International Relations Professor

Career Guide

International Relations Professors teach courses on global politics, conduct original research, publish scholarship, and advise students. They design curricula, supervise theses, and contribute to departmental service and academic communities.

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Key Responsibilities

Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate international relations courses
Design syllabi, assignments, and assessments aligned to learning outcomes
Advise and mentor students; supervise theses and dissertations
Conduct original research; analyze qualitative and quantitative data
Publish peer-reviewed articles/books; present at academic conferences
Pursue external funding and manage research grants and budgets
Participate in departmental governance and curriculum review

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Associate Professor

Full Professor (Professor)

Department Chair or Program Director

Center/Institute Director

Transition Opportunities

Policy Analyst (think tank or government)

International Development Program Officer

Foreign Affairs Analyst or Diplomatic Service (with added credentials)

Research Director at a policy institute

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Peer-reviewed publication track recordAdvanced research design and methods (qualitative and quantitative)University-level course design and assessmentGrant writing and managementArea/regional specialization or language proficiency

Development SuggestionsComplete a PhD or postdoc with publishable research and submit to IR journals; teach as a TA/adjunct to build syllabi, assessments, and grant-writing experience.

Market Intelligence Report

International Relations Professor is part of the Higher Education category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$60,000-$80,000

Mid Level$80,000-$110,000

Senior Level$110,000-$160,000

Growth Trend

stable — Enrollment and funding drive hiring; limited tenure openings offset growth

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Georgetown UniversityJohns Hopkins University (SAIS)George Washington University

Industry Sectors

Higher EducationResearch & Policy Institutes

Recommended Next Steps

Target funded PhD programs in IR/Political Science emphasizing research methods; complete CITI training early.

Teach as instructor of record or adjunct and prepare sample syllabi; gather strong teaching evaluations.

Present at ISA/APSA; submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals; consider a Quality Matters online teaching certificate.