The Tufts Program in International Relations was created in 1977 with the expressed purpose of preparing undergraduates for the rigors of graduate school in international affairs. In that inaugural year under its first director, Professor John S. Gibson of the Political Science Department, the Program enrolled twenty-seven students. Today, with over six hundred declared majors and a national reputation, the Program in International Relations has become one of Tufts University's most popular undergraduate concentrations.

CLASS of 2009 SNAPSHOT
Diversity
189 graduates, 56% female/44%male; 15% were international students from 22 different countries.
17 languages were used to complete the demanding 8-semester (or equivalent) IR language requirement, with Spanish (42%), French (22%), and Chinese (13%) as the leading languages of proficiency.

Thus, students wishing to spend all four undergraduate years on the Medford campus are guaranteed exposure to diverse languages, cultures, and political, economic, and social perspectives.

Study Abroad
Over 80% complemented their undergraduate experience by participating in overseas study abroad programs in 26 different countries. Since study abroad not only facilitates completion of concentration requirements but also helps equip students with the linguistic, cultural, economic, political and sociological skills necessary to succeed in today's rapidly changing world, the IR Program strongly encourages its majors to take advantage of Tufts and non-Tufts programs abroad.

The Office of Programs Abroad at Tufts sponsors programs in Chile, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, and Spain. More than two-hundred approved non-Tufts programs stretch across the globe from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Whether IR majors opt for a program housed in a university setting or one oriented toward experiential field learning, all programs pass the muster of Tufts' rigorous academic standards.

Academics
57% received academic honors: 8 for summa cum laude (3.75+gpa), 33 for magna cum laude (3.60+gpa), and 54 for cum laude (3.50+gpa). 6 students were elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Chapter of Massachusetts and 42 were elected to Sigma Iota Rho, Beta Chi Chapter of the International Relations Honor Society. Additionally, 7 seniors graduated with thesis honors in IR by successfully completing a senior thesis.

58% pursued a double major, with economics the leading concentration followed by foreign languages; 5% completed a triple major, and almost 20% completed a minor. Over the past decade, an increasing percentage of IR majors have decided to supplement their course of study with a second major.

AWARD WINNING STUDENTS

The Distinguished Achievement Award in International Relations:
Given annually to one or more outstanding international relations majors of high academic standing who have participated widely in the program and who, having proven a spacious understanding of and sensitivity to the richness of the international community intend to pursue a professional career in the field of international relations. 2009 winner: Thomas Eager ('09)

The John S. Gibson Award:
Named after the first director of the International Relations Program at Tufts University, the award is given annually to the author  of the most outstanding paper and/or thesis written by an undergraduate majoring in IR. 2009 Paper Category winner: Jeffrey Greenberg (’09), 2009 Thesis Category winner: Carter Koppleman (’09).

The IR Research Scholars Award:
This award supports original, high-quality undergraduate international research. The award consists of financial support and faculty mentorship for intensive summer research work. This competitive program is aimed at IR majors (sophomore standing and above) who anticipate producing an upper-level research paper in their senior year. 2009 winners: Jessica Bidgood (A’10), Marla Spivack (A’12), and Phoenix Tso (A’10).

The Anne E. Borghesani Prize:
This incentive award enables the recipient(s) to undertake a volunteer activity, internship, research project, or plan of study in any field involving international issues. Designed to foster the spirit of the award, the prize encourages personal growth and independence, while increasing ones understanding of all peoples and encouraging a commitment to the world community. Second-semester sophomores and juniors from ANY department or major with a minimal GPA of 2.8 or above are eligible for the prize. 2009 winners: Emily Anderson (A’11), Michael Niconchuk (A’11), Benjamin Sacks (A’10), and Alice Tin, (A’10).

Additionally, IR majors continue to win prestigious Tufts University and national awards. For more information on external scholarships and awards, please see the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education. Class of 2009 Tufts University winners:

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
In recent years, the IR Program has supported students in the development of three leadership organizations that build community among IR majors, heighten communication, and add intellectual value to the Program. These leadership organizations join other student groups, such as Pangea, Model United Nations and Hemispheres, that have long contributed to the richness of the IR Program and Tufts.

