Online PhD Programs for International Relations

Overview of Online International Relations PhD Programs

Online international relations Ph.D. programs provide students with an extensive exploration of policies and cultures across the globe and the skills to review and conduct research in the field. Many of these programs can be completed entirely online. A Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy, is considered a terminal degree because it is the highest degree available (equal to other doctoral programs). Some of the key characteristics of online international relations Ph.D. programs are discussed below.

Prerequisites

Many online international relations Ph.D. programs require incoming students to have a master's degree, although the specific field of the degree typically isn't a factor. Some schools require the master's degree to be from an institution which operates and provides instruction in English. In addition, students may need some relevant life or work experience, such as five years. Other admission requirements can include a resume, letters of reference or recommendation, a personal essay and a qualifying GPA.

Program Length

The length of online international relations Ph.D. programs varies based on several factors, including the number of credit hours required and the number of courses that students take each semester. Doctoral students are considered full-time when taking 6 credits during a semester. The semester or term structure of a school can also affect the time it takes to complete a program. If a student attends a school with traditional (16-week) spring and fall semesters, they may only be expected to complete 12 credits each year (depending on summer enrollment). Students who are enrolled at schools with accelerated terms (such as 8 weeks) may be able to complete 20 credit hours per year with the same course load each semester.

Most online international relations Ph.D. programs include around 50 to 60 credit hours. A student completing 12 credits each year can finish their program in around 4 or 5 years while a student who is able to complete 18 credits per year would finish in 3 to 4 years. These estimates reflect standard full-time schedules, but students may be able to finish sooner if their school allows a heavier course load. In addition, many schools offer part-time program options that allow students to extend the length of their programs.

Common Courses

The courses included in online international relations Ph.D. programs vary by school, but many programs include some of the courses listed below. Courses also depend on the approach of the Ph.D. program, as some take a public policy approach while others can take more of a social science approach.

American Foreign Policy

In this course, students explore key theories and topics of American foreign policy. Topics can include United Nations relationships, the roles associated with American policies, security policies and economic policies. Students will review how American policies affect the country externally.

International Political Economy

Students review literature and theories relating to the international political economy, such as trade policies and activities, investments in foreign economies, aid and potential conflicts. Students will develop an understanding of key international economics issues.

Quantitative Methods

This course explores methods for quantitative research. Students learn about hypothesis testing, probability, proportions and regression. Course content may provide a public policy and/or international context to qualitative research practices and theories.

Other Courses

Depending on their program, students may also take courses in subjects such as international religion considerations and policies of specific geographic regions. Due to the nature of Ph.D. programs, students will also take several courses on research methods and will develop an original piece of research during their program (see Dissertation below).

Dissertation

Often presented as a multi-course path, students will explore a specific topic through original research. In many cases, students will have a dissertation proposal or exploration course, during which students review structural components and have their topics reviewed. After their topic has been approved, students then proceed through other dissertation courses and develop a large, original piece of research that addreses an issue they are interested in.

Cost of Online International Relations PhD Programs

Online international relations Ph.D. programs have varying costs, which are set by the schools that offer them. Doctoral programs typically have higher per-credit tuition costs than undergraduate and some graduate (master's) programs, but they contain significantly fewer credit hours in their curriculums. Online international Ph.D. students can have tuition rates of about $600 to $900 per credit hour. Full program tuition is often between $35,000 and $45,000.

In addition to tuition, which accounts for the majority of program costs, students will have other direct and indirect fees. Direct fees can include things like course materials fees and registration fees. The specific fees vary by school, and students should reach out to their schools' student accounts offices to obtain estimates or check the school websites. Indirect fees are those that students have outside of their schools. These can include the cost of regular internet access, as they will need to maintain a regular internet connection, expenses for supplemental materials and the cost of a computer if they don't have one that meets the technical requirements for their programs.

Financial Aid for Online International Relations PhD Students

There are several types of financial aid available to online international relations Ph.D. students, including awards, loans and more. Students interested in obtaining financial aid should first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can have their results sent directly to their candidate schools for financial aid consideration.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awards that do not need to be paid back. Students can obtain scholarships based on various criteria, such as demographic characteristics, academic achievement, community involvement, and more. Students can check with their financial aid offices for information on scholarships as well as external sources, such as government scholarship search tools (like CareerOneStop), local organizations and more.

Work Study

Work-study programs are funded by the federal government and offered by participating schools. Work-study programs involve students working part-time while in school in order to earn funds towards their program. The money earned can be paid directly to students and used for both school and living expenses.

Student Loans

Student loans are offered by the government as well as private organizations. Government loans offer fixed interest rates, income-based repayment plans and some loan forgiveness programs. Private loans should only be used as a last resort, as interest rates can be higher and/or variable and bank loans generally don't offer flexible repayment options.

