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Make a positive difference in the world

Become an agent of change

When we work together, there’s nothing we can’t solve. Take the international response to the recent refugee crisis, for example. Or the U.N.-led efforts to reduce global poverty, which have had impressive success thanks to international cooperation.

The international relations program at Eckerd College melds theory and practice through discussions, simulations, service and study abroad to teach the strategies and political dynamics of global cooperation

Only@Eckerd

Face-to-face encounters

This is the only college we know where you can:

  • Spend January learning about the United Nations AT the U.N. in New York City
  • Study diplomacy with the former UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Ukraine right here on our Florida campus
  • Visit global organizations like the World Trade Organization and the International Organization for Migration while touring Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Participate in global service in the local community or in countries like Nicaragua, Peru, Tanzania or Ukraine

Real experience

While pursuing a complete liberal arts education, our International Relations & Global Affairs majors become proficient in at least one language and complete a Practicum that links their coursework to practical experiences, such as an internship, international service or study abroad. The skills you’ll gain will make you more attractive to employers.

International and Global Relations major David Nitsch '13

In Their Own Words

“At Eckerd you see firsthand how global institutions work on a daily basis to ensure peace. The most gratifying intellectual experiences of my life took place not just in classrooms, but also among a group of talented peers conversing with civil servants and diplomats in The Hague and Strasbourg. I used my IRGA degree to enter the field of international development. Lessons of discipline, leadership, and humanity have enabled my success as a manager and, now, a mentor to others. Making the world a better place requires more than just sentiment. It requires uniquely qualified, capable, and ambitious leaders, and the IRGA program equips students to achieve this.”
— David Nitsch ’13
Nonprofit Management Professional

Beyond the Classroom

  • Beit HaGefen Arab Jewish Cultural Center, Haifa, Israel
  • Bowls for Good, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights, Boston, MA
  • Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, FL
  • International Relations Office, City of San Antonio, TX
  • Marshall Legacy Institute, Washington, D.C.
  • Quality Assurance Intern, Walker Information, Indianapolis, IN

Study the United Nations at the UN in New York City, the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, a host of international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, or the peace process in Colombia.

Expand your language skills with a semester abroad in Spain, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Tanzania or … really, anywhere else in the world.

Study Abroad Pics on Flickr

Service is built right into your classes. You may find yourself coordinating donations for refugee families or migrant farm workers, or tutoring Cuban, Nigerian, Central African and Venezuelan immigrants in St. Petersburg.

Service Pics on Flickr

Popular classes

Globalization of Crime

Analyze key actors in the global criminal underworld and the international response to transnational crime. Topics include narcotrafficking, piracy, money laundering, shell corporations and online scams.

Humans Rights & International Law

Explore the full range of international human rights — political, economic, social, cultural — and the role of the United Nations and other international organizations in implementing human rights standards. Topics include women’s rights, protection of minorities, and the right to economic subsistence.

United Nations in New York

Outcomes

What can I do with an International Relations and Global Affairs major?

  • Business Person
  • Case Manager for Refugee Resettlement
  • Communications Specialist
  • Diplomat, U.S. Foreign Service
  • Educator
  • Environmental Activist
  • International Lawyer
  • Investigative Program Analyst
  • Journalist
  • Legislative Aide
  • Security Analyst

Where our International Relations and Global Affairs majors go to graduate school

  • American University
  • American University Law School
  • Elliott School of International Affairs
  • George Washington University
  • George Washington University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • Kings College of London
  • London School of Economics
  • New York University
  • North Carolina State University
  • Princeton University
  • William and Mary Law School

Where our International Relations and Global Affairs majors go to work

Sign up for more about Eckerd and our international relations and global affairs program
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