Academic Culture & Values

Supporting an Academic Culture of Excellence and Success in the Curriculum

The International Relations Program cultivates an academic culture grounded in intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinary exploration and a deep engagement with global diversity. We encourage students to ask complex questions about how people, institutions and ideas interact across borders, and to approach these questions from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Through courses that draw on political science, economics, history and regional studies, students learn to analyze international issues with both analytical rigor and cultural awareness.

Open inquiry is central to our curriculum. Students are invited to encounter and evaluate contrasting theories and methodologies, to debate the assumptions underlying global systems and to engage the lived realities of people in very different places and situations. This approach helps them develop not only technical and conceptual skills but also humility and adaptability—qualities essential for success in a globally connected world.

Our faculty are committed to mentoring and teaching practices that foster each student’s growth. Many faculty guide students through collaborative and independent research, providing opportunities for hands-on learning and professional development. These partnerships often lead to conference presentations, published work or advanced study. In the classroom, faculty emphasize dialogue and reflection, encouraging students to take intellectual risks and to see disagreement as a pathway to deeper understanding.

Together, these practices create an environment where students are supported in achieving academic excellence, developing global competence and contributing thoughtfully to the broader scholarly community.

Supporting the Success of All Students

The International Relations Program supports the success of all students by fostering a community where intellectual exploration, collaboration and curiosity guide each student’s path. Because our curriculum is intentionally broad and interdisciplinary, students can shape their studies around their interests—whether theoretical, regional or policy-focused—and pursue experiences that complement their goals.

Our graduates follow remarkably diverse professional trajectories. Many continue into careers in government, NGOs, international development, law, consulting or research. Others apply their analytical, communication and problem-solving skills in fields far removed from international affairs, demonstrating the adaptability that a rigorous liberal arts education provides. The program’s emphasis on critical thinking, comparative analysis and global awareness equips students to thrive in both predictable and unexpected professional environments.

The sense of community among majors is sustained through student-led initiatives and collaborative research opportunities . The International Relations Club hosts discussions, panels and social events that connect students across cohorts. Students also engage deeply in research labs—such as those focusing on democracy, global governance and political economy—and contribute to The Monitor, the student-run journal of international studies. These venues foster mentorship, creativity and peer learning.

While study abroad is not a formal requirement, the program encourages global engagement through research and service-learning experiences, including partnerships like the America-Bosnia Collaboration. Faculty mentorship helps students integrate these experiences with their academic work, strengthening their ability to connect ideas to lived realities around the world.

Together, these elements create a vibrant, inclusive intellectual community where students define their own journeys to success and leave equipped to contribute thoughtfully to the global conversations that shape our shared future.

Supporting the Success of Faculty and Staff

The International Relations Program supports faculty and staff success through collaboration, communication and shared commitment across disciplinary and departmental lines. Because IR is a program rather than a department, it operates through a network of affiliated faculty whose home appointments span multiple units. Our program benefits from the deep investment of colleagues who believe in the value of interdisciplinary teaching and mentorship.

Professional development and research support are primarily managed through the constituent departments that house our affiliated faculty. These departments provide the funding for research travel, conference participation and pedagogical innovation. Within these parameters, the IR Program works to complement and connect these efforts by serving as a forum for collaboration and coordination. Program meetings, shared advising responsibilities and informal exchanges help ensure coherence across the curriculum and allow faculty to learn from one another’s disciplinary perspectives.

The program also hosts speakers and special events that enrich our academic community. These engagements provide opportunities for faculty to connect with scholars and practitioners working at the intersection of global politics, economics and culture. They also create space for conversation among affiliated faculty and students, reinforcing our shared purpose. The program’s strength lies in its collaborative model. Faculty and staff sustain the program through their engagement, interdisciplinary spirit and commitment to student learning—qualities that continue to define the program’s success.

All of this is possible only through our devoted staff who manage the complex finances and administrative challenges associated with the university's largest interdisciplinary degree. The efforts of faculty and staff are reflected in the impressive research record---much of it integrating students as part of the research process---as well as evaluations of those outside W&M: The program has been ranked #16 by international relations faculty, #14 by policymakers, and #15 by think tank staffers.