Many graduate-level courses within an international relations program focus on politics and diplomacy. Students study contemporary issues in politics, public management theories and application, policy analyses, international law, historical geopolitics, cultural development, anthropology, international communications, U.S. foreign policy, environmental politics and international organizations. Courses often focus on a particular geographical area with titles such as Central and South America, eastern and western Europe, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and south and central Asia.
The skills involved in a running a successful business are similar to those needed to run any other kind of organization, so classes in business management often make up the other major portion of a program in international relations. Such required courses focus on business elements such as international economics; marketing strategies; political economy of regional systems; budgeting and financial management; conflict resolution; global communications, media and international affairs; and international trade, banking and finance.
Many international relations programs give students the option to choose about six credits of independent study. This flexibility allows students to tailor their programs according to their backgrounds and career aspirations. These courses typically focus on particular readings approved by graduate faculty.
Some programs also include internships. Students may work for 15 hours per week one semester to receive three hours of credit from the American Graduate School in Paris, for instance. The internship should help students see real-world applications of theories studied in the classroom.
Graduate programs often include courses that focus on research and culminate in the writing and presentation of a thesis or dissertation. In an international relations program, the paper likely represents the summation of a project that includes focused research and analysis of a current issue or organization. Students choose the project under faculty supervision to further personalize their program of instruction. The presentation of the thesis or dissertation often takes place during the student's final semester.