Syracuse vs American for international relations: which is better for the major and career opportunities?

American has the edge for international relations, especially if you care about internships, policy exposure, and networking during the school year. Its School of International Service is one of the university’s signature programs, and being in Washington, DC puts you close to embassies, NGOs, think tanks, and federal agencies in a way Syracuse cannot match. For this particular major, the day-to-day environment at American is more directly tied to the field you want to enter.

Location matters a lot in IR, and American benefits from that constantly. Students can realistically build semester-time experience through part-time internships, events, panels, and informational interviews without needing to wait for summer. That kind of access often shapes not just your resume, but also your understanding of what branch of IR you actually want, whether that is diplomacy, development, security, or advocacy.

American also has a more concentrated undergraduate culture around international affairs. Because SIS is such a central part of the university, you are surrounded by classmates, faculty, and alumni who are specifically plugged into global policy and international careers. That tends to create more specialized student organizations, more guest speakers tied to the field, and a stronger professional identity early on.

Syracuse is still a credible option, and it offers a bigger traditional campus experience with strong communications, public affairs, and study abroad resources. Its alumni network is broad and loyal, but for IR it is not as naturally embedded in the professional ecosystem as American’s network in DC.