International affairs is the study of global issues, including war and diplomacy; global economics and trade; climate change and biodiversity; global health and education; and regional and transnational security. This interdisciplinary major brings together perspectives and methods from the disciplines of political science; history; economics; sociology; women’s, gender and sexuality studies; geography; and foreign languages.
Initially, the discipline of international relations (IR) developed as an attempt to understand and explain why such a catastrophic war as World War I took place. It was not until the end of the Cold War, however, that IR really came into its own.
Since then, a wide range of approaches to the field have been formulated. Realists stress the importance of power, while pluralists and constructivists stress the role of ideas, norms and identity in shaping relationships. Theorists have also focused on a number of different levels at which to analyze the international system, from the domestic level of the state as a unit to the transnational and intergovernmental level.
Those who graduate with a degree in international affairs will be well positioned for a career in the private sector in such fields as business, finance, law, aerospace technology and consulting. Nonprofit employment opportunities in the areas of international development assistance, human rights and public interest advocacy are also abundant. The field is growing alongside an increasingly complex and interconnected global landscape. UC’s international affairs students have a unique opportunity to take part in our 3+3 program, which allows them to earn both their undergraduate and law degrees in just six years.
