Department of Political and Global Affairs
What is International Relations?
Welcome to the International Relations degree page!
Already a student? Use the drop down menu above to find news & resources.
Interested in the program? Great! Read below for information on our program offerings and the PGA department, scholarships, and more.
Are you an international student interested in International Relations at MTSU? Click here for MTSU International Affairs Office. This is where you can find information on international applications, visas, and scholarships.
What is International Relations?
The International Relations major is for students interested in global affairs. Students takes classes that illuminate world politics, U.S. foreign policy, and many aspects of the global system, including diplomacy, development, trade, war and peace, human rights, authoritarian governance and democratic backsliding, migration and refugee flows, and much more.
International Relations majors can take classes led by PGA faculty with expertise in Africa and the Middle East, China and Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the European Union, and Latin America. Our PGA IR faculty are involved with high quality research, political analysis, and speaking engagements with leading media outlets and lecture series.
We also recommend IR majors do interdisciplinary “world regional minors” which include African Studies, Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Modern European Studies, Russian Studies, and more. These minors open up the opportunity to take classes from other departments across MTSU, such as foreign languages, history, culture studies, literature and art, and much more.
IR majors are highly encouraged to study abroad. MTSU and PGA support study abroad through a dedicated MTSU Education Abroad department, which oversees everything from selecting a program to fit your academic needs to scholarships & financial aid. We also welcome international students to our department every academic year. Our vibrant international community enriches our classes with different perspectives and world views. Throughout the year, we often hold intercultural events such as potlucks and seminars on global topics.
IR majors are also able to take advantage of our Washington Center Program internship in Washington, DC, which allows students to live and work full-time in an area related to their career goals.
Scroll through to read more about major/minor requirements, classes that you can take, department offerings, and much more. Questions? Contact us at pga@mtsu.edu for help.
International Relations Classes
Note: Students should always meet with their academic & faculty advisors when selecting their classes. Some substitutions may be made with advisor approval.
To visit the International Relations Academic Degree Map, please click here.
Majors will also take on 2 minors. We encourage the World Regional Minors, which allow for students to take classes across MTSU departments, including foreign language, history, culture & literature studies, and much more.
Major Requirements (37 hours)
- PS 1010 – Introduction to Global Politics
- PS 2000 – Political Science and International Relations as a Profession
- PS 3001 – Research Methods in Political Science (formerly PS 4000)
- PS 3210 – International Relations
- PS 3220 – Comparative Politics
- PS 4240 – American Foreign Policy
- PS 4801 – Senior Seminar in International Relations
International Relations (6 hours)
- PS 4275 – NGOs and Non-Profits
- PS 3335 – International Development
- PS 3500 – International Law
- PS 4510 – International Political Economy
- PS 3780 – Study Abroad
- PS 3910 – International Organization
- PS 4030 – Human Rights
- PS 4070 – Political Violence and Terrorism
- PS 4210 – International Conflict: Causes, Consequences, and Responses
- PS 4260 – Women and Public Policy
- PS 4325 – Chinese Politics
- PS 4690 – International Relations of the Middle East
- PS 4860 – Topics in International Relations
Comparative Government (6 hours)
- PS 3780 – Study Abroad
- PS 4180 – Contemporary African Politics
- PS 4190 – Contemporary Middle East Politics
- PS 4260 – Women and Public Policy
- PS 4300 – Policymaking in the European Union
- PS 4310 – Comparative Asian Government
- PS 4325 – Chinese Politics
- PS 4770 – Russian Politics
- PS 4850 – Topics in Comparative Politics
- PS 4900 – Latin American Politics
Political Science Electives (6 hours)
Six hours from the courses listed above or from:
- PS 4150 – Global Issues in Human Trafficking
- PS 4200 – Directed Studies
- PS 4230 – Classical Political Theory
- PS 4280 – The Washington Experience
- PS 4290 – Public Service Internship
- PS 4700 – American Political Thought
- PS 4800 – Senior Seminar
- PS 4850 – Topics in Comparative Politics
- PS 4860 – Topics in International Relations
- PS 4920 – Modern Political Theory
- PS 4930 – Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy
- PS 4950 – Community-Based Research Practicum
- PS 4970 – Undergraduate Research
Why choose to study International Relations?
If you are an internationally-minded person interested in government, politics, law, and policy AND other countries and cultures, IR would be a great fit for you. IR is part of Political Science and aims to study how countries, governments, state and non-state actors, and organizations interact with one another.
If you have career goals to work in international diplomacy, non-governmental organizations and international charities, international organizations such as the United Nations, or within advocacy or analysis for international phenomena such as immigration/migration, economics/trade, or climate change, then IR is a strong fit for you.
A major or career in International Relations also can provide exciting opportunities to experience other cultures through travel abroad to destinations such as Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Venice, Sâo Paulo, Nairobi, and London. MTSU & PGA support students studying abroad through a dedicated MTSU Education Abroad office.
Moreover, International Relations majors develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, and communication that are helpful in a wide range of possible careers.
