M.A. in International Relations

The Graduate Program in International Relations (IR) at Yale offers outstanding students an opportunity to study international relations in an academically rigorous yet flexible program.  Students develop a strong grounding in the theories of the core disciplines of international relations - economics, history and political science – while thoughtfully addressing policy and applied concerns of contemporary international affairs.

Yale’s IR program occupies a unique place among international affairs M.A. programs, balancing academic rigor with policy applications. It is a relatively small program, with 30-35 students in each entering class. Working closely with the Director of Graduate Studies, each master’s candidate pursues an individualized course of study, taking advantage of an extraordinary range of resources throughout Yale University.

The IR Master’s program prepares graduates for leadership positions in the international field. The interdisciplinary nature of the program, coupled with the diverse interests of students who pursue the degree, opens opportunities across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. IR graduates pursue a broad range of career paths including: policy analysis, trade and economic development, foreign affairs analysis, human rights, international finance, environmental policy, and security policy.