International relations is the study of the relationships between countries and between governmental and non-governmental organizations. It examines the impacts of economic, social, technological, environmental, military, and political processes, as well as issues of justice, responsibility, and human well-being.
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
Degree options:
- Bachelor of Arts, major or honours in international relations
- Any degree, minor in international politics
The international relations program at Mount Allison is centred around courses in economics, language, and political science.
In first and second year you will take introductory courses in economics, political science, and international relations.
In third and fourth year you will begin to specialize. International relations is inter and multidisciplinary and in addition to your core courses, you will have the opportunity to choose two streams of study from the following disciplines:
- political science (politics in Europe, the U.S., Africa, the Middle East; security studies; foreign policy analysis)
- history (war and society in Europe, Japan and modern Asia, environmental history)
- sociology (social movements, refugee studies, globalization)
- economics (game theory, environmental economics, international development)
- geography and environmental studies (Canadian environmental policy, international environmental affairs, sustainable development)
- English (African literature, Caribbean literature, literary representations of race and culture)
- religious studies (gender issues in eastern and western religions, contemporary ethical issues)
International relations also has a university-level language requirement. Mount Allison offers courses in French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.
You are encouraged to gain international experience by studying or working abroad or by doing international work in Canada, and to carry out independent research.
Find a list of international relations courses in the academic calendar - politics and international relations.
Not sure about the difference between a major, a minor, and an honours?
Eilish Elliott ('15)
“My favorite part about Mount Allison's international relations program was, hands down, its interdisciplinary aspects. You have the ability to really customize your degree and focus on your specific interest areas. This leads to diverse and lively classroom experiences where everyone approaches the subject from a different angle or viewpoint. No two IR majors have the same degree plan.”
“The special thing about this program is that it can reflect your broad interests. It gives you a chance to learn a new language and study in a wide range of disciplines from science to arts. I took courses in Middle Eastern politics, global affairs, Chinese/Japanese history, human geography, Spanish and more! I was also able to transfer a course from the Summer Studies in India program.” 
“The international relations program was what first made me want
to come to Mount Allison. I had always been interested in so many
topics in school and the thought of choosing just one to study in
university was terrifying! Because the international relations program
is interdisciplinary, it was going to allow me to explore a multitude
of subjects all in my interest range. Mount Allison offers the only
program of this kind in Eastern Canada, and I wanted to stay close
to home for my first degree.”
“The special thing about the IR program, and about Mount Allison in
general, is putting your education into action. In less than two years
of IR, I’ve studied in the Middle East, learned Turkish, represented my
country at a UN conference in Brazil, and biked across Canada — all
supported by Mount Allison in one way or another. Ralph Emerson writes
that action is 'the preamble to thought, the transition to which it
passes from the unconscious to the conscious' — basically that education
doesn’t count until you can start acting on it. I really believe that.
In fact, taking action on my education is the most important reason why
I study at Mount Allison.” 
“I love that this program is what you make it. My primary interest is
in international law and politics, so I have been able to shape my
degree program to reflect that. If you’re interested in another
sub-field— international development, for example — you can focus on
that! There is so much freedom in choosing what courses you want and
what topics you want to study.”
Dr. James DevineLearn more about this discipline or apply online now.
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