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International Relations Associates Degree Requirements

Associate's Degree in International Relations

Have you ever had a block party in your neighborhood? Have you ever invited your neighbors over for a barbeque? Have you ever gotten into an argument with a neighbor? Or, more commonly, has a neighbor ever irritated you to the extent that you just stopped talking to them? All of these things and more are very likely when you're living in close proximity to others. The world in many ways works like a big community, each country like an individual household whose member must get along with the neighboring countries.

international relations degrees Although, the modern era's technology has made the world a little smaller, which means that even countries on the other side of the world can seem just like they are next door neighbors. For countries to effectively survive and interact with their neighbors, they need to have a good understanding of how to be a good citizen in their neighborhood. And this requires a multitude of individuals who have studied international relations. If you're interested in the past, the present, and the future of this exhilarating neighborhood, then you're ready to enroll for your Associate's Degree in international relations. Find the degree requirements from any school below.

Like other liberal arts degree programs, an Associate's Degree in international relations does not seek to prepare you for one particular career path. Instead, it is designed to equip you with a wide range of knowledge and skills that have diverse opportunities for application. There are many elements to our multifaceted relationships with our global neighbors, so naturally a degree in international relations necessarily needs to make you an expert in several different fields. These areas of study typically include economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, history, and business. More specific content such as comparative government, modern terrorism, the United Nations, and international law are also commonly included inside of degree programs. And in addition to this important set of knowledge is a focus on communication skills, research, interpersonal relationships, and teamwork, all designed to equip students with not just knowledge, but with the ability to apply it in the various settings that they'll be required to do so.

Other careers that may or may not be associated with government include archivists, journalists, demographers, market research, and business marketers. Businesses interested in starting or expanding their relationships within the international community require specialists who can adeptly provide the information and techniques that permit them to thrive in foreign communities.

So while living beside neighbors can have its pros and cons, so too can living in an ever-shrinking global community. A nation with talented international relations experts is a nation that is equipped to be at the leading edge of every global interaction, preventing war, promoting peace and trade, and generally turning Earth into a very wonderful neighborhood. Earning your Associate's Degree in international relations means acquiring a broad skillset and knowledgebase to lead you into a lucrative career. So many institutions in government and business are waiting for your talents to help guide them to success. So make your move today and enroll in your Associate's Degree program for international relations.

 

International Relations Associates Degree Curriculum


It’s recommended that you take elective courses that are closely related to your degree rather than generic courses, especially if you plan on transferring your earned credits to a higher level degree after you graduate with your Associates degree. The below are some of the core courses we recommend taking.


Political Science – Learn how governments are impacted by bureaucracy. You’ll cover the political system in the US and learn how issues affect voting patterns.


Global Business and Policies – Get familiar with how businesses are ran globally. Understand the policies for foreign companies and how they affect companies that do business outside the US.


Communications – It is essential that you have good communications skills in business. Being able to properly communicate with international businesses is key to success. You’ll take communication courses during your Associates degree that focus on international relations.


World Geography – Understanding world geography and how it relates to international politics. The political makeup of the world affects how companies can and can’t do business.


Global Security and International Affairs – Learn what it takes to work internationally safely. Learn how technology and economic conditions affect how safely you can work in some countries.


International Law – Doing business oversees can be risky for any company as sometimes they aren’t legally protected like they are in the US. Doing business internationally means abiding by the rules and laws of the country you are doing business in. You’ll learn these laws and how to protect the company you are working for.

 

Interview with International Relations Manager


Question: Please introduce yourself and tell us what type of company do you work for and what is your formal education?


Answer: My name is Roberto Brunson and I work for a commodities company. My main role is the international relations manager in charge of the Pacific Rim. I currently have my MBA and my undergraduate degree is in international relations.
Question: What is your main role with the company?


Answer: Our company buys and sells top commodities so I spend most of my time dealing with the companies we work with making sure shipments are set up correctly and that we don’t have a breakdown in communication. I deal with customs a lot and both on the international side as well as the US. All of our shipments are by sea.


Question: What is the hardest thing about your job


Answer: I travel 80% of the time. I spend 3 weeks out of the month oversees. Probably the hardest thing however is the language barrier. I had 4 years of a foreign language in college but that would be my biggest weakness.


International Relations Careers


- Legal Assistant
- Security and Research Analyst
- Financial Office
- Customs Agent
- International Manager