Best Degrees for Becoming a Diplomat

A diplomat generally deals with maintaining the relations between countries. He or she will be involved with everything from international cooperative efforts to negotiating trade deals, and must have a combination of political savvy, legal realism and personal chemistry. The best degree for the job, then, is one that can combine these skills. A good degree can come from any of the accredited schools around the world, and many degrees programs are geared towards future diplomats.

Featured Bachelor’s Programs

Featured Master’s Programs

Degrees in international studies, political science and law are all quite helpful for those seeking out diplomatic careers. Becoming a diplomat takes work, but a good degree can be a valuable stepping-stone to success.

About the best degrees for becoming a diplomat

Undergraduate degrees for diplomat jobs

The best undergraduate degrees for those preparing for a diplomatic career will tend to focus on international relations. One must start with a basic degree to progress, and there are several good bachelor’s degrees that one might want to pursue in order to have the best qualifications. Political science degrees are quite helpful for those that want to understand complex political systems, and the combination of theory-based classes and public speaking courses are good practice for the future. General “international relations” are also helpful, as the degrees tend to focus on multicultural understanding and interactions. Both degrees have helpful courses that can allow future diplomats to travel, and taking the time to do a study-abroad course can work wonders for those that want to spend their futures outside of their home country.

Master’s degrees for diplomat jobs

If you want to be a diplomat, it is often wise to seek out higher education. The best master’s degrees are those that will help you to hone your skills. A master’s in international business or international relations can help to hone your diplomatic skills, and the classes involved with usually feature a mixture of oