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Although International Relations (IR) is one of the most popular majors at Tufts, it also has a reputation for being particularly demanding and rigorous, which often deters people from declaring the major. Like many first year students, I found myself torn between majoring in political science and international relations. While the two share similarities, IR is distinctly interdisciplinary, requiring students to take a total of five core classes, six to seven concentration courses, and around eight semesters of a language. While I love my major, its extensive requirements can often leave prospective majors confused on what IR actually entails. 

Since overcoming my fears, I’ve made it somewhat of a priority to make IR seem more approachable to prospective students on my tours, as well as for friends or peers considering the major. I truly believe that IR is one of the most rewarding programs Tufts offers, and I only wish I’d had access to a simplified guide to the major when I began considering it –  something I hope this blog post can provide. 

First, all IR majors are required to take 5 core classes aimed at providing a concrete foundation of international relations. These requirements are: Introduction to International Relations, Introductory Economics, International Economics, History, and Theories of Society and Culture. While all IR majors complete this same set of requirements, four of the five can be fulfilled through a range of different courses. This flexibility gives students freedom to build their own path within IR, but can also feel daunting to students without a clear idea of what they want to study. 

When my friends and I reflect on what made us hesitant to study IR, taking two semesters of economics was a major source of our hesitation. Now that I have completed the requirement, I can confidently advise you not to let a fear of math and economics scare you away from the IR major. To be honest, I didn’t love my two semesters of econ, but I did get through them and learn a lot. In fact, studying a subject that neither came naturally to me nor evoked much passion in me turned out to be a valuable experience. 

In addition to the core classes, IR majors choose one of six concentrations aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of a specific discipline within IR. These include: Regional and Comparative Analysis, International Economics, Global Health, Nutrition, and the Environment, International Security, Globalization, and Identity. I chose to concentrate in International Security, which explores the causes and consequences of war as well as conditions for peace, covering topics such as terrorism, decolonization, global institutions, and much more. 

My advice when choosing a concentration: don’t be overwhelmed by the six options. They’re all quite distinct, so it’s more important to reflect on what sparks your interest, rather than trying to narrow down a large list of concentrations. The IR curriculum website is an excellent resource as it provides detailed descriptions of each concentration along with an extensive list of courses that count toward them.  

The final demand of IR majors is to take eight semesters (or the equivalent) of a foreign language. In my experience, this requirement is the biggest reason why people don’t study IR. Yes, eight semesters is a lot, however, my Arabic classes have undoubtedly been the most fulfilling courses I’ve taken at Tufts. For students who have previous exposure to a foreign language, Tufts offers a placement exam to assess their proficiency and place them in the appropriate course level. So if you’re continuing with a language you have already learned, you likely won’t need to take all eight semesters. Although this requirement can be overwhelming, the language department is excellent, and this requirement adds a new dimension to understanding other cultures. 

If you couldn’t tell, I love being an IR major (no this is not an advertisement for the IR department). As someone who was once terrified of my own major, I can confidently say that the requirements I once feared are what makes it so fulfilling. Looking back, I am so grateful that I was determined to stick to IR, as it has opened the door to so many opportunities, friendships, and has immersed me in cultures and histories I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise.