Do you believe that societies and cultures are linked in such a way that changes made in one society affect the rest of the world? If you do, International Relations might be the major for you. With a major in International Relations, you’ll study the relationships among countries, governments, peoples, and organizations all around the world. You’ll learn about global issues from a variety of perspectives-issues including war, poverty, disease, diplomacy, democracy, trade, economics, and globalization. Though it is, of course, impossible to predict the future, by studying how the past has influenced the present you’ll be attempting to predict the consequences of international decisions. As an International Relations major, you’ll be integrating many points of view in an effort to work together for a better world. Topics of study might include the balance of power, fair distribution of wealth, and the economic gap between rich and poor.
International Relations is a multi-disciplinary major that draws from politics, history, economics, law, sociology, psychology, philosophy, ethics, and geography. You’ll be dealing with foreign cultures, languages, worldviews, and values. The study of foreign languages is a necessity, as is a sense of empathy, compassion, and good will.

Preparation

Learning a foreign language-or two-is the best way to prepare for a major in International Relations. Also important are courses in History, Politics, Philosophy, Religion, and English-they’ll expose you to ideas from around the world.