Online International Relations Degrees and Careers
International relations is the study of global issues that affect different countries as well as foreign affairs. As such, international relations often is considered a political science. Experts in the field are adept at history, economics, international law, gender issues, anthropology, and cultural studies.
Education & Career Opportunities in International Relations
Working as a diplomat is the most well-known career for people who earn international relations degrees. The United States Foreign Service staffs thousands of people at U.S. embassies in different countries.
It is possible to land jobs in international relations with just a bachelor's degree, but higher levels of education, combined with job experience, are invaluable to career advancement. People who earn international relations degrees work in many different fields. International relations jobs include:
- Immigration specialist
- Foreign Service officer
- Journalist
- Diplomat
- Foreign affairs specialist
Pay for federal workers varies by rank, but as a rule, federal workers are paid higher and receive larger raises than private-sector employees.
According to the Partnership for Public Service, the following are some salary ranges for various international relations jobs:
- Intelligence officer: $38,790-$75,600
- Investigative assistant for immigrations and customs enforcement: $35,360-$56,859
- Foreign affairs officer: $89,033-$115,742
The federal government also has many departments that send civilians with international relations degrees overseas. Federal jobs include intelligence officers and customs enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security far and away is the largest U.S. employer of international relations positions.
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