Our multidisciplinary approach enables you to tailor your major to your interests and aspirations, paving the way for a variety of careers in government, international organizations, law, business, non-profit institutions, and academia.
About Maxwell
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is Syracuse University’s home for innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research in the social sciences, public policy, public administration and international relations. It includes America’s #1 ranked graduate program in public affairs, offering highly regarded professional degrees alongside advanced scholarly degrees in the social sciences, and it is home to undergraduate programs across the full spectrum of social sciences.
Major Components
- Required introductory coursework
- Coursework in a regional concentration
- Coursework in a topic concentration
- Research methodology
- Foreign language competency
- Senior seminar and capstone research project
Practical Experience
- Enhance your studies with international experiences by studying abroad or in the foreign-policy focused Maxwell-in-Washington Program.
- Gain hands-on experience in professional writing and public speaking by participating in national conferences, Model United Nations, and IR senior seminars.
- Engage in an enhanced research and mentoring experience through the International Relations Distinction Program.
- Network with other students interested in international affairs as part of the International Relations Club, through co-curricular activities, or through the IR Learning Community.
- Benefit from accessible and specialized academic advising and professional development workshops.
Study Abroad
Listed among the top international education providers in the U.S., Syracuse Abroad is a signature part of the Syracuse experience.
International Relations majors can choose almost any study abroad program, and often choose their program based upon their area of concentration.
Summer programs of interest may include Religion, Law, and Human Rights: A Comparative Perspective (Strasbourg), Summer Internships in Strasbourg, Middle East Policy and Security Studies (Israel), and Revolutions, War, and the Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East (Dubai, UAE).
Life After Syracuse University
A degree in international relations can lead to careers in a wide range of fields, including:
- Advocacy
- Diplomacy
- Government service
- Human Rights
- International Business
- International Development
- Journalism and communications
- Law
- Security
Many of our majors also pursue graduate degrees in international affairs, law, education, business, or political science.