Other political science fields focus solely on topics such as campaigning, voter behavior and political structures. The fields of international relations will give experience in global topics such as power and conflict. One of the core parts of the degree will deal with foreign policy and diplomacy, as well as more specialized topics like terrorism and civil society. You will be expected to name global factors that shape the political spectrum such as treaties, multinational organizations and corporations and the civil and cultural features that contribute to the overall landscape of global politics.
Out of the the study of international relations grew the study of international political economy. With the rise of globalization, the study of political economy became increasingly important in international relations degree programs. This field focuses on the interaction of economy and politics on a global scale and how political backdrops and organizations create or tear apart certain economic structures. This field concerns itself with the political factors that gave birth to organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and organizations such as these have shaped the global political economy.
Successful completion in a degree program in this field requires an astute knowledge of how to conduct sound research and keenly analyze findings. Objectively sifting through information and weighing the validity of research methods is key to formulating sound thoughts in this field and will be tested frequently during your course work. Problem solving and conflict resolution will be central in all courses related to this field, as well.
Studying international relations teaches skill sets that can be applied across a wide spectrum of fields. You will have to contextually view the skills and methodologies that you used in your studies as you consider prospective careers. The research and deductive reasoning skills you have honed in this degree program can be applied to jobs in banking, management, intelligence, defense, media and marketing careers.