Online International Relations Doctorates
A doctorate in international relations involves a rigid interdisciplinary approach to the study of global issues. This advanced degree program aims to develop among students a comprehensive knowledge of both the theory and practice of international relations and enable them to do their own original research in this subject. It prepares students for various careers in higher education such as teaching positions in universities around the world, government or international service, international newspapers. Specifically, those who hold degrees in international relations land jobs as a diplomat, foreign affairs analyst, foreign affairs specialist, foreign service officer, immigration specialist, intelligence specialist, journalist, language specialist, market research analyst or an archivist demographer, among others.
Faculty members in this program represent different disciplines like political science, geography, history, international relations and economics. Their interests cover a wide range of concerns such as foreign policy, national security as well as contemporary issues spanning the globe like democratization, globalization, the environment, human rights, refugees, social movements, gender and development. Some may have specializations in late-modern and post-modern theories of international relations or have regional expertise.
Topics taken up in the study of international relations include the origins and evolution of the state system, international perspectives on sovereignty, justice, democracy, legitimacy and order, the spread of new norms and ideas as well as international cooperation and conflict. This field also looks into global security and prosperity including more recent issues like fighting international terrorism and setting up a fair international economic system. Regional topics cover international organizations, U.S. foreign policy, European integration, the Middle East and African politics.
Doctorate students in this program are expected to gain a deep understanding of the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict, the initiatives taken by international groups to air their stand on certain global issues and the process by which ideas are expressed. With globalization amidst us, it is very critical that students grasp the constant changes affecting the world and how the international community manages these changes.
This field of study normally requires skills in research and analyzing information from different sources sometimes in different languages. Students, therefore, must be equipped with skills in solving problems and evaluating arguments or conflicts. Both written and verbal skills are vital in presenting your points of view and making conclusions in required essays and seminars. These skills, once honed, will be very valuable in whatever field of profession you choose to enter. Graduates of a doctorate program in international studies are best qualified to join international organizations such as the United Nations, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as various voluntary, charitable and campaigning organizations like the Amnesty International or Greenpeace.