by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in International Relations and National Security trains students to evaluate and analyze national defense policy and international relations. Studies focus on the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy, international politics, applications of diplomacy, military power, and intelligence in relation to national defense. Students are prepared to promote regional stability and how to take action in a crisis.
Some of the classes that you will take in this major are history, public policy analysis, homeland security, threat scenarios, foreign policy analysis, international law and organization, international relations theory, and leadership.
A degree in International Relations & National Security covers International Relations And National Security Studies. Continue reading for the essential details every international relations & national security major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering international relations & national security programs.
Nationwide, international relations & national security is a popular field of study, with 13,035 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best International Relations & National Security Schools ranking analyzes these 364 schools to determine the best overall colleges for international relations & national security students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of international relations & national security programs later in this article.
Programs in International Relations & National Security build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations international relations & national security graduates commonly enter.
This career requires sharp analytical and reasoning skills as you evaluate aspects of national defense and international relations policy. Professionals will need to keep calm in tense situations and carefully communicate details to superiors, co-workers and the general public. Develop organizational and time management skills while in college in order to balance lectures, reading, writing, and staying up to date with current events.
Innovative and creative thinking will help you propose solutions to issues, based in theories and policies learned in the classroom. You will be asked to put theory into practice as you develop methods of keeping America safe.
The skill set developed in a international relations & national security program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a international relations & national security major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several international relations & national security degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,454 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,460 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 101 |
People currently working in careers related to international relations & national security tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.8% |
| Master’s degree | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in international relations & national security careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A major in International Relationships and National Security will open many doors for you. Graduates find positions working all over the world affecting national and global political, economic, cultural, and social systems. You can translate your skills to become a Foreign Service officer or work for a government agency or work in a civil service position. Graduates also find work in the military or in homeland security, as well as in transnational business, congress or the United Nations.
Majoring in international relations & national security can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to international relations & national security.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to international relations & national security.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of international relations & national security graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,048 |
| 4 years | $67,113 |
| 5 years | $78,479 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for international relations & national security graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers international relations & national security grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
With 364 different international relations & national security programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased international relations & national security school rankings to help you.
Those considering international relations & national security, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| International Relations and Affairs | 11,684 |
| National Security Policy Studies | 788 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies, Other | 563 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science and Government | 44,942 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 496 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
