Updated: Monday, November 4, 2024
In an increasingly global environment, international relations is becoming more relevant and popular as a course of study at colleges throughout the U.S. If you dream of being a United Nations ambassador, a volunteer for the Peace Corps, or maybe even the President of the United States, the expert counselors at IvyWise have compiled a list of schools where you can get a global perspective on cross-cultural interactions.
The Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University offers a both a B.A. and a B.S. program in international relations. Students in the program have several concentrations to choose from, including human rights, international law and organizations, migration, international political economy, and more. The curriculum combines coursework with practical and experiential learning to develop students’ cultural, analytical, and linguistic skills.
International relations majors have opportunities to get involved in Model United Nations, the International Relations Club, Oxfam America, the Student Conference on United States Affairs, and the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference. Additionally, the Maxwell School offers ample opportunities for international relations students to study abroad, conduct research with faculty, and participate in internships through the Maxwell-in-Washington program.
Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is a private institution of approximately 15,000 undergraduates pursuing more than 200 majors. Students have 300+ clubs and organizations on campus to choose from. In addition to the main campus in central New York state, Syracuse has satellite campuses in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
American University’s School of International Service is the largest school of international affairs in the U.S. and offers students eight areas of study, including the global economy, global and comparative governance, and foreign policy and national security. Students also choose a regional focus: Africa (Sub-Sahara), Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and the Pacific, Western Hemisphere, Middle East and North Africa, and South and Central Asia.
Experiential learning is a crucial part of the School of International Service experience. A wide range of study abroad programs are offered in numerous countries, as well as opportunities to present undergraduate research at conferences.
Located along Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., AU’s 84-acre campus lays claim to some of the most politically active students in the nation. In addition to 150+ student clubs and organizations and the thrilling political climate of D.C., students have access to all that the city has to offer, including the Smithsonian Institution and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Students pursuing a concentration in international relations at Boston University are required to complete 14 courses: six core requirements, four from a functional track (environment/development; foreign policy/security studies; international economics, business, and politics; international systems and world order; or regional politics/cultural anthropology) and four from a regional track (Africa/Middle East, Asia, Europe, or Latin America), allowing students to tailor a curriculum to their unique interests.
Students can put their international studies into practice with academic and internship programs in more than 30 cities in over 20 countries. (BU was one of the first universities in the U.S. to offer study abroad in countries such as Ecuador and Switzerland!) Closer to home, students can get involved with the International Affairs Association and contribute to the International Relations Review — an undergraduate research journal.
A private research institution in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, BU is home to more than 4,300 faculty members and more than 37,500 students from all 50 states and 140 countries. BU students can choose from more than 300 programs of study in 17 schools and colleges, and the school also offers more than 450 student organizations. In addition to the vast number of courses and activities offered on campus, students can explore the Boston community, which is home to approximately 250,000 college students attending the 50+ colleges and universities throughout the Boston metropolitan area. Learn how to get into Boston University.
The international relations program at the University of California, Davis provides students with foundational knowledge in political science, statistics, history, and economics. Four tracks are available: World Trade and Development; Peace and Security; Global Environment, Health, and Natural Resources; and Peoples and Nationalities. International relations majors must complete 24-30 credits in a modern foreign language or have equivalent fluency.
UC Davis offers opportunities for international relations students to participate in work or study programs through the Education Abroad Program — it is, in fact, a requirement for students pursuing the Peoples and Nationalities track. The Internship and Career Center at UC Davis helps students acquire legislative, business, or legal internships. Students can also participate in full-credit academic programs through the UC Washington Center in Washington, D.C., or the UC Center in Sacramento.
Part of the University of California system, UC Davis’ 5,300-acre campus is home to approximately 38,000 students. Davis is conveniently located near Sacramento and within two hours of San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Napa Valley. With 107 majors and over 800 student-led clubs and organizations to choose from, students have a variety of academic and extracurricular options. Learn some tips for applying to the UC system.
The interdisciplinary international relations major at Pomona College includes courses in economics, anthropology, history, politics, and the social sciences, as well as at least one foreign language. Students in the program are required to study abroad for at least one semester. Additionally, they are expected to organize events, present speakers at the International Relations Colloquium, and participate in program governance.
Pomona also has on-campus resources that benefit and enhance the international relations curriculum, including the Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations and the Pacific Basin Institute. Since Pomona College is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium, international relations students can also take advantage of the European Union Center at Scripps College and the Center for Intercultural and Language Education at Pitzer College.
Located in Claremont, California, 35 miles east of Los Angeles, Pomona College is a private liberal arts college with 1,700 students. Given the school’s unique access to both mountains and beaches, Pomona annually sponsors Ski-Beach Day, which includes skiing at the San Gabriel Mountains in the morning followed by a trip to a local beach in the afternoon.
If you’re considering schools with an international perspective, these five schools are a great place to start your search. However, there are numerous programs across the U.S. that may be a great fit for you. Contact IvyWise today to learn how we can help you identify schools for your best-fit college list.
Letters of recommendation, especially those from your junior year teachers, are a key component of your college applications. Colleges recognize that your teachers spend significant time with you and, therefore, trust them to provide a candid picture of who you are as a scholar and a person.
Before you begin your final year of secondary school, it’s important to finalize your college list — a complete list of all the colleges or universities to which you will apply. We recommend a balanced mix of 13-15 likely, target, and reach colleges for this list. But how do you get to this point?
High school students across the U.S. aren’t the only ones trying to navigate the often-confusing college application process — students around the world are, too. And many are thinking about coming to the U.S. for their higher education. Open Doors reported that 1,057,188 international students were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities during the 2022-23 academic year, which was 5.6% of the total student population.
