They work in the private sector in a wide variety of fields, such as consulting, commerce, and journalism. They also work for philanthropic and research organizations. After further academic study at either the University or at other major institutions, they are academics in colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad. By working in the several fields within international relations, students acquire knowledge on a range of issues and subjects, while also pursuing special interests in depth. The A.M. with Specialization requires an additional three quarters of residence during which the student takes an additional nine courses.
Students apply for the second year with specialization during their first year in residence.
CIR also offers graduate joint-degree programs with the Law School and the Graduate School of Business. The requirements for the international relations portion of joint programs are the same as for the one-year Master of Arts in International Relations. CIR offers only the A.M. degree. Students who decide to advance their study of international relations at the University of Chicago beyond the master's level may apply for admission to a Ph.D. program. An applicant who is also considering a non-joint degree program must make a separate application to either the Graduate School of Business or the Committee on International Relations or both.