What can you do with an international affairs degree?

Training in international affairs prepares you to solve problems through diplomacy, defense, and development work.

You can help manufacturers, communication firms, consultants, energy companies, and others move products and ideas around the world.

You can build the capacity of students and organizations through international education and cross-cultural training.

You can stop conflicts, fight disease, and slow environmental degradation.

APSIA graduates find meaningful careers addressing these issues in the public, private, non-profit, and multilateral sectors. The flexible training and interdisciplinary nature of APSIA degrees also enables graduates to change jobs and tackle new areas as they progress in their careers.

Learn more about careers in international affairs.

Sector Guides

Public Sector

Public sector employees handle a variety of responsibilities that are vital to society’s stability.

Multilateral

Multilateral organizations are tasked with responsibilities that no country can address alone.

Non-Governmental

Organizations in this sector are called a variety of names including nonprofit, not-for-profit, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Private

The private sector consists of for-profit companies that are independent from the state.

icon globe

Subject Areas

Communications & Public Relations

In an increasingly globalized world, communications professionals with knowledge of international affairs have a competitive advantage.

Conflict Resolution

The field of conflict resolution draws from anthropology, sociology, political science, law, and other disciplines to analyze the causes of war and systemic oppression.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The intersection of energy and environmental stability is a growing area of interest for the public, private, and non-governmental sectors.

HUMAN RIGHTS & INTERNATIONAL LAW

The magnitude of human rights challenges today far exceeds the capacity of institutions to address them. Increasingly there is a link between international development initiatives and human rights, with aid being tied to issues of democracy and governance.

DEVELOPMENT & RELIEF

Development is a complex field involving governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and intergovernmental agencies.

EDUCATION

International education encompasses careers in teaching, curriculum development, technical assistance, interpersonal exchange, capacity-building, training, public diplomacy, tourism, and the promotion of intercultural understanding.

RESEARCH (ACADEMIA & THINK TANKS)

The information explosion caused by big data collection and new technologies increases the demand for expert analysis; and academic organizations and think tanks are broadening their work to respond to these changing situations.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

There is an increasing awareness of the economic, political, and social consequences of scientific and technological advancements, as well as an expanding role for science and technology experts in the fields of international security, development, and trade.

SECURITY & INTELLIGENCE

A career in intelligence involves collecting, analyzing, and distributing information for strategic and tactical purposes.

TRADE POLICY

As barriers to trade and capital movement decline and foreign markets become increasingly interconnected, the impact of trade policies will continue to increase.