Accreditation for Online International Relations PhD Programs

If a school is accredited, it means that the school has met (or exceeded) a set of quality standards relating to things like curriculum, faculty experience and graduation rates. After becoming accredited, schools are reviewed periodically (every ten years or so) in order to renew their accreditation. There are more than a dozen accrediting organizations, which either provide regional accreditation or national accreditation.

• Regional Accreditation: This type affects schools in specific geographic areas and is considered to be more prestigious. Schools must meet more stringent standards for accreditation. In addition, students of regionally accredited schools are eligible for more types of financial aid.
• National Accreditation: Organizations that issue national accreditation do so on the basis of specific school types (like trade or faith-based schools), program type (such as journalism) and other criteria. Nationally accredited schools are often less expensive and can have less strict admissions requirements.

Schools are not required to obtain accreditation, and they actually have to pay to be considered for accreditation (whether they pass the standards or not). If you find a school that is not accredited, it doesn't necessarily mean that the school is of a lower quality. It might just mean that the school has chosen not to spend money on the process.

How to Choose a School for an Online International Relations PhD

There are several factors to consider when choosing a school for your online international relations Ph.D. program, such as cost, any residency requirements and admissions standards.

Admissions Standards

Not all online international relations Ph.D. programs have the same admissions requirements. Some schools require incoming students to have a master's degree and/or related experience while other schools offer program entry to students with a just a master's degree.

Program Cost

Since the cost of online international relations Ph.D. programs varies, it would be helpful to get an estimated total program cost from your candidate schools. Compare the costs of each and ask your schools about any savings opportunities (such as flat-rate tuition structures).

Financial Aid

Once you have determined estimated costs for your school choices, find out what financial aid is available to you for each school. You can find financial aid through your schools' financial aid offices as well as external sources.

Residency Requirements

Most online international relations Ph.D. programs can be completed without any in-person requirements. However, you may wish to confirm this information before selecting a school.

Flexibility

One of the most important considerations in choosing a school is how well it will fit with your availability. Consider your responsibilities and time availability and talk with the admissions counselors at each school to determine if the programs are right for you (full-time, part-time or a combination).

Careers for International Relations PhD Graduates

Graduates of international relations can work in a variety of different roles, utilizing their developed knowledge in several different ways. Some of the careers available to international relations Ph.D. graduates are discussed below. All career data is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), unless otherwise specified. Salaries represent median annual earnings as of May, 2019, and estimated job growth reflects the 2018 to 2028 period.

Sociologists

Sociologists analyze people, groups, organizations, cultures and an effort to student behaviors. Their duties can include analyzing data, designing studies, interviewing people and reporting their findings. Sociologists who obtain a Ph.D. in International Relations can better understand populations from outside of the U.S. and their contextual implications. According to BLS, sociologists had a median salary of $83,420 and are expected to see a 9% growth.

Political Scientists

Political scientists review political systems and their creation, revisions and operations. Their duties can include collecting and reviewing data, creating theories, evaluating policy effectiveness and maintaining knowledge of current events. Political scientists can focus their studies in specific areas of politics, such as international relations. Political scientist positions are expected to increase by 5% and BLS reports that political scientists had a median salary of $122,220.

Top Executives

Top executives oversee organizational departments, operations and employees and create ways to meet organizational goals. Their duties can include analyzing financial activities and reports, directing employees and departments, creating goals and finding ways to improve performance. Top executives with an understanding of international relations can better manage operations for companies with international operations. These positions had a median salary of $104,690 and are expected to grow by 6%

Policy Analysts

Policy analysts help increase public awareness of various issues and propose solutions. They often work in one (or more) specific areas: analyzing proposed policies, gathering information, increasing public awareness or assessing policy effectiveness. They can work in a variety of industries, including government and private positions. PayScale reported in 2020 that policy analysts earned $59,376.

Research Scientists

Research scientists make an average of $79,891, according to 2020 PayScale data. Their duties primarily consist of gathering and analyzing information relevant to their field of work. They frequently work in educational organizations but can also work in other industries. Many research scientists focus their research on their field of study, such as international relations. They utilize their extensive knowledge along with the scientific method and theories to create and analyze experiments.

Postsecondary Political Science Teachers

Postsecondary teachers instruct students beyond high school, in universities, community colleges and other settings. Their duties can include creating learning objectives, setting class policies, designing assignments and activities and providing student feedback. International relations Ph.D. graduates would likely become political science teachers (or related topics), as teachers typically teach in the field of their degrees. Political science teachers had a median salary of $85,930 and are expected to see an 8% job growth.