MS in International
Relations and Business 

The MS in International Relations and Business combines American University's top-ranked expertise in business and global affairs and is the only program of its kind delivered fully online. 

12 fast-moving classes—delivered full-time or part-time, online and at night—let you add business acumen to your global experience without pausing your life. In an $8.8 trillion services export economy that is still growing at an astonishing rate of 9% year-over-year, we train you to read policy, markets, and cross‑border signals—and turn them into strategy.

Blend geopolitical fluency
with hard business skills. 

Learn how to read the world and a balance sheet—so you can make decisions that withstand currency swings, sanctions, supply chain shocks, elections, and climate risk. 

Be confident even when
there's uncertainty. 

Build tools for assessing country, regulatory, and reputational risks before capital and careers are on the line. Learn the frameworks for scenario planning and non-market strategy so surprises don't derail strategy. 

Enter and scale
across borders. 

From sizing markets to structuring partnerships and JVs, the program will train you to operate across cultures. You'll know how to translate local dynamics into executable market-entry and expansion plans.

Understand the rules,
both spoken and unspoken. 

Understand regulatory landscapes and cultural norms—two critical components to a successful international strategy. 

Seven CORE Classes
to Get Your Foundations Right. 

Master the foundational business and international relations skills you'll need to
successfully navigate a complex and interconnected world:

- Financial Accounting
- Financial Management
- Manager in the International Economy
- Applied Managerial Statistics
- Global International Relations
- Intercultural Communication
- Global Governance 

Four ELECTIVE Classes
across FIVE Possible Elective Tracks. 

Interested in expanding your analytics and AI skills or dive into global sustainability issues?
Our elective tracks are designed to offer you a plethora of classes that hone your skillset in one of five areas:

- Analytics and AI
- International Business Management
- Global Sustainability
- International Economics & Finance
- Global Policy, Security, and Diplomacy

Or, Design Your Own
Electives Experience. 

Would you rather combine microfinance and principles of sustainable finance? Or perhaps marketing analytics with machine learning? You can combine any of our dozens of electives to make your own area of focus that gives you just the right expertise you want to build upon.

Cap It Off with the
Experience of a Lifetime—
Our In-Person CAPSTONE Immersion. 

Spend a week in a global business hub solving real-world challenges for clients, gaining hands-on experience, and building cross-cultural skills. Past immersions have included Italy, Ireland, South Africa, and Costa Rica.

Your Professors Bring Years
of Industry and Diplomacy Experience.

The classes you take are just a piece of the puzzle! What makes the program come to life are our incredible faculty—from former ambassadors to high-powered executives, they bring real-world experience and connections to the classroom.

Personalized Career Coaching
and Exclusive Networking. 

At Kogod, you will be paired with a professional coach who will help you navigate an ever-evolving career landscape. You will get one-on-one career coaching, résumé and cover letter reviews, strength assessments and goal setting, and interview preparation.

Plus, you will have access to 20 business school professional coaches who boast more than 200 years of collective experience! Our coaches are former recruiters themselves, who can expertly guide you in understanding what employers seek.

Access to the Greatest AI and Human
Tools Available for Career Navigation. 

As a Kogod student, you will have access to the most advanced tools in the market to research the labor market insights, find internships and jobs, network, and practice for your interview. 

The accelerating wave of AI technology is erasing routine tasks faster than new roles appear, leaving many young graduates unsure where they stand. At Kogod, we present a clear, actionable answer—plant yourself at the intersection of three essential capabilities:

01.
AI-Fluency 

First, cultivate AI fluency so every model, tool, and prompt becomes leverage rather than threat.

02.
Uniquely Human Skills 

Second, double‑down on your deeply human skills—judgment, empathy, ethical reasoning—that machines can’t replicate.

03.
Entrepreneurial Mindset 

Third, adopt an entrepreneurial mindset that spots opportunity ahead of formal job descriptions. And this goes well beyond being an entrepreneur and starting up new businesses (though that's exciting, too.) All organizations, even Fortune 500 companies who have been around for more than 200 years, benefit from—and seek—adaptability, curiosity, drive, and exceptional communication and influence skills.