International Relations and Diplomacy, A.A.

Program Director: Dr. John Callahan

The New England College Associate of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (AAIRD) program prepares students for opportunities in both the public and private sector for positions in and out of government, particularly in foreign policy and think tanks or in any industry where an in-depth knowledge of the foreign policy process is desired. Students who successfully complete the AAIRD program are also well prepared for undergraduate level work.  

The AAIRD major consists of 24 credits and focuses on the intersection between theory, policy and politics.  AAIRD faculty are scholar practitioners in the in the world of foreign policy and diplomacy, and bring their experience to bear in course design, instruction, and student interactions. Total number of credits to obtain the AAIRD is 60 (see details below). 

AAIRD students will gain an understanding of the intellectual foundations for key foreign policy discussions and how the outcomes affect and are changed by the political process. They will develop analytical and advocacy skills, and will be prepared to enter or continue careers in the public, private, and non-profit foreign policy and national security sectors. 

Our graduates are prepared to begin careers and make a difference in the realm of foreign policy, national security, and related fields. The program builds and integrates the student’s intellectual interest and experience, small group dialogue, and interaction with theoreticians and practitioners in the field. The value of this experience, opportunity to network and apply knowledge developed through asynchronous interaction in the online classroom, all while earning academic credit, is at the heart of this degree program. 

Learning Outcomes 

Students who complete the program will be able to:  

• Collect, synthesize, and analyze information to better understand historical and contemporary issues in international relations and diplomacy;   
• Apply negotiation tools to collaboratively reach consensus and identification of common objectives in diverse populations with diverging interests;  
• Demonstrate an understanding of key governmental and non-governmental institutions that formulate and implement foreign policy; 
• Formulate alternative theoretical perspectives to the analysis of international relations and diplomacy;  
• Use applied research to support writing and communicating effectively in the international relations and diplomacy realms.