International Relations, Global Development, Human Rights

International Relations focuses on the relationships among governments, people, countries, and organizations. Positions include working in foreign service, policy, consulting, economic development, diplomacy, trade, security, and various other areas. International or global development is a multi-disciplinary field that focuses on building capacity and implementing long-term solutions to the problems of individuals, communities, or governments. Another broad and multidisciplinary field, human rights, is often defined as rights and freedoms inherent to all human beings, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been established as a roadmap to guarantee these rights.

Finding Internships

Use your time at school and during the summers to learn more about the field and build key skills. Keep in mind the importance of gaining regional and/or technical competence. Identify an organization whose mission you value, and check their website for opportunities, or be proactive and contact them. Organizations that arrange international opportunities are also plentiful. They typically charge a fee and provide a range of services that might include: placement with a host organization, orientation, housing, in-country support, housing assistance, and development training. Evaluate these organizations carefully to determine whether there’s a good match with the opportunity—as well as with the organization—and speak with several past participants about their experiences.

Finding Jobs

Entry-level jobs can be found in many settings. Identify organizations whose mission you value and follow them on LinkedIn. Check their websites for entry-level opportunities, which can include a post-graduate internship or fellowship. Learn more about the recruiting structure of organizations to help you plan your approach. Identify your interest areas and seek opportunities that will help you get experience and build skills. Foreign language ability, interpersonal skills, and cross-cultural competence are very important.

Graduate and Professional Programs

In addition to a master’s degree in either international relations/affairs or global development, other degrees include a master’s of public administration (M.P.A.) with an international development track or a master’s in business administration (M.B.A.) with a social enterprise focus. For a social justice approach, a juris doctor (J.D.) or master’s in social justice could be helpful. A Ph.D. in economics may be a consideration to address the more technical aspects of poverty alleviation. Finally, you might also consider a joint degree. Refer to APSIA (The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs) for more insight.

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The Benefits of Being Bilingual

Published on November 7, 2022

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Skill Building Courses

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To succeed in a cross-cultural business setting, it’s important to understand the differences in how people communicate. Language isn’t the…
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Managing Projects Across Cultures

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The success of your global project team is dependent on the ability of your team members to work effectively across…
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Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

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This business and management course, taught by Harvard Business School professor Tarun Khanna, takes an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding and…
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