International Relations

With the world changing quickly and profoundly, the study of international relations is a rapidly changing field that requires continued attention to new theoretical approaches and research methods. We are anchored by scholars who are well equipped to deal with the changing nature of international relations today and into the future.

Each professor has distinct research interests and teaching responsibilities around diverse issues such as, international security, international organizations, and environmental politics and each employs diverse methodological approaches. In addition, multiple faculty members are linked by common interests in regions, international security and governance, and identity politics. Students are encouraged to take advantage of synergies with comparative politics faculty and faculty associated with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.  

The field welcomes well-qualified M.A. and Ph.D. applicants, who are particularly interested in these areas of study within international relations. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the webpages of our IR faculty to review their current research and teaching interests

Recent M.A. graduates have been hired by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Defense Department, Human Rights Watch, Wilson Center, World Bank, Foreign Ministry of Indonesia and C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.

Other M.A. graduates have pursued their doctoral studies in political science at Boston University, Indiana University, University of Hawaii and University of Illinois. Recent Ph.D. graduates have been hired by the Government of Tver (Russia), the Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (Brussels, Belgium), Cameron University, College of DuPage, Lake Forest College, Oklahoma University, University of Illinois-Springfield, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, University of Kitakyushu (Japan), Kainan University (Taiwan) and University of the Philippines, Diliman.