- <a href="/live/image/gid/74/width/650/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image86402"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/74/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/74/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/74/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg" alt="Faculty members in International Affairs—like Joseph M. Ha Associate Professor of International Affairs Elizabeth A. Bennett—love mee..." width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/74/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86402_International_Affairs_main_image_2.rev.1607454030.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="3066" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"> Faculty members in International Affairs—like Joseph M. Ha Associate Professor of International Affairs Elizabeth A. Bennett—love meeting with students during office hours.</div>
International Affairs
Students who major in international affairs examine the political, military, economic, legal, and cultural relations involving states, nations, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to understand how those relations affect the prospects for conflict and cooperation. Earn a bachelor’s degree while gaining a deep knowledge of the dynamics of our rapidly changing world.
Why Choose a Degree in International Affairs?
Global technologies, threats to international security, fundamentalist movements, and mounting tensions between nations, regions, and factions mean that the study of international affairs is more relevant than ever. Unlike many other international relations programs, we offer such a robust range of courses and opportunities that we warrant our own dedicated department.
What You’ll Study
Though the scope of our coursework is broad, we emphasize foreign policy, national security, international law and organizations, international economic relations, social justice and transnational advocacy, human rights, and development in the global south. We also believe in collaborating with students on research projects—whether through classes during the academic year, a paid humanities research summer program, or both—and helping them find and secure internships in Portland and beyond. Many of our students earn course credit while on an overseas program.
Outside the classroom, the annual International Affairs Symposium is organized by a committee of students with support from faculty and staff. This multiday interdisciplinary event concentrates on the most pressing themes and topics in international relations today through a series of debates.
Complement Your Education With One of These Minors
The most popular minors for our international affairs majors are German studies, Middle East and North African studies, and political economy.
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
- Hashim Salman BA ’25
Lewis & Clark’s combination of academic excellence, community, and location made it a great fit for me.
International Affairs and Economics (double) | Amman, JordanMore about Hashim - Luca Sax BA ’22
For anyone who is looking to get involved with research on campus, don’t be shy! The professors are wonderful and enjoy working with students.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and International Affairs (double) | Munich, GermanyMore about Luca - John Mbanda BA ’25
The thing that I find most interesting about the International Affairs Department is the level of care that professors show you and the lengths these educators and staff are willing to go for each student. Our small class sizes allow each student to form a personal relationship with professors, which is extremely valuable!
International Affairs | French Studies | Minneapolis, Minnesota, and RwandaMore about John
What Can You Do With a Degree in International Affairs?
Our alumni use their BA in international affairs to pursue a wide range of careers in academia, government, journalism, nonprofits, public service, and beyond. Some of our alumni have been awarded competitive fellowships and scholarships, like the Rangel and Rhodes, and many go on to pursue advanced degrees.
Dedicated Faculty
Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
- Equity
We are the only liberal arts school in Oregon on Colleges of Distinction’s “Best Equity and Inclusion” list for 2023–24.
- Top
Lewis & Clark earned a spot on Princeton Review’s 2024 “Best Colleges” list.
- 10%
of our students are from countries other than the U.S.
- 15%
first-generation students at Lewis & Clark College
- 29+33
Lewis & Clark offers 29 majors and 33 minors.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.
Find Your People
The Meridian is an annual publication dedicated to providing a forum for student views on international and cross-cultural issues. Model United Nations is a student club that concentrates on the workings of the United Nations, as well as research on various countries and their foreign policies.
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
- Sydney Cross BA ’21
L&C prepared me for the large amounts of reading and writing I’m doing now in law school.
International Affairs | Mount Shasta, CaliforniaMore about Sydney - Kodai Kubota BA ’19
I’ve been consulting, specializing in Global IT Organization Transformation.
International Affairs | CS/ChineseMore about Kodai - Chloe Safar BA ’21
After graduating in 2021, I spent a year serving with AmeriCorps VISTA at a local mental health and addiction recovery nonprofit, working on capacity-building projects that support low-income communities in Portland
International Affairs and Hispanic StudiesMore about Chloe
Featured News
Faculty book release: “A Wall Is Just A Wall: The Permeability of the Prison in 20th Century America” by Reiko Hillyer
Please join us in congratulating Associate Professor of History and Department Chair Reiko Hillyer on the upcoming publication of her latest book, A Wall is Just a Wall: The Permeability of the Prison in 20th Century America (Duke University Press, February 16, 2024). Influenced by her work teaching in the Inside-Out program, Hillyer traces the decline of practices that used to connect incarcerated people more regularly to the free world.