International Relations

Degree Type:

Bachelor’s Degree, Minor

Mode of Study:

On Campus

College:

Virtually no sector of American life is immune from international influences. The study of International Relations historically concentrated on the geopolitics of war and diplomacy among nation states. Recently, the field has broadened its focus to incorporate environmental issues, cooperative interstate behavior, globalization, hunger and poverty, as well as the work of international bodies like the United Nations and the World Bank. Students who graduate with a concentration in International Relations are poised to enter the Foreign Service or the intelligence community. They may also join a nongovernmental organization, an international corporation, or begin graduate study. This concentration is ideal for students anticipating a military career.

Common Career Paths & Salaries

Below are the median salaries for occupations requiring an International Relations degree:

Foreign Service Officer – $87,797
Intelligence Analyst – $70,130
Director, Non-profit Organization – $60,518

Average Tuition Cost

The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are majoring in International Relations, you will focus on a number of issues including, but not limited to, geopolitics of war, diplomacy among nation states, incorporate environmental issues, cooperative interstate behavior, globalization, hunger and poverty, and the work of international bodies like the United Nations and the World Bank.

Below are the median salaries for occupations requiring an International Relations degree:

Foreign Service Officer – $87,797
Intelligence Analyst – $70,130
Director, Non-profit Organization – $60,518

Interested in Methodist University’s International Relations minor?

If you have questions, read the FAQ below or reach out to Dr. Christopher Cronin using the contact info at the bottom of the page. If you’re ready to apply today, visit the link below!

Minor Requirements

The International Relations minor consists of 18 credits distributed as follows:

Required Core Course

3 credits

PSC 3510 International Relations (3)

Electives

Select five courses (15 credits) from the following list:

PSC 2270 Comparative Politics (3)	PSC 4510 International Political Economy (3)
PSC 3050 Democratic Principles & Theory (3)	PSC 4010-4080 Area Studies – select one course from the sequence (3)
PSC 3470 American Foreign Policy (3)	HIS 3010 Modern Asian History (3) or HIS 3700 Contemporary World History (3) or HIS 3810 Topics in European Social & Cultural History (3) or HIS 4210 The American Military Experience (3)
PSC 4400 International Organizations (3)

B.A. in Political Science with International Relations Concentration

The Political Science Concentration in International Relations major consists of 42 credits distributed as follows:

Required Political Science Core Courses

21 credits

PSC 1510 American Government (3)	PSC 3410 Congress and the Presidency (3)
PSC 2100 Research Methods in Political Science (3)	PSC 3510 International Relations (3)
PSC 2270 Comparative Politics (3)	PSC 4600 Senior Seminar (3)
PSC 3330 Public Administration (3)