |
|
University of Southern Indiana | USI |
Evansville |
Indiana |
|
Indiana University Bloomington | Indiana |
Bloomington |
Indiana |
|
Taylor University |
Upland |
Indiana |
|
Valparaiso University | Valpo |
Valparaiso |
Indiana |
|
Cornell College |
Mount Vernon |
Iowa |
|
Drake University |
Des Moines |
Iowa |
|
University of Iowa |
Iowa City |
Iowa |
|
Wartburg College |
Waverly |
Iowa |
|
Transylvania University |
Lexington |
Kentucky |
|
Tulane University |
New Orleans |
Louisiana |
|
University of Maine |
Orono |
Maine |
|
Goucher College |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
|
Johns Hopkins University | JHU |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
|
Morgan State University |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
|
Towson University |
Towson |
Maryland |
|
Washington College |
Chestertown |
Maryland |
|
Boston University | BU |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
Clark University |
Worcester |
Massachusetts |
|
Emmanuel College (Massachusetts) |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
University of Massachusetts Boston | UMass Boston |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
Mount Holyoke College |
South Hadley |
Massachusetts |
|
Northeastern University |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
Simmons College |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
Stonehill College |
Easton |
Massachusetts |
|
Suffolk University |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
|
Tufts University |
Medford |
Massachusetts |
|
Wellesley College |
Wellesley |
Massachusetts |
|
Wheaton College (Massachusetts) |
Norton |
Massachusetts |
|
Worcester Polytechnic Institute | WPI |
Worcester |
Massachusetts |
|
Calvin College |
Grand Rapids |
Michigan |
|
Central Michigan University | CMU |
Mount Pleasant |
Michigan |
|
Eastern Michigan University | EMU |
Ypsilanti |
Michigan |
|
Grand Valley State University | GVSU |
Allendale |
Michigan |
|
Kalamazoo College |
Kalamazoo |
Michigan |
|
Michigan State University |
East Lansing |
Michigan |
|
Oakland University |
Rochester Hills |
Michigan |
|
Carleton College |
Northfield |
Minnesota |
|
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota |
Minneapolis |
Minnesota |
|
University of Minnesota Duluth | UMD |
Duluth |
Minnesota |
|
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) |
Saint Paul |
Minnesota |
|
University of Mississippi | Ole Miss |
University |
Mississippi |
|
University of Southern Mississippi | Southern Miss |
Hattiesburg |
Mississippi |
|
Lindenwood University |
Saint Charles |
Missouri |
|
Rockhurst University |
Kansas City |
Missouri |
|
Saint Louis University | SLU |
Saint Louis |
Missouri |
|
Washington University in St. Louis | WashU |
Saint Louis |
Missouri |
|
Webster University |
Saint Louis |
Missouri |
|
Westminster College (Missouri) |
Fulton |
Missouri |
|
Carroll College |
Helena |
Montana |
|
Creighton University |
Omaha |
Nebraska |
|
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL |
Lincoln |
Nebraska |
|
Union College (Nebraska) |
Lincoln |
Nebraska |
|
University of Nevada, Reno |
Reno |
Nevada |
|
University of New Hampshire | UNH |
Durham |
New Hampshire |
|
St. Anselm College |
Manchester |
New Hampshire |
|
Drew University |
Madison |
New Jersey |
|
Rider University |
Lawrenceville |
New Jersey |
|
Seton Hall University |
South Orange |
New Jersey |
|
The College of New Jersey | TCNJ |
Ewing |
New Jersey |
|
Colgate University |
Hamilton |
New York |
|
City College of New York | CCNY |
New York |
New York |
|
Hunter College | CUNY Hunter |
New York |
New York |
|
Fordham University |
Bronx |
New York |
|
Hamilton College |
Clinton |
New York |
|
Hobart and William Smith Colleges | HWS |
Geneva |
New York |
|
Manhattan College |
Riverdale |
New York |
|
New York University | NYU |
New York |
New York |
|
University of Rochester |
Rochester |
New York |
|
Skidmore College |
Saratoga Springs |
New York |
|
St. John Fisher College |
Rochester |
New York |
|
The State University of New York at Binghamton | SUNY Binghamton |
Vestal |
New York |
|
The State University of New York at Buffalo | SUNY Buffalo |
Buffalo |
New York |
|
The State University of New York at Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo |
Geneseo |
New York |
|
Syracuse University |
Syracuse |
New York |
|
United States Military Academy | Army |
West Point |
New York |
|
Vassar College |
Poughkeepsie |
New York |
|
Wagner College |
Staten Island |
New York |
|
Campbell University |
Buies Creek |
North Carolina |
|
Elon University |
Elon |
North Carolina |
|
High Point University |
High Point |
North Carolina |
|
University of Akron |
Akron |
Ohio |
|
Ashland University |
Ashland |
Ohio |
|
Bowling Green State University | BGSU |
Bowling Green |
Ohio |
|
Capital University |
Columbus |
Ohio |
|
University of Cincinnati |
Cincinnati |
Ohio |
|
Cleveland State University | CSU |
Cleveland |
Ohio |
|
Denison University |
Granville |
Ohio |
|
Kent State University |
Kent |
Ohio |
|
Miami University |
Oxford |
Ohio |
|
Ohio State University | OSU |
Columbus |
Ohio |
|
Ohio University |
Athens |
Ohio |
|
Otterbein University |
Westerville |
Ohio |
|
University of Toledo |
Toledo |
Ohio |
|
