BA in International Relations

Duquesne University

International relations is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the relationships and interactions between nation-states, international organizations and nonstate actors. As a student with a major or minor in international relations, you will learn about such topics as international politics, diplomacy, international law, international security and global governance. While preparing for careers with governmental agencies, NGOs and domestic and global commercial operations or further study in graduate school you’ll also study the relations between nations, including the distribution of power, decision-making and conflict resolution.
Using real-world examples from the pages of history, you’ll study the ways in which states interact with each other, including the role of international organizations and treaties and the rules and norms that govern these interactions. You’ll also explore how states cooperate through international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO to manage global issues, such as security, human rights, international justice, conflict, economic development and environmental protection. Through the lenses of history and current events, IR students also explore the causes and consequences of conflict and the strategies used to maintain peace and security in the international system, seeking to understand the economic, political and social implications of the increasing interconnectedness of the world's economies. You will have a variety of career paths open to you, prepared to work in a governmental, social or business environment within an international context. Training in advanced language skills, combined with historical and political knowledge of specific regions of the world, will make you very competitive in the job market.

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts