Master of Arts in International Relations Career Tracks
Maxwell’s master of arts in international relations will prepare you for a meaningful career in the international arena. In addition to core courses, master’ s students in the international relations program choose to align their electives around one of five career tracks.
How will you change the world? Choose from among the following:
Conflict Resolution
Data Analysis for International Affairs
International Development
International Political Economy
International Service
Regional Concentrations (Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa)
Security Studies
Sample course options for each of the career tracks are included below. Please see the M.A. (IR) Handbook for complete list of current courses.
Students choose one of the following mandatory career tracks
Development and Humanitarian Assistance
The global community has made great strides in reducing poverty and improving livelihoods around the world, exemplified by the success of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Yet, additional development work is necessary to improve conditions worldwide.
Development and humanitarian assistance work requires an understanding of changing conditions on the ground; the ability to work at the non-governmental, intergovernmental and international levels; an understanding of how to use economic and statistical analysis to assess the policy impact of interventions; and research to support programming or policy analysis.
Related Courses: Development and Humanitarian Assistance
Core Courses
The following courses related to Development and Humanitarian Assistance fulfill the associated M.A.I.R. requirement:
- Economics: Economic Principles for International Affairs (PAI)
- Management: NGO Management in Developing and Transitional Countries (PAI)
- Research Methodology: Research Design for IR Practitioners (PAI)
- Signature Course: Economic Dimensions of Global Power (PAI)
Sample Electives
- Water: Environment, Society, Politics (GEO)
- From Fragility to Resilience: New Approaches to Global Development (PAI)
- Global Sustainability and Public Policy (PAI)
- Fundamentals of Post-Conflict Reconstruction (PAI)
- International Development Policy and Administration (PAI)
- Economics of Development (PAI)
- UN Organizations: Managing for Change (PAI)
- Humanitarian Action: Challenges, Responses and Results (PAI)
- International Human Rights (PSC)
Go further.
Governance, Diplomacy and International Organizations
In a world where diplomacy and policy analysis remain key to the practice of international affairs, the Governance, Diplomacy and International Organizations career track provides students with the skills and training needed to understand interactions between states, the role of leadership within international and transnational organizations, and objective analysis of such behavior.
This track draws on the Maxwell School’s long history of leadership training and international policy analysis. This includes work on negotiation and conflict resolution, cultural awareness, political leadership and organizational management.
Related Courses: Governance, Diplomacy and International Organizations
Core Courses
The following courses related to Governance, Diplomacy and International Organizations fulfill the associated M.A. in international relations requirement:
- Economics: Economic Principles for International Affairs (PAI)
- Management: Challenges of International Management and Leadership (PAI)
- Research Methodology: Research Design for IR Practitioners (PAI)
- Signature Course: Advanced Public Diplomacy (PRL)
Sample Electives
- Negotiation: Theory and Practice (ANT)
- International Human Rights (PSC) and International Human Rights (LAW)
- Emerging Issues in International Law (LAW)
- Law of Armed Conflict (LAW)
- Who Will Rule the 21st Century? (PAI)
- Current Policy Issues in U.S. – Latin America Relations (PAI)
- International Trade and Economic Negotiation (PAI)
- Fundamentals of Post-Conflict Reconstruction (PAI)
- UN Organizations: Structure and Function (PAI)
- Advanced Public Diplomacy (PRL)
- Ethics and International Relations (PSC)
- Security, Economic and Political Challenges in East Asia (PSC)
- International Law and Organizations (PSC)
- Political Leadership (PSC)
Go further.
International Political Economy: Finance, Trade and Migration
A basic understanding of economic principles is an indispensable part of the international affairs graduate’s toolkit. This need is more vital as global economic factors drive the rise in populism and threaten a return to the protectionism that aggravated international conflict during the inter-war period. More recently, the Great Recession and the advance in automation raise profound questions about the efficacy of economic policy and international economic governance.
