Major Mondays: International Relations (IR), International Relations – Global Business (IRGB), and International Relations – Global Economy (IRGE)
Majors: The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations (IR), B.A. in International Relations – Global Business (IRGB), and B.A. in International Relations – Global Economy (IRGE) fall within the Department of Political Science and International Relations, housed under the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. These programs are available to applying first-year and transfer students interested in pursuing careers in government, law, administration, research, public policy, and related professions. Please note: regardless of which major a student chooses, the diploma will read “B.A. in International Relations”, and the emphasis will not appear on the diploma.
Overview: International Relations (IR) is a constantly evolving field of study that focuses on the ever-changing world of tomorrow. The general IR major is an incredible path for students hoping to pursue future studies or work in the associated fields of political science, public administration, foreign affairs, and more. Students in this major will approach IR from various angles and have the opportunity to select upper division coursework from each of the prominent fields within IR.
The International Relations – Global Business (IRGB) major combines IR courses and foreign language study to explore state relations with international actors. Students will take a majority of their coursework within Dornsife, but will also pick a specialization that involves taking courses in USC’s Marshall School of Business. Note, this major is housed in USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
The International Relations – Global Economy (IRGE) major combines IR and Economics coursework to prepare students for careers in foreign policy, international finance, political risk analysis, and similar fields. This interdisciplinary major is a great option for students interested in diving deeper into the social sciences.
Research: Did you know USC has a Center for International Studies (CIS) dedicated to research and discussions of international policy and economic affairs? Students also have access to many current projects like the Security and Political Economy (SPEC) Lab that explores issues relating to climate change, security, and economic development. For up-to-date information about the Center for International Studies programs, speaker series and newsletter, follow the CIS Instagram account.
Academic Opportunities – Study Abroad: Students studying International Relations can fulfill major requirements abroad! IR majors have the opportunity to take upper division units at another university outside of the US, and can pick from multiple institutions across five different continents. At USC, students have many opportunities to study abroad at various universities around the world. One popular option for students studying International Relations is USC’s semester in Paris, where students will focus on foreign policy while rounding out their schedule with some French courses. This option is offered for both the fall and spring semesters, with available courses like “European Interrogation” and “French Foreign Policy”. You can find more information on the program through USC’s Office of Overseas Studies page.
Want to Learn More?
For students interested in exploring International Relations on a smaller scale, there are two IR minors you can pick from!
USC Dornsife has an entire cohort of Student Ambassadors who offer insight into what it’s like to be a student within USC’s liberal arts college. Visit their website to learn more, access the student blog, and live chat with a current Dornsife student.
Written by: Natasha Hunter, Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission
Edited by: Reuben Hernandez, Senior Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission