Welcome to the International Relations Program

From Traci Sebastian, International Relations Program Academic Advisor
		Welcome to the International Relations Program! The IR additional major and minor are shining examples of Carnegie Mellon University's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning in a global context. Not only is the IR program itself interdisciplinary, with course offerings from a number of departments, but the student participants themselves are interdisciplinary as well: all students in the program have a primary major in another department or school at Carnegie Mellon, which stimulates rich discussions and broader perspectives. The IR program allows students to take this interdisciplinary focus and apply it to global issues, both inside and outside of the classroom. As your academic advisor, I look forward to working with you to determine whether an additional major or minor is right for you, and to make sure that you stay on track academically while taking courses that challenge you intellectually.
From Kiron Skinner, Ph.D. International Relations Program Director
		I am delighted to welcome you to the International Relations major at Carnegie Mellon University. I am the program's director and am also a faculty member with the departments of Social and Decision Sciences and History. My main research focus is the role that the U.S. played in ending the Cold War. The IR program offers a rigorous curriculum on global issues. Courses are designed to inform, to provoke, and to inspire students to think seriously about pressing political, economic, social, and ecological concerns in the contemporary world. We encourage you to choose courses that complement your academic interests. Upon completion of the program, students will emerge with a more sophisticated understanding of important core concepts, with a greater awareness of alternative solutions to global dilemmas, and with an enhanced confidence in your ability to articulate informed positions on these important issues.
From John Lehoczky, Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
		Welcome to International Relations, one of Carnegie Mellon's fastest-growing majors. The IR program was launched in 1999 as part of the university's ongoing efforts to ensure that students have the cross-cultural perspective they need to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. What makes the IR program at Carnegie Mellon distinctive is its interdisciplinary curriculum. Three departments--History, Modern Languages, and Social and Decision Sciences--oversee the program. This gives you, the student, a comprehensive and balanced view of global politics, culture, language, and economics. The program also provides plenty of opportunities outside the classroom that I'd urge you to take advantage of, including study abroad trips, internships in Washington, D.C., and lectures by influential government officials and policy makers. I hope that you'll find IR to be both intellectually and professionally rewarding.