After graduation, an International Relations major can lead to careers in:
- government
- diplomacy and foreign affairs
- business
- academia
- risk management
- military affairs
- intelligence
- education and research
- health care
- nonprofit organizations focused on human rights, refugee assistance, and more
Fellowships & Scholarships
PGA has an excellent track record of award winners for national and international competitive scholarships and fellowships, including Fulbright, Gilman, Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Scholarship, Peace Corps, Critical Language Scholarship, the Boren Award, Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship, US-UK Summer Fulbright Award, and more. We have also had finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, and the Truman Scholarship. We encourage students to apply to opportunities and to seek guidance from faculty advisors and the staff at the University Honors College.
Graduate School
Our IR majors are equipped to continue on to graduate school. Many of our graduates elect to attend graduate schools around the world. PGA offers a MA in International Affairs which welcomes all undergraduate majors, and IR graduates are especially prepared.
Our graduates have gone on recently to the following graduate schools:
Emory University
University of Cambridge
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Vanderbilt University
University of Arkansas
Indiana University – Bloomington
Belmont University
The George Washington University
Columbia University
Lipscomb University
American University
University of Pennsylvania
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
George Mason University
…and many more.
You can visit our Spotlight on Graduates page to see highlights of some of our excellent PGA grads!
PGA & International Relations Faculty
Our PGA faculty have decades of professional experience that includes working in non-profits, the public sector, community service, city management, federal and state government, and in research-intensive positions around the world.
Our IR faculty represent a vibrant, diverse international academic community. Our professors have decades of experience researching topics such as international migration, Eurasian politics, Russian history and politics, international security, peacekeeping, human trafficking prevention and awareness, international organizations, African politics, nonstate actors, and much more.
PGA will often bring in guest speakers from different career paths, allowing students to get a glimpse of the variety of opportunities available to pursue. We also coordinate with MTSU departments and external partners to provide students with workshops, seminars, and hands-on activities related to their professional development.
You can view our faculty here. The current contact person for International Relations is Dr. Steven Livingston (steven.livingston@mtsu.edu).
Our award-winning PGA Faculty are engaged with research, professional speaking, and hands-on instructional design. Moreover, the faculty are responsive, student-focused, and put an emphasis on engaging instruction.
Professional Work Experience & Mentoring
MTSU is located about 35 miles from Nashville, allowing for students to be centrally linked to the state capital for internships and work opportunities as well as events. We are also situated centrally to thriving workforce economies in Murfreesboro, Franklin, Brentwood, and Chattanooga.
International Relations students are especially encouraged to pursue our Washington Center Internship Program which allows for MTSU students to live and work full-time for an entire semester in Washington, DC. Past participants have worked in leading non-profits and charities, the US government, State Department, Embassies, think tanks, and international organizations.
All MTSU students are encouraged to study abroad, and IR students are especially encouraged to do so. MTSU Education Abroad offers assistance from start to finish, including helping with finding an appropriate program to fit your interests and personal circumstances and with financial aid. Studying abroad can help you gain intercultural skills, language skills if you are practicing in an immersion course, and give you the confidence to travel and explore the world around you.
We routinely partner with MTSU resources across campus, such as the Career Development Center, to bring workshops and seminars to students. We also have an introductory course to Political Science and International Relations which teaches students about job hunting, resume/CVs, networking, what career paths are open to them, MTSU resources, and much more. This course incorporates selected Virtual Mentors — these are PGA grads who volunteer their time to mentor current students. We also provide free tutoring for several of our classes in the MTSU Walker Library or over Zoom.
Students are also appropriately prepared for continued education at the postgraduate level. Many of our PGA graduates go on to study in postgraduate schools across the world, including Washington, DC, London, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, and in our own MA in International Affairs program at MTSU.
Masters in International Affairs Program (MAIA)
The Masters in International Affairs program (“MAIA”) at MTSU is offered by the Department of Political & Global Affairs. IR majors/minors will be well-suited for this program, which can be completed in as little as 3 semesters.
MAIA faculty are often the same as for your undergraduate classes, but you are also able to take courses from other departments. You can visit the MAIA page for information about admissions, requirements to apply, and the degree map. The current Director is Dr. Jon DiCicco (jon.dicicco@mtsu.edu).
Events & Community
The Department of Political & Global Affairs fosters a diverse, inclusive, and open community for all students to thrive. MTSU often hosts events and opportunities for professional and academic development, as well as for social and community involvement. PGA encourages students to get involved with our departmental student groups and competitive teams, independent and collaborative research, studying or interning abroad, volunteering, civic engagement, and taking care of your mental & physical health.
We often sponsor fun activities for students, such as an Annual PGA Bike Ride in Nashville, outings to sports events, intercultural potlucks, and more. Students are highly involved in departmental student groups and receive support from PGA.
Various departments across MTSU and the College of Liberal Arts will bring in speakers and guest lecturers. We share information relevant to PGA students on our social media pages and via email. See some past examples below.
Find More Information
If you are a current student in International Relations please use the drop down menu to see important news and resources available to you.
If you are a prospective International Relations student, feel free to look through the available tabs and to contact us with any questions you have regarding the program, PGA, and MTSU.
Full Program Requirements can be found here.
International Relations Scholarships can be found here.
The Program Director for International Relations is Dr. Steven Livingston (steven.livingston@mtsu.edu).
You can submit a request for more information here.
Are you an international student interested in IR at MTSU? Click here for MTSU International Affairs Office.
We can be reached at pga@mtsu.edu or you may visit this page to learn how to apply today!
Our social media accounts are under the handle @mtsupga. You can follow us for daily updates and news.