International Relations

Undergraduate

International relations is the study of the interaction of nation-states and non-governmental organizations in fields such as politics, economics, and security. Studying international relations will help you develop a global perspective on the origins of the current international system, current issues that transcend national boundaries, and the emerging challenges humanity will face in the years ahead.

Program Overview

The International Relations major is broad-ranging and versatile. It covers such topics as foreign policy, international political economy, the environment, and international law.

As an international relations major you will complete a course of study that includes introductory core courses in economics, geography, history, and politics, as well as a course in research methods. More advanced coursework is done in one of five focus fields: global commons, international institutions, international peace and security, international political economy, and international ethics.

The Five College Certificate in International Relations serves as the minor in International Relations.

We encourage you to attain a level of proficiency in a foreign language that will allow you to do basic research in it.

International Experience for International Careers

Careers in an increasingly globalized world require the ability to navigate a fast-paced environment that spans state borders. We encourage you to study abroad and pursue internships that will expose you to different cultures and languages and to obtain the skills needed to continue to succeed beyond Mount Holyoke.

International Relations graduates have many options. Our graduates have gone on to have distinguished careers in government, academia, business, law, journalism, and the non-profit realm. Many have earned master's, doctoral, or law degrees along the way.

Community Voices

Spotlight on International Relations students and alums

Our courses

We offer courses at the 200 and 300 levels that are open to International Relations majors as well as to nonmajors seeking to fulfill distribution requirements. Politics 116, World Politics, is a prerequisite for most courses in the program. IR 200, Research Methods, is required of all IR majors and should be taken in the sophomore year. In addition, students take courses offered by related departments, including Economics, Geography, History, and Politics, in the focus field of their choice.

Selecting courses in your first year

If you are interested in majoring in International Relations, you should begin taking the core courses during your first year:

  • One of the following: Economics 165: International and Development Economics or Economics 213: Economic Development or Economics 218: International Economics. Please note that the Economics Department requires Economics 110: Introductory Economics as a prerequisite for Economics 213 and 218.
  • One of the following: Geography 105: World Regional Geography or Geography 206: Political Geography. If you want to count Geog-206: Political Geography, you must have successfully completed A-levels or an IB in human geography and receive permission from a geography professor. 
  • One of the following: History 151: Modern and Contemporary European Civilization or History 161: British Empire and Commonwealth
  • Politics 116: World Politics

Courses and Requirements

Learning Goals

By majoring in International Relations, students should gain an understanding of:

  • Understand the historical development of empires and nation-states and develop an appreciation for the political, economic, social, and ideological forces that shape states, impact their relations with other states, and structure their organization in an international order.
  • Learn and apply theoretical approaches in the political science subfield of international relations to understand the evolution of the international system and such contemporary issues as conflict and conflict resolution, international political economy, human rights, and environmental protection.
  • Understand and apply key concepts and theories analyzing economic interrelations among countries and economic and social outcomes in developing economies.
  • Learn and apply key concepts and theories of human geography to develop a spatial, multi-scalar, place-based, and interdependent understanding of contemporary global issues.
  • Acquire more detailed and multidisciplinary understanding of the historical background and current concerns in key international issue areas, such as international security, international political economy, international law and organizations, and protection of the environment.
  • Learn how to design and implement a research project in history and the social sciences using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Attain foreign language proficiency at the intermediate level or above.

Contact us

The International Relations Department educates students to be informed citizens and thoughtful leaders for a changing global society.

Linda Chesky Fernandes
  • Academic Department Coordinator

Next steps

Apply to Mount Holyoke

Mount Holyoke seeks intellectually curious applicants who understand the value of a liberal arts education and are driven by a love of learning. As a women's college that is gender diverse, we welcome applications from female, trans and non-binary students.

Financing your education

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