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.
Showing schools in your area
- Liberty University provides a worldclass education from a christ-centered worldview
- 100% online programs at associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels
- No standardized testing if student meets admission requirements
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- 95% of Liberty University students receive some form of financial aid
- Accredited
- Online Courses
- Financial Aid
- Transferable Credits
- Has students attend one four-week class at a time and take their final exam before moving on to their next class.
- Offers 24/7 online tech support, with a typical response time of 4 hours or less.
- Has online help centers that offer assistance with writing, statistics, medical assisting, and more.
- Provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
- Researches trends for growing fields to tailor a more effective curriculum.
- Online Courses
- Ranked among the 2015 Best National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.
- Designated as a Military Friendly School every year since 2012 by Victory Media.
- Offers credit for prior learning and experience through assessment tests.
- Provides a short term Leadership Certification program in partnership with EQUIP®.
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA).
- Accredited
- Online Courses
- Flexible Scheduling
- Financial Aid
- Transferable Credits
