What can I do with a B.A. in International Affairs?
Eastern Washington University International Affairs Program
http://www.ewu.edu/x1961.xml
A bachelor's degree in International Affairs can lead to exciting careers in international,
national, federal, state, and local governments; law; business; international organizations;
nonprofit associations and organizations; campaign management and polling; journalism;
precollegiate education; electoral politics; research, and university and college teaching.
International Affairs majors gain foreign language skills, analytical skills, administrative
competence, and communication abilities that are valued in a wide spectrum of potential
career areas.
Example Jobs - International Affairs and Government/Political Science majors:
Activist, Advocate/Organizer
Administration, Corporate, Government,
Non-Profit, etc.
Archivist, Online Political Data
Budget Examiner or Analyst
Attorney
Banking Analyst or Executive
Campaign Operative
Career Counselor
CIA Analyst or Agent
City Planner
City Housing Administrator
Congressional Office/Committee Staffer
Coordinator of Federal or State Aid
Communications Director
Corporate Analyst
Corporate Public Affairs Advisor
Corporate Economist
Corporate Manager
Corporate Information Analyst
Corporate Adviser for Govt'l. Relations
Corporate Executive
Corporation Legislative Issues Manager
Customs Officer
Editor, Online Political Journal
Entrepreneur
Federal Government Analyst
Financial Consultant
Foreign Service Officer
Foundation President
Free-lance writer
High School Government Teacher
Immigration Officer
Information Manager
Intelligence Officer
International Agency Officer
International Research Specialist
Issues Analyst, Corporate Social Policy
Div.
Journalist
Juvenile Justice Specialist
Labor Relations Specialist
Legislative Analyst / Coordinator
Lobbyist
Management Analyst
Mediator
Plans and Review Officer, USIA
Policy Analyst
Political Commentator
Pollster
Public Affairs Research Analyst
Public Opinion Analyst
Publisher
Research Analyst
State Legislator
Survey Analyst
Systems Analyst
Teacher
University Administrator
University Professor
Urban Policy Planner
Web Content Editor
Usually there are two main routes to these jobs and the careers of which they are a part:
either they do not require a graduate-level degree, or they do.
Non-graduate degree options include the following:
I. Work for the Federal Government
www.opm.gov (choose USAJOBS on menu; includes resume-builder & -posting options)
Advantages: thorough on-the-job training, steady employment (depending on admin.),
clear advancement procedures
Disadvantages: lower pay (compared to business), nature of job may change with
change in U.S. executive’s administration; bureaucratic work can be routine
 Entry-level positions with government agencies (IRS)
 Other positions often requiring extensive examination process:
 CIA – domestic and international intelligence
 FBI – domestic intelligence
 Foreign Service - – supports US foreign policy mission from
locations throughout the world
http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/
 Civil Service – supports US foreign policy mission from D.C.
http://www.careers.state.gov/civil/
II. Private-sector jobs (may or may not require a graduate-level degree)
Advantages: often higher-paid positions than others; can be exciting and constantly
changing, depending on industry
Disadvantages: you may start out at low-level positions; employment usually less secure
than public sector
For more on the careers you can obtain with an IAP or Government major, see the
publication by the American Political Science Association (APSA), Careers and the
Study of Political Science. Order online at www.apsanet.org.
Graduate degree programs most often pursued by IA and Government majors
I.
Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
Advantages: good place for business networking; MBA’s can make a lot of money
Disadvantages: Business school can be limiting in terms of life experience; expensive
programs
II.
Masters in Public Administration (MPA)
Advantages: good place for public-policy networking; can lead directly to employment
Disadvantages: Public Admin. programs can be limiting in terms of life experience;
often not as expensive as MBA programs, but it is graduate school
III.
Juris Doctor (JD)/Law School
Advantages: good place for legal networking; can lead directly to employment
Disadvantages: law school programs can be limiting in terms of life experience; not as
expensive as MBA programs, but it’s grad. school; competitive atmosphere; law as a
profession is rather vulnerable to economic turns
IV.
International Programs
Masters in International Affairs (MIA)
 Language requirements/acquisition required
 Foreign working or education experience desirable
 Political Science (terminal Ph.D.)
 Application process
 Interview process (if necessary)
 Financial aid/assistantships
 MA exams/theses
 Comprehensive/Candidate exams & defense
 Dissertation proposal defense
 Dissertation research – aid
 Dissertation writing
 Dissertation defense
III. Work Overseas
Finally, there is the option of working overseas, regardless of whether you go to
grad. school. Here are some Web sites that may be useful to pursuing this option:
Peace Corps – www.peacecorps.gov
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
JET Program – one- to three-year stints teaching English in Japan
http://www.jetprogramme.org/index.html
There’s even a JET alumni association, at http://www.jet.org/
For more on working overseas, see
“Finding Nonacademic Work Overseas”, The Chronicle of Higher Education,
http://chronicle.com/jobs/2004/02/2004021601c.htm.
USEFUL CAREER WEB SITES FOR IAP MAJORS:
For more information about careers in International Affairs as well as
Government/Political Science, see http://www.apsanet.org/content_6457.cfm
See also the document, “Online Resources for Jobs in International Affairs and
Government/Political Science,” posted on the EWU International Affairs Program
Web Page, http://www.ewu.edu/x1961.xml