Knox Faculty Panel Explores Global Conflicts, Political Rhetoric Ahead of Election
Faculty experts provided context on major regional conflicts, including those in the Middle East, Ukraine, and East Asia.
International Relations
Become a citizen of the world. Understand it, research it, belong to it—and change it for the better.
Major or Minor in International Relations
Course Spotlight
Small, discussion‑driven classes and close relationships with faculty create space for real debate, research guidance, and the free exchange of ideas. These courses help you build the communication, research, and writing skills that prepare you for a wide range of careers and graduate programs.
- PS 207 Russian Foreign Policy
- PS 209 Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy
- PS 236 Nationalism
- PS 266 Nuclear Politics
- PS 310 International Organizations
Experience the World Firsthand
International Relations at Knox is built on immersive, hands‑on experiences. You’ll learn from faculty who are published experts and deeply committed to helping you grow as a scholar and global citizen. Outside the classroom, opportunities like internships, study abroad, and funded off‑campus research make it easy to explore the world.
Through programs such as Power of Experience Grants, the Richter Program, and Chicago Term, students collaborate with faculty, conduct independent research, and live and learn in new environments—near home or across the globe.
Explore Connected Programs
International Relations pairs well with other programs, opening pathways for students to broaden their global and cultural perspectives.
What Our International Relations Alumni Are Doing
Knox International Relations grads are ready for careers and graduate study across the globe. Alumni have gone on to doctorate and master’s programs at institutions that include the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, George Washington University, Georgetown, the University of Manchester, and the University of Arizona. Many also choose to attend law school as they prepare for work in policy, diplomacy, and public service. Students interested in legal studies can explore our Law program to build a strong foundation for that path.
- Ferran Costa ’94 | Ambassador to the United Nations for Andorra
- Talip Kilic ’04 | Acting Manager & Senior Program Manager, World Bank Development Data Group (Living Standards Measurement Unit)
- Emaad Hassan ’07 | Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation
- Stephen Herzog ’09 | Professor of the Practice, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies; Academic Co‑Chair, Beyond Nuclear Deterrence Working Group
- Khadija Bouseen ’15 | Manager, Resilient Fisheries, Environmental Defense Fund
International Relations News
Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Kendra McSweeney to Hold Public Lecture at Knox College
Professor McSweeney’s lecture offers an opportunity for the Knox and Galesburg communities to engage with her expertise on human-environment interactions.
Four Alumni Honored During 2024 Knox Alumni Achievement Awards
Established in 1938, the Alumni Achievement Awards recognize outstanding career achievements by graduates.
International Relations FAQs
International Relations students leave here with a world of possibilities, both domestic and international. IR graduates have worked in South Korea teaching English, in Morocco with the Peace Corps, in Spain providing social media content for Stanton Chase, a global executive search firm, and in the United States in the non-profit sector, promoting human rights and global health.
Many International Relations majors study abroad in Dublin, the London School of Economics, in Morocco, Prague, and Geneva. They gather together to read current scholarship and make podcast episodes about it. And they get to learn and develop their knowledge of International Relations on a truly international campus with a highly diverse and engaging student body from around the world.
You don’t have to study abroad to major in International Relations, but many students want to… it brings what you’re learning to life. At Knox, global experiences are accessible through Power of Experience Grants and the Richter Program, which can help fund travel, research, or off‑campus study. The Stellyes Center for Global Studies can help you explore options, compare programs, and find an experience that feels right for you.
Whether you choose to go abroad or not, you’ll still find plenty of ways to explore international politics through coursework, campus events, and hands‑on opportunities.
Is Knox for you?
Contact us to find out more about our comprehensive majors, minors, and programs.
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