International Relations Schools and Programs in The United States

International Relations Studies in The United States

International relations is the study of how states, international organisations, companies and other actors deal with each other. In the United States it is taught both as an undergraduate major, often inside a political science department or a school of global affairs, and as a professional master's degree aimed at careers in government, business and non-profit organisations. SpainExchange lists 30 colleges and universities in the United States under international relations.

How the degree is organised

• Associate degree: a two-year programme, usually at a community college, that can transfer to a bachelor's programme
• Bachelor's degree (BA): usually completed in four years of full-time study. Students take courses in many subjects besides their major and normally declare the major by the end of the second year
• Master's degree: one to two years, depending on the programme, often with a regional or functional specialisation
• Doctorate (PhD): a research degree that takes five to eight years

The programmes are interdisciplinary. Claremont McKenna College describes its International Relations programme as multi-disciplinary and designed for students preparing for graduate work or careers with an international focus. At Boston University, undergraduates at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies take a BA through one of five majors, including International Relations and regional studies, and around 40 percent of them double major in areas such as economics, political science, business or world languages. The Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University in Miami offers programmes from politics and economics to sociology and modern languages at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level.

At master's level, the differences between schools are larger. The Pardee School offers six MA programmes, among them an MA in International Affairs and a one-year MA in International Relations. The Master of International Affairs at the University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy takes two years full-time on campus and combines eight core courses, a career track, a regional specialisation with a language requirement and a capstone project. Troy University offers a Master of Science in International Relations with concentrations in global studies, national security affairs and regional affairs.

Admission and language

Students apply directly to each college or university; EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, recommends starting the search 12 to 18 months before the academic year begins. Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. Many programmes also expect students to study another language: the UC San Diego master's, for example, pairs each regional specialisation with language training, such as Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese for Latin America.

For a full degree, international students need a student visa. Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the school's international student office issues the Form I-20 that is presented in the visa application.

Costs

Each institution sets its own fees. As an example, UC San Diego estimates tuition for its Master of International Affairs at $35,381 per year for California residents and $47,626 per year for non-residents (checked October 2026). As a general rule, state universities are less expensive than private universities, and community colleges offer lower costs for the first two years of a bachelor's degree.

Where to study international relations

New York has the most schools in this directory (three), followed by Boston and Philadelphia (two each). Examples include Columbia University and New York University in New York; Boston University and Northeastern University in Boston; and the University of Pennsylvania and Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Elsewhere, options include Yale University, Brown University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, Davis, Florida International University in Miami and Claremont McKenna College in California, as well as community colleges such as Seattle Central College.

Recognition

The United States has no national ministry that validates degrees. Recognition of course credits and degrees by other institutions and by U.S. and international employers is linked to the institution's accreditation, so check it before you apply. International relations is not a regulated profession and there is no licence to obtain after the degree.

Careers

Graduates work in government, international organisations, business, non-profit organisations, journalism, law and teaching. One closely related occupation tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is political scientist, whose research areas include international relations. It is a small field: BLS counts about 6,100 political scientist jobs in 2025, 68% of them in the federal government, and the usual entry requirement is a master's degree. Employment is projected to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 400 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an international relations degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Master's programmes take one to two years; the Master of International Affairs at UC San Diego, for example, takes two years.

Is international relations the same as international affairs or global studies?

The names overlap. Each university chooses its own degree titles, so compare the courses, the language requirements and the specialisations rather than the name.

Do I need a master's degree to work in the field?

It depends on the job. According to BLS, political scientists typically need a master's degree, although some employers consider candidates with a bachelor's degree for certain entry-level positions.

Do I need to speak a second language?

Teaching is in English, but many programmes include language study. Some master's degrees, such as the one at UC San Diego, require language training linked to a regional specialisation.