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Kennedy Center Majors & Minors
International Relations
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Students

Getting Involved

BYU provides many opportunities to enhance your IR experience:

  • Study abroad through one of many Kennedy Center programs.
  • Get an internship through the Kennedy Center, Washington Seminar, or government agencies.
  • Work as a Teaching or Research Assistant in economics, political science, language, etc.
  • Join our student club, the Society for International Studies, or another Kennedy Center club.
  • Submit a paper to be published in the IR student journal: Sigma. Or help as a student editor for Sigma.
  • Minor in foreign language, business, etc.
  • Earn a BYU language certificate.
  • Attend Kennedy Center lectures by visiting diplomats, scholars, and professionals from all over the world.
  • Visit your professors during office hours or make an appointment to ask them about IR topics, classes, or careers.

To see some of the experiences IR majors have enjoyed in the past, see data about IR majors.

Getting Help

General Advising:

The Kennedy Center Advisement office has wide-ranging expertise. This is a good place to go if you don’t know where you need to go. They are especially useful if you want to

  • Plan a set of courses that fits your interests.
  • Find available courses to take.
  • Declare a second major or a minor.
  • Apply for graduation or make sure you are on track to graduation.
  • Learn about student clubs, internships, and study abroad.

273 HRCB, 801-422-3548, kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, https://kennedy.byu.edu/advisement

The IR coordinator, Prof. Scott Cooper, is also available to help with a broad range of issues.

  • General questions about IR.
  • Major requirements.
  • Courses and course substitutions.
  • Experiential learning funds.
  • Career and graduate school plans.
  • Anything else you’re confused about.

762 Kimball Tower & 215 HRCB, 801-422-4053, scott_cooper@byu.edu

And don’t forget to talk to your professors! Stop by during office hours or schedule an appointment to meet with them. They will be happy to talk to you about classes, careers, graduate school, and other IR topics. See our list of current IR faculty affiliates.

Careers and Jobs:

There are two BYU career directors who can provide relevant information for IR majors:

Kennedy Center Career Director: Barbara Hunt
1134 WSC, 801-422-1539, barbara_hunt@byu.edu

Economics and Political Science Career Director: Amanda Peterson
2136 WVB, 801-422-5033, amanda_peterson@byu.edu

Pro Tip: You don’t have to wait until your senior year to visit a career advisor. Consider meeting with an advisor sooner to find out about career paths, how to prepare yourself better, and how to market yourself to potential employers.

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers help to students with common issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, interpersonal conflicts, marital problems, low self-esteem, difficult social relationships, and stress management. Consistent with the highest standards of professional psychology, all of these services are confidential. Full-time BYU students are treated at no cost.

Counseling and Psychological Services
1500 Wilkinson Center, 801-422-3035).

If you aren’t ready to go to CAPS, please talk to someone, such as the IR coordinator (scott_cooper@byu.edu), the Advisement office, another professor, or a religious leader.

If you are struggling, please remember: Treatment does work. Recovery is possible. There is hope. You are not alone.