This career track focuses on the economic relationship between states. It also examines the incentives facing non-state actors in the realms of international trade, finance and migration, while probing how issues like technology and climate change impact international conflict and cooperation.
Related Courses: International Political Economy: Finance, Trade and Migration
Core Courses
The following courses related to International Political Economy: Finance, Trade and Migration fulfill the associated M.A. in international relations requirement:
- Economics: Economics for Public Decisions (PAI)
- Statistics: Economic Statistics (ECN)
- Research Methodology: Econometrics (ECN)
- Management: International Management and Leadership (PAI)
- Signature Course: Global Economic Governance (PSC)
Sample Electives
- International Business Transactions (LAW)
- Follow the Money: Key Issues in Illicit Finance (PAI)
- Issues in Global Economic and Financial Security (PAI)
- International Trade & Economic Negotiation (PAI)
- Economic Dimensions of Global Power (PAI)
- Development Economics (PAI)
- Public Finance: An International Perspective (PAI)
- Politics and Demographic Aging (PSC)
- Global Economic Governance (PSC)
Go further.
Peace, Security and Conflict
Security is critical to stability and development. New security challenges can emerge rapidly, forcing actors to confront complex and unfamiliar challenges while continuing to address historic tensions. Changing power relationships can create new anxieties. New technologies pose security threats and provide opportunities to promote peace. The rise of non-state actors forces governments and international organizations to adapt their strategies to better address human security.
Those interested in careers in security studies, conflict management and peacebuilding must understand how these new challenges affect the international environment. This understanding allows for the development of more effective policies by nation-states, international agencies and non-governmental organizations to address threats to international peace and security.
Related Courses: Peace, Security and Conflict
Core Courses
The following courses related to Peace, Security and Conflict fulfill the associated M.A.I.R. requirement:
- Economics: Economic Principles for International Affairs (PAI)
- Management: Challenges of International Management and Leadership (PAI)
- Research Methodology: Ethnographic Techniques (ANT)
- Signature Course: Comparative Foreign Policy (PSC)
Sample Electives
- Negotiation: Theory and Practice (ANT)
- National Security and Counterterrorism (LAW)
- Evolving Global Security Landscape (PAI)
- U.S. National Security: Defense and Foreign Policy (PAI)
- Central Challenges to National Security Law (PAI)
- U.S. Intelligence Community: Governance and Practice, 1947 to Present (PAI)
- Security, Economic and Political Challenges in East Asia (PSC)
- International Security Theory (PSC)
Go further with a certificate in Security Studies
Regional Concentration
Learn to structure development programs, assess conflict drivers and anticipate developments in a country or region. There are five regional concentrations:
- Africa
- East and South Asia
- Europe and Eurasia
- Latin America
- Middle East and North Africa
Students pursuing this option may count six hours of graduate language study towards the track and are encouraged to consider opportunities at world partner institutions.
Related Courses: Regional Concentration
Core Courses
Regionally focused work requires the ability to operate at the intergovernmental or international level, and to understand the importance of micro and macroeconomics and a range of research methodologies.
As such, M.A.I.R. students opting for a regional concentration are encouraged to consider the following classes for their core requirements:
- Economics: Economic Principles for International Affairs (PAI)
- Management: Challenges of International Management and Leadership (PAI)
- Research Methodology: Research Design for IR Practitioners (PAI)
- Signature Course: Comparative Foreign Policy (PSC)
Sample Electives
Africa
- African International Relations (PAI)
- Politics of Africa (PAI)
East Asia and South Asia
- China’s Rise and Challenges to the Global Order (PAI)
- Security, Economic and Political Challenges in East Asia (PSC)
Europe and Eurasia
- International Human Rights and Disability Law (LAW)
- Politics and Demographics of Aging (PSC)
Latin America
- Contemporary U.S.-Mexico Relations (PAI)
- Current Issues in U.S.-Latin American Relations (PAI)
Middle East and North Africa
- Mapping Desert Geopolitics (GEO)
- Law, Courts and Human Rights (PSC)
Collaborative research to address today's policy challenges.
