Message From the Chair

Welcome to the Department of International Relations. In today’s world, every field of endeavor can have an international dimension. The study of international relations can be of use no matter what career you pursue. A working knowledge of world affairs will make you a better business executive, lawyer, environmental scientist, politician, journalist, civil servant, educator or public citizen.

Our department offers a special blend of the academic and the practical applications of international affairs. We offer a multidisciplinary curriculum which encompasses not only the traditional studies of politics, trade, investments, war and peace but also social science oriented studies in history, economics, geography, anthropology and other disciplines.

Our Department is continually developing new areas of study, such as IR & Religion, IR & Communication, and Global Development, and will continue to expand to suit the needs of expanded global awareness of international affairs.

The faculty members at the Department provide students with a rich and broad base of resources. Among our distinguished faculty can be found former military officers; three retired Ambassadors, two American and one Pakistani; several former Fulbright fellows; a retired Central Intelligence Agency officer; former Foreign Service Institute and Foreign Broadcast Information Service officers; an international lawyer and best-selling author; and many more distinguished scholars, professionals and specialists in international affairs who combine both academic and practical training and interests. These faculty are full-time members of the  department and the Boston University Community. They are available to students both in and outside of the classroom. The IR Department is proud of its strong commitment to the teaching and training of both undergraduate and graduate students.