About the International Relations and Comparative Politics Minor
The minor in international relations is an 18-credit-hour, customizable program. All
students take three introductory courses and then choose additional courses from a
long list of elective options. Students may also use study abroad programs to gain
credit for this minor.
Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program to pursue a minor in
international relations and comparative politics.
The international relations and comparative politics degree offers unique course options, including:
- Drug War Geopolitics in the Americas: This course examines illegal drug commodity chains and international efforts to police the drug trade in the Americas.
- Transitional Justice: In this course, case studies are used to examine types of transitional justice interventions and transitional justice’s role in post-conflict peace-building and reconciliation.
- Democratization and Regime Change: This course examines the theoretical and empirical research on causes of democratic transition and consolidation, including new waves of democratization.
- Governments and Politics of the Middle East: This course acquaints students with basic political, social and economic institutions
of Middle Eastern countries.
View the full international relations and comparative politics minor curriculum.
The international relations program is led by a distinctive group of faculty. As part of this program, you’ll likely interact with and/or take classes from each of these faculty members:
- Dr. Stephanie Anderson: Professor and Head of the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies
- Dr. Jean Garrison: Professor and Director of the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program
- Dr. Nevin T. Aiken: Associate Professor
- Eric Nigh: Director of the Arabic and Middle East Studies Program
What can you do with an international relations degree?
If you're interested in global issues, diplomacy or making a difference on the world stage, an international relations degree can lead to exciting careers. You’ll build skills in communication, critical thinking and cross-cultural understanding—perfect for jobs in government, nonprofits, international business and global organizations. Whether you want to work abroad, shape policy or support humanitarian efforts, this degree opens doors to meaningful opportunities around the world.
The international relations and comparative politics minor is a wonderful program for anyone interested in pursuing a career in law, politics, foreign service, public policy or international affairs. Our graduates go on to pursue international relations jobs with The Peace Corps, the U.S. government and abroad.
- The Peace Corps
- Foreign Service
- U.S. Department of State
- United States Armed Forces
- United States Intelligence Community
- National and International Non-Profit Organizations
- Policy and Research Institutes (“Think Tanks”)
With an international relations degree, you can pursue careers that focus on global affairs, diplomacy and cross-cultural communication. Common paths include:
- Foreign service officer or diplomat
- International development specialist
- Policy analyst or political risk consultant
- Nonprofit or NGO program manager
- Intelligence or national security analyst
- International business or trade advisor
- Human rights advocate or researcher
- Public affairs or communications specialist
- Journalist or foreign correspondent
- Graduate studies in law, public policy or international affairs
In comparative politics, you study how governments, political systems and institutions function across different countries. The focus is on comparing political structures, ideologies, leadership, public policies and citizen participation to understand patterns, differences and similarities. Topics often include democracy vs. authoritarianism, political parties, elections, revolutions, conflict, development and the impact of culture and history on politics. The goal is to better understand how political power works and why systems succeed or fail in different parts of the world.
