International Relations
Bachelor of Arts
(Faculty of Arts)
The study of International Relations focuses on cross-border interactions between various groups in the world and how those interactions affect people, states, regions and the global community. It strives to accomplish several goals, including providing policy advice to governments and private decision-makers, improving theoretical and historical understanding of international relations, developing a better-informed public and educating students for life and work in the 21st century. At the University of Calgary, students in the International Relations program can specialize in one of the following areas: International Political Economy, Security and Strategy, International Institutions and Governance, and focus on a particular region, including North America, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, Asia/Pacific, Western Europe or Africa.
Initially, the international relations discipline drew heavily on diplomatic history and international law because nations were conceived as the only major players in the world. As a result, much of the field emphasized political relations. Over the past several decades, however, the disciplinary scope has expanded to include multinational corporations, organizations such as the Red Cross, governments and intergovernmental organizations, international financial markets and institutions such as the World Bank, and individual and domestic groups (unions, churches, business groups, domestic non-governmental organizations, etc.) that influence their own government or other governments and international organizations. Other disciplinary topics cover a broader range of issues, such as economic and cultural relations, as well as migration, human rights and scientific, ethical and environmental concerns.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Faculty of Social Sciences, applicants are required to present appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.
Application/Document Deadlines
Why take this program?
- The global village: Do you have a global focus? If you are interested in working on international issues, then you might consider enrolling in the International Relations program. The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations provides students with a solid foundation in the economic, political and socio-historical interactions between nations with the choice of specializing in international political economy, security and strategy, international institutions and regional studies in North America, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, Asia/Pacific, Western Europe or Africa.
- World demand: The International Relations program is designed to meet the public and private sectors’ growing need for individuals equipped to function in an increasingly diverse and internationalized economic, social and political work environment. The International Relations degree can give graduates a competitive edge in both local and global job markets because they possess a broad knowledge of international-relations fundamentals spanning several disciplines and geographic regions of the world, in addition to competence in a second language.
- Making an impact: Graduates of the International Relations program have a unique opportunity to make an impact in the world. Their degree provides them with the qualifications to enter the international arena and serve as political, economic or social policy advisors or advocates, coordinators on developmental projects, cultural liaisons, consultants to companies entering the global market and much more. The BA International Relations can be the springboard to an exciting international career!
What will I study in my first year?
All first-year International Relations students take Anthropology 203, Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology; Economics 201, Principles of Microeconomics, and Economics 203, Principles of Macroeconomics; and Geography 205 (Gateway to Geography) or 213 (Geography of World Affairs). These core courses include lectures and labs, with assignments aimed at the critical assimilation of information from various sources, and the application of methods ranging from quantitative to textual analysis. These courses are intended to give students a common background in the disciplinary approach of a variety of Departments relevant to international relations.
What will I study in later years?
In the following years students will be should take the remainder of the core courses including: History 307, The Contemporary World; Political Science 381, Introduction to International Relations; and International Relations 301 and 501, Multidisciplinary Survey and Advanced Seminar in International Relations. Students graduating from International Relations must demonstrate a competence in a major modern language other than English. Normally, this requires the successful completion of 4 half-course equivalents in that language, with at least 2 of these being at the senior level. International Relations also has a statistical requirement (1 half-course equivalent) to ensure that students are exposed to quantitative approaches to the assembling, analyzing and interpreting of information.
What can I do with this degree? (Courtesy of Career Services)
International Relations graduates marketable skills include: the ability to gather, organize, interpret and assess information, skills in problem analysis and calculation, an appreciation of the basic social characteristics of the world, and an understanding of major economic forces at play, models of political organization and forms of national and international institutions. In addition, graduates have competence in a second language (other than English).
Possible careers include:
- Aboriginal Stakeholder Relations
- Business Development Manager
- Coordinator, Humanitarian Issues
- Foreign Services Officer
- International Director
- International Financial Analyst
- International Recruitment Assistant
- International Relations Officer
- Liaison Officer, Rights and Democracy
- Public Relations and Fund Development Coordinator
- Recruiter
For a more comprehensive list of careers, visit the Career Services website or click here for the International Relations careers PDF.
Additional Information
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