College of Wooster |
Wooster |
Ohio |
|
Youngstown State University |
Youngstown |
Ohio |
|
Lewis & Clark College |
Portland |
Oregon |
|
Linfield College |
McMinnville |
Oregon |
|
Pacific University |
Forest Grove |
Oregon |
|
Portland State University | PSU |
Portland |
Oregon |
|
Reed College |
Portland |
Oregon |
|
Allegheny College |
Meadville |
Pennsylvania |
|
Bucknell University |
Lewisburg |
Pennsylvania |
|
Carnegie Mellon University | CMU |
Pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania |
|
Dickinson College |
Carlisle |
Pennsylvania |
|
Duquesne University |
Pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania |
|
Gettysburg College |
Gettysburg |
Pennsylvania |
|
Immaculata University |
Immaculata |
Pennsylvania |
|
Indiana University of Pennsylvania | IUP |
Indiana |
Pennsylvania |
|
Juniata College |
Huntingdon |
Pennsylvania |
|
Lafayette College |
Easton |
Pennsylvania |
|
Lehigh University |
Bethlehem |
Pennsylvania |
|
Muhlenberg College |
Allentown |
Pennsylvania |
|
Pennsylvania State University | PSU |
University Park |
Pennsylvania |
|
University of Pennsylvania | UPenn |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
|
St. Francis College | SFC |
Loretto |
Pennsylvania |
|
St. Joseph’s University | SJU |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
|
University of Scranton |
Scranton |
Pennsylvania |
|
Swarthmore College |
Swarthmore |
Pennsylvania |
|
Temple University |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
|
Ursinus College |
Collegeville |
Pennsylvania |
|
Widener University |
Chester |
Pennsylvania |
|
York College of Pennsylvania |
York |
Pennsylvania |
|
Brown University |
Providence |
Rhode Island |
|
Roger Williams University | RWU |
Bristol |
Rhode Island |
|
University of South Carolina | USC |
Columbia |
South Carolina |
|
Wofford College |
Spartanburg |
South Carolina |
|
Belmont University |
Nashville |
Tennessee |
|
Lipscomb University |
Nashville |
Tennessee |
|
East Tennessee State University | ETSU |
Johnson City |
Tennessee |
|
University of Memphis |
Memphis |
Tennessee |
|
Middle Tennessee State University | MTSU |
Murfreesboro |
Tennessee |
|
Rhodes College |
Memphis |
Tennessee |
|
Austin College |
Sherman |
Texas |
|
Baylor University |
Waco |
Texas |
|
Howard Payne University | HPU |
Brownwood |
Texas |
|
University of St. Thomas (Texas) |
Houston |
Texas |
|
St. Mary’s University, Texas |
San Antonio |
Texas |
|
Texas State University |
San Marcos |
Texas |
|
Texas Christian University | TCU |
Fort Worth |
Texas |
|
University of Texas at San Antonio | UTSA |
San Antonio |
Texas |
|
Trinity University |
San Antonio |
Texas |
|
Brigham Young University | BYU |
Provo |
Utah |
|
Westminster College (Utah) |
Salt Lake City |
Utah |
|
Bennington College |
Bennington |
Vermont |
|
Middlebury College |
Middlebury |
Vermont |
|
St. Michael’s College |
Colchester |
Vermont |
|
College of William & Mary | William & Mary |
Williamsburg |
Virginia |
|
George Mason University |
Fairfax |
Virginia |
|
Hampden–Sydney College | H–SC |
Hampden-Sydney |
Virginia |
|
Hampton University |
Hampton |
Virginia |
|
Hollins University |
Roanoke |
Virginia |
|
James Madison University | JMU |
Harrisonburg |
Virginia |
|
Liberty University |
Lynchburg |
Virginia |
|
Old Dominion University | ODU |
Norfolk |
Virginia |
|
University of Richmond |
University of Richmond |
Virginia |
|
Virginia Tech |
Blacksburg |
Virginia |
|
University of Virginia | UVA |
Charlottesville |
Virginia |
|
Virginia Military Institute | VMI |
Lexington |
Virginia |
|
Eastern Washington University | EWU |
Cheney |
Washington |
|
Gonzaga University |
Spokane |
Washington |
|
University of Puget Sound |
Tacoma |
Washington |
|
Washington State University | WSU |
Pullman |
Washington |
|
Whitworth University |
Spokane |
Washington |
|
Beloit College |
Beloit |
Wisconsin |
|
Edgewood College |
Madison |
Wisconsin |
|
Marquette University |
Milwaukee |
Wisconsin |
|
Stanford University |
Stanford |
California |
|
Kennesaw State University | KSU |
Kennesaw |
Georgia |
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
No matter what major you are thinking about pursuing, the first step is ensuring that you are academically comparable to previously admitted students to your target schools. Most selective schools use the Academic Index to filter out applicants who do not meet their standards.
You’ll also want to demonstrate your fit with each school and specific major you are applying to via the qualitative components of your application, such as your essays and extracurriculars. For a prospective international relations major, the essay is particularly important ─ a solid writing ability as well as creativity will be critical in the classroom and beyond. You may also want to pursue a foreign language (or two) to the highest level in high school, and participate in cultural clubs and initiatives.
Want to find out your chances of being accepted to your target schools for international relations? Try our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike conventional admissions calculators, ours reviews your profile holistically ─ we include academic stats, qualitative components like your activities, and more in our calculations.