Director's Leadership Council (DLC):
The DLC serves as a liaison between the IR student body and the IR faculty and administration. Since its founding in 2005, it has influenced the IR curriculum reform, created an IR Honor Society chapter, started a successful debate series, and organized many intellectually stimulating events. The council encourages the participation of all IR students in its projects, through which it seeks to create a closer IR community. Applications to join the council are accepted once/year in the fall.

Sigma Iota Rho, Beta Chi Chapter (SIR):
The Tufts chapter of this nationally recognized international relations honor society aims to create a productive atmosphere of international relations on campus, in the community, and world at large through activities and initiatives related to international affairs. Eligibility requirements include a 3.30 overall GPA, a 3.60 IR major GPA, completion of 5 major courses for juniors and 7 major courses for seniors, completion of two advanced level courses in IR, and active leadership or interest in IR; members are chosen twice/year through an application process administered by the IR Program.

IR Mentors Program:
Recognizing that peer advice could be a valuable resource for prospective students and IR majors, the IR Program collaborated with students in 2005 to create the IR mentors program. The upperclassmen mentors act as a resource to prospective students and as a complement to formal faculty advising for IR majors. Students are encouraged to select a mentor who matches their interests and email them directly with questions about the IR program, major requirements, study abroad experiences, internships, etc. Contact an IR mentor!

IR ALUMNI
The Tufts Program in International Relations has succeeded in its original mission. Graduates of the Program have been accepted into all of the leading APSIA (Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs) schools. They have also fared well in admission to top programs in law, political science, business, and education. Additionally, graduates have taken advantage of post-graduation research opportunities, receiving prestigious awards such as the Marshall, Truman, Woodrow Wilson and Fulbright scholarships, which finance up to two years of graduate-level study at prestigious universities in many parts of the world. Tufts University is one of the per-capita leaders in winning Fulbright scholarships.

The IR Program offers preparation for a broad range of careers. In addition to traditional IR careers in the Foreign Service, law, business, and banking, graduates of the program have also combined their interest in international affairs with interests in the arts and humanities to pursue careers in film, journalism, performing arts, and cultural analysis. The State Department, the United Nations, Wall Street, CNN, Oxfam, and Broadway have all been destinations of recent IR graduates.

To prepare alumni for their post-graduate plans, the IR Program complements resources offered by the Tufts Career Services by targeting international affairs careers with the following online resources:

• Exploring IR Careers: A guide to potential careers for each IR concentration
• Internship/Job Listing: A list of organizations (local, domestic, and international) that focus on international issues
• Graduate School: Information about and resources for graduate schools with programs in fields of international affairs
• Tufts Career Services: A summary of the assistance offered by Tufts Career Services
• Alumni Relations: News about and information for IR alumni

IR CORE FACULTY
Members of the IR Core Faculty hail from all parts of the globe with language skills including Arabic, Greek, Japanese, Swahili, and numerous other languages. Their academic specialties cover the spectrum from the social sciences and humanistic studies of literature, philosophy and religion to the artistic realms. Tufts IR faculty have distinguished themselves through extensive publication with prestigious university publishing houses and in leading academic journals.

While faculty excellence in research and publication help to bring external recognition to the IR Program, IR Core Faculty members are also noted for their commitment to undergraduate teaching and advising. This commitment finds expression not only in the quality of classroom and office hour experiences but also in faculty support of undergraduate research. In fact, faculty constitute one of the most valuable resources available to Tufts undergraduates, and the IR Program strongly encourages its students to get to know and work with their professors from the moment they arrive at Tufts. Taking advantage of faculty resources is the key to shaping a rewarding Tufts IR experience.

Students are free to choose their academic advisor from the IR Core Faculty members listed here. Please click here for detailed information on finding an advisor.

IR Opportunities at Tufts
Beyond offering a course of study, the IR Program sponsors lectures and special events throughout the year, administers the IR Research Scholars and Borghesani Prize scholarships, supports undergraduate research through the online International Research Network, and prepares students for post-graduate study and careers. Through the academic major and these varied opportunities, the Program emphasizes both practical, "real world" experience and the importance of a deep and critical understanding of the theories and academic disciplines that comprise the study of international relations.

For other opportunities to explore international relations at Tufts,  please check out the Related Programs & Entities at Tufts links.