UMD Debuts International Relations Major

The University of Maryland’s Department of Government and Politics (GVPT) has launched a new international relations (IR) major, now available to prepare students to understand and address some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Built on the strength of GVPT’s long-running IR concentration—one of the department’s most in-demand pathways—the new major expands that foundation into a dedicated program of study. From global conflict and cooperation to environmental issues, migration and the international political economy, this program will equip students with the knowledge, skills and real-world experiences they need to make an impact in today’s interconnected world.

“I am very proud of our Department of Government and Politics for expanding their offerings to include a major in international relations,” said College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean Susan Rivera. “Our college's mission is to ‘be the solution to the world's great challenges,' and so I am thrilled that students are able to live out this mission through their studies in this new and certainly timely way."

The IR concentration has consistently attracted a large share of GVPT students, with between 96 and 123 graduates annually over the last five years—nearly half of all GVPT degrees granted annually. Elevating it to a full major provides a flexible but rigorous pathway for students who want to deepen their understanding of global systems and be leaders in shaping solutions.

“Addressing big problems like climate change, economic inequality, wars and pandemics requires understanding international relations,” said GVPT Professor David Cunningham, whose research on civil war, conflict bargaining and international security reflects long-standing expertise in the field. “Students in the IR major will gain key knowledge and tools to prepare them to tackle these global challenges.”

Students in the IR major can choose between two tracks, depending on their interests and career goals:

• The Bachelor of Arts offers a broad and flexible curriculum ideal for students interested in diplomacy, international development, nonprofits, law or policy work. The B.A. emphasizes understanding global systems, institutions and the conceptual foundations of international relations.
   
• The Bachelor of Science is research-focused and data-intensive, perfect for those aiming for policy analysis, think tanks, or graduate school. Students receive advanced training in political methodology and data analysis to complement their study of global issues.

Examples of courses available to IR students include “International Conflict,” “Global Political Economy,” “Comparative Politics of East Asia, “Climate and Environmental Politics,” “International Organizations and Global Governance” and “Political Data Science.” They not only build a strong academic foundation but also connect directly to today’s most pressing issues.

What sets the IR major apart are the experiential opportunities that come with it. Students can intern in nearby Washington, D.C., study abroad and work closely with renowned faculty researchers in small, discussion-based classes.

That access to hands-on international learning is what drew Zohneseh Fopenawoh ’25 to the concentration that became her major. Through the program, she studied human trafficking in Costa Rica and received a fellowship that, she said, “connected me with ambassadors and foreign service professionals who now mentor me.”

UMD’s new international relations major gives students the foundation and connections to turn their global ambitions into real-world impact, preparing them for careers in government, law, non-governmental organizations and international business.