International Relations Master's Degree
Now accepting students for fall 2025
Explore Complex Questions From a Global Perspective
Refine the skills you need to succeed in the complex field of foreign affairs with a master's degree in international relations from Salve Regina University. Offered in a flexible, fully online format, our rigorous program tackles political thought and comparative politics to reach toward themes of identity, harmony and conflict.
Committed to student success, our international relations faculty openly share their expertise and professional network with students. Through our popular accelerated offerings, qualified Salve undergraduates can earn their bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years.
After completing their master's degree, our graduates excel in careers with federal and state governments, nongovernmental organizations and multinational businesses. Our program fulfills the professional development needs of military officers and provides excellent academic preparation for our online Ph.D. in international relations.
Program Features
12 courses offered fully online with an average time to complete of 18-24 months.
From a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Naval War College to opportunities at the University’s Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, the program offers experiences that enhance academic learning.
Rooted in Mercy, Focused on Humanity
With an emphasis on global citizenship, coursework recognizes the Critical Concerns of Salve’s founding Sisters of Mercy - anti-racism, the Earth, immigration, nonviolence and women - by examining themes of human rights through an international lens.
Advantages Beyond the Coursework
For more than 30 years, our international relations program has enrolled military officers from around the world through a unique partnership with the U.S. Naval War College.
While the agreement provides an opportunity for international officers to earn a graduate degree from a civilian university, their presence in the degree program is deeply beneficial for all students.
Additionally, the University's Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy – a multidisciplinary research center focused at the intersection of politics, policies and ideas – provides ample opportunities for you to supplement your education.
Studying alongside seasoned professionals with extensive practical experience and firsthand knowledge of events taking place outside the United States is a great learning experience for our students. They are also exposed to diverse views that help them expand their outlooks.
Dr. Symeon Giannakos, professor and program director
Build the Expertise to Navigate a Changing World
"The landscape of international relations today is not just a theoretical space – it’s something that is dynamic and evolving. By laying the groundwork for critical analysis, writing, debriefing, engaging and debating, Salve’s international relations program is preparing students to be competitive and to adapt in the changing space of this industry." - Dr. Yvan Ilunga, assistant professor and associate program director
Alumni Making Waves
Andrew Loftesnes '20 (M)
Foreign affairs specialist
"When I was getting out of the Marine Corps, I wanted to continue my education in a way that would help with a career in foreign policy and national security. I was drawn to the international relations program at Salve and applied while I was overseas on deployment. Completing my M.A. in international relations as well as participating in the Boren fellowship led directly to my employment at the Pentagon. Since that time, I have worked in the Office of Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security."
Evan Shallcross ’20 (M)
Surface warfare officer, U.S. Navy
“I can’t say enough about the staff, about the faculty. We were given leeway and full support to pursue any sort of direction, any sort of specialty that we wanted. We were never once told, ‘This is what you will believe, this is the conclusion that you will reach.’ We were given tools to make better decisions, to interpret decisions and to maintain a broader perspective. It’s really changed the way that I look at politics.” Read more about Shallcross' Salve experience.
Degree Options
Master of Science in international relations
This 12-course master's degree explores international relations in the context of domestic and global justice. Core courses form a solid foundational and theoretical basis, while critical electives address specific regional and thematic topics of contemporary relevance, interest and importance.
Designed to be fully online and asynchronous, this program offers students across the globe the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere - making it ideal for those on deployment or working unconventional schedules. Select in-person courses may also be available at our Newport, Rhode Island campus.
Meet Our Experts
Our faculty deliver an essential curriculum that prepares you to be constructively critical of their immediate and broader political environment. As tenured professors with considerable academic experience, they provide a top-notch education along with care and concern for the well-being of each student.
Dr. Symeon Giannakos
- Professor
- Graduate program director
Dr. Luigi Bradizza
- Professor
- Chair, Political Science and International Relations
Dr. Yvan Ilunga
- Assistant professor
- Associate graduate program director
Dr. Chad Raymond
- Professor
- Associate graduate program director
Robin Smith
- Adjunct professor
Paula Wylie
- Adjunct professor