International Relations
Available as a major
There is no limit to how far a major in international relations can take you. Our program trains you to navigate the complex, interconnected world of global politics, economics, security and more. Students emerge as true world citizens ready to tackle pressing issues that transcend borders.
Our graduates, equipped with versatile skills and a nuanced understanding of global trends, have gone on to work in government, law, tech, research and cultural outreach, to name just a few paths taken.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings:
IR223 Comparitive Political Systems: Middle East
IR352 Human Rights Policy
IR353 U.S. Foreign Policy
What Makes Roanoke Different?
Hear firsthand from world leaders
Roanoke's Henry H. Fowler Public Policy Program has hosted speakers ranging from presidents, prime ministers, national commentators, Supreme Court justices, renowned scholars and recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Students have the chance to hear firsthand from global leaders and learn about issues facing the world.
Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki sat down with journalist Howard Kurtz for a conversation on "Civil Discourse and Democracy" on Nov. 12, 2019. Psaki served in high-level posts in two presidential administrations.
NPR national political correspondent and FOX News panelist Mara Liasson shared her insights about the landscape of the media and the electorate in a Nov. 2, 2022, talk entitled, "Implications of the Mid-Term Elections: A View of Democracy in America."
The 39th president of the United States made a headline-generating visit to Roanoke College on April 10, 1984. President Jimmy Carter delivered a talk entitled, "Conflict and Consensus: America Today."
The nation's fourth director of national intelligence offered his expertise on the complex and evolving field in a talk entitled, "Intelligence Needs for the Future." Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper's address took place on March 22, 2018.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who made history as the first woman to serve on the high court, headlined Roanoke College's 2009 commemoration of Constitution Day. Her talk on the subject of judicial independence took place on Sept. 17, 2009.
Travel and Study with Your Professor
Roanoke students have the opportunity to travel broadly with faculty and most of our students take advantage of this. All of our faculty lead month-long trips where they teach and travel with students.
Students travel to Uganda with Professor Joshua Rubongoya for May Term. They learn about politics in Uganda from an expert on the subject.
Roanoke students traveled with Dr. Snow to Israel and the West Bank to study the Arab-Israeli conflict and how it affects the lives of the diverse inhabitants of the region.
Student Experiences
A journey of a thousand miles and counting
Cameron McDonald’s education at Roanoke College has taken him to the other side of the world and back.
The international relations major, who’s also earning minors in multiple languages, had opportunities to travel to Japan for May Term and to take part in an in-depth research project in Korea — a trip that led to him being quoted in the Chosun Daily newspaper and invited along with his fellow students to visit with Prince Yi Jun.
McDonald ’24 also competed with Roanoke’s award-winning Model UN team and co-led a geopolitical analysis project that won first place in an international competition. His senior year, he was picked for the Washington Semester program, allowing him to live, intern and study full-time in the nation’s capital.
McDonald has his sights set next on law school and a career working in immigration advocacy and reform. His hope is to play a part in lightening the burden for other global travelers. “I just hope to spread a little bit of kindness in the world,” he said.
D.C. Dreams
For international relations major Alixandra Hunter '19, the chance to live and work full-time in the nation's capital with Roanoke College's Washington Semester program was a dream come true.
Hunter interned with the American Enterprise Institute, a high-profile think tank, working in its Foreign and Defense Policy Department with a focus on communications and the Middle East.
The work was a perfect fit for Hunter's interests in research and analysis. "Every day, I am both grateful and bewildered to spend my semester in such a delightful way," she said at the time.
She was later presented with one of the Washington Semester program's top awards for excellence.
Learn by Doing
Model UN students take on global policymaking
In the past year, Ellie Krull ’24 has found herself stepping into the role of a Tunisian diplomat, a Moldavian leader and a Bahraini emissary. The international whirlwind has been thanks to Roanoke College’s Model UN and Model Arab League, a program that puts students in the shoes of world leaders grappling with big questions.
“It’s been incredible,” Krull said. “We’ve been able to meet other people from around the world, debate, learn policymaking and even meet with an actual United Nations diplomat.”
Model UN, along with the similar Model Arab League, brings together rising young leaders from around the world to step into the role of diplomats who must persuade, lead and build consensus to solve pressing problems. The experience challenges students to deep dive into global issues, hone compelling arguments and work together as a team to pursue the goals of the country assigned to them for each event.
Public Affairs Society encourages discourse, critical thinking
The Public Affairs Society brings together passionate, curious students to consider current events from multiple perspectives. Through discussion groups and campus events, it aims to share ideas and encourage a robust civil discourse.
"It's just a respectful environment where you can talk about political things and learn more about issues without being afraid to voice your opinion," said Elizabeth Williams '26, an international relations major.
The society's weekly, student-led meetings explore a wide range of issues — politics, criminal justice, international affairs and more — that affect our world and shape our future.
Photo: In one example of the type of thought-provoking events it hosts, Roanoke College's Public Affairs Society organized a campus-wide panel on health care policy that allowed students to hear from subject-matter experts.
Careers & Outcomes
Building Bridges
In just a few short years, Gaston Ocampo ’20 has gone from Buenos Aires to Roanoke to Lisbon, a journey spanning more than 8,500 miles — and he’s not done yet. He’s out to change the world.
“My role and that of our organization is to build bridges,” said Ocampo, an international relations and business administration graduate. “In the regions we serve, multifaceted challenges persist, creating ripples that transcend borders and influence our collective future.”
Ocampo, who grew up in Argentina, was writing from his offices in Portugal, where he serves as secretary general of IPDAL, an international nonprofit dedicated to strengthening ties between Portugal, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The work puts Ocampo at the center of a whirlwind portfolio of global concerns. For the Maroon who co-founded the International Club, led the Public Affairs Society and did undergrad research in Turkey and Tunisia, it’s nothing short of a dream gig.
"My journey to IPDAL is intricately woven with my experiences and teachings at Roanoke," Ocampo said. "I arrived as a freshman all the way from Buenos Aires and found a community where I could get guidance from esteemed professors, unwavering support from staff and camaraderie from my fellow students. That was the foundation for a profound understanding and appreciation of the importance of global interconnectedness."
Direct From Roanoke To Deutschland
One language has never been enough for George Kendall ’23. The international relations major and magna cum laude graduate found himself continually inspired to explore, discover and foster understanding with other people around the globe.
That passion was supported at Roanoke College with language courses — Kendall earned a minor in German — and an opportunity to spend a semester immersed in Leipzig, Germany.
The experiences sharpened his skills and showed him what he was capable of, setting the stage for a new adventure when he was awarded a Fulbright, one of the most prestigious opportunities in international education.
The honor meant that Kendall headed to Germany again after graduation to devote a year to teaching and serving as a cultural ambassador. Throughout the Fulbright application process, he was supported by experienced advisors within Roanoke’s Office of Major Scholarships and Fellowships.
“That support was instrumental for me,” Kendall said. “I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere without it.”
Our grads get great jobs
An Education Without Borders
Adrian Gillem ’15 came to Roanoke from the U.S. Virgin Islands with a passion to learn more about the world around him. Now, he leads an international team of engineers as a senior program manager for Microsoft, a job he landed less than seven years after graduating.
In college, Gillem was an international relations major, Model U.N. representative and International Club mentor. While still a sophomore, he earned a prestigious, federal Gilman Scholarship and a Freeman-ASIA Scholarship to conduct research in Japan that he later presented at a conference.
He also worked on campus in the Information Technology Department — discovering a new passion that he’d blend with his international relations background to shape his career path. Prior to joining Microsoft, Gillem worked for Fortune 500 firm Booz Allen Hamilton as an IT strategist and developer, leading work in D.C., Japan and South Korea.
His interdisciplinary education taught him that his skills weren’t limited to one field. “I can be an IT professional who can extend my career into international relations through the work I do,” he said.
Faculty
News
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Market on Melrose is the result of nine years of research and development led by Professor Liz Ackley and Roanoke College’s Center for Community Health Innovation.
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Roanoke College Adjunct Professor Jeff Vick refereed the Roanoke city council and mayoral town hall, as well as the Salem city council forum.
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This marks the first official visit by a sitting ambassador in more than 100 years, and it is especially significant due to Roanoke College’s unique connection with Korea.
International Relations
International relations majors at Roanoke College don't just learn in the classroom. They're offered opportunities to travel the world through our 50+ study abroad partnerships and our innovative May Term program. They can intern in D.C. with our immersive Washington Semester initiative. Or they can intern right here in Roanoke with immigration attorneys, refugee resettlement agencies, ESL organizations and more.
The belief in getting real, hands-on experience is part of the core of a Roanoke education. Faculty mentors are committed to helping students tap into opportunities, and Maroons often get to tackle high-level work like conducting research sooner than their peers at other schools.
Our curriculum will offer you a strong foundation in political and policy analysis, history and world cultures. It also will sharpen your critical thinking skills and your ability to forge connections with others — talents that will serve you well long after graduation.
We offer a major in international relations and a minor in foreign politics.