If discussions about world events, international diplomacy, political conflict, and trade agreements get your heart racing, and the prospect of working for a government branch, a non-governmental organization (NGO), or a multinational corporation excite you even more, a graduate degree in international relations and affairs might suit you to a tee.

Graduate students in international affairs seek to understand international policy, economics, and statistics, so that they may apply their knowledge to help further the objectives of their future employers. A background in the social sciences is typical for most prospective students and an understanding of macro- and microeconomics is essential.

Admissions Requirements
Schools often expect that their students have a good knowledge of one or more foreign languages prior to graduation. Some schools even require proficiency in a foreign language prior to admission. Interested applicants should research the foreign language requirements early in the admissions process.

Other standard admissions requirements include the GRE General Test, two to three letters of recommendation, a bachelor's degree at an accredited institution, academic transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended, a personal statement or statement of purpose, the official application, and any application fee. International students are normally required to submit a TOEFL score in addition to the other requirements.

The most common undergraduate majors include Political Science, International Relations, History, and Economics, although none of these are required for admission.

Non-Academic Program Features
Another important part of the graduate school experience is participation in a wealth of international programs. Summer internship opportunities are an important part of this master's level program. Prospective students should research opportunities for study abroad at the schools they are considering prior to applying. A few schools offer part-time study, but taking advantage of the opportunities to go abroad as a full-time student is invaluable.

Academics
Once students matriculate at a program, they will usually choose a concentration to narrow the focus of their studies. Typical concentrations include policy analysis, finance, economics, trade, security, communications, health policy, and others, all with an international slant. Often, students will also focus their studies on a particular region, such as Eastern Europe or Latin America. Though not all master's level programs will require a thesis, research and analysis will play large roles in any program.

Joint degrees are a popular choice for graduate students in international relations or affairs, and some of the more popular combinations include international affairs and law and international affairs and journalism.

Post-Graduate Options
Since the field is extremely broad, the post-graduate possibilities are similarly wide-ranging. Many graduates enter into government service, but many others work for large corporations in the public and private sector. Career areas include the Foreign Service, international trade and business, economic development, global finance, conflict analysis and resolution, human security, and global governance. Public relations, immigration, journalism, and human resources are still other options.

Some graduates go on to work for the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, various foreign policy positions within the State Department, the National Security Agency, and the US Agency for International Development. Many others choose to work internationally, in places like the World Bank, the United Nations, or the International Monetary Fund. Still others might work at an international bureau for a media company. Competition for many of these positions is high. Those students with a Ph.D. usually pursue university-level teaching positions and independent and collaborative research.