International Relations Minor

Program Website

Program Description

The Einaudi Center offers an International Relations Minor, which is an interdisciplinary program open to undergraduates enrolled in any of the seven Cornell undergraduate colleges. It provides a structured yet flexible program for undergraduates to take advantage of the vast resources available at the university for studying the politics, economics, history, languages, and cultures of the countries and regions of the world.

Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue further education in fields such as political science and anthropology and to successful careers in international law, economics, agriculture, trade, finance, and government service. They have worked in international and nongovernmental organizations, in cross-cultural affairs, in journalism, and in education.

The IR Minor is not a major or a department, but rather a program offering a selection of courses reaching across colleges and departments. Students pursue the Minor in addition to their regular degree. Students have majored in such fields as anthropology, city and regional planning, communications, government, history, natural resources, industrial and labor relations, and computer science. International course work and language study add a global and cross-cultural dimension to those majors. Some students even design an independent major in some aspect of international relations or comparative social or cultural studies. Spending a semester or year of study abroad can contribute to meeting the course requirements of the IR Minor, including the language requirement.

Study Abroad

IRM students are strongly encouraged to study abroad to bring a practical dimension to their expertise in international issues. Those who choose this option will find the requirements for the Minor highly compatible with courses taken abroad. To learn more about programs available for study abroad, consult the Office of Global Learning, and contact the Administrative Coordinator of the IR Minor to discuss how your study abroad program can help fulfill the Minor requirements.

Enrollment

Students may enroll in the International Relations Minor at any point but are encouraged to do so early in order to be put on the email list for announcements of news and activities of the program. There is no penalty for withdrawing from or not completing the Minor. To enroll, please contact the Administrative Coordinator.

Completion

Transcripts reflect successful completion of the requirements for the Minor. In addition, students receive a certificate and a letter of confirmation signed by the Director of the International Relations Minor and the Director of the Mario Einaudi Center. Students completing the regional expertise track will receive a special certificate indicating their area of regional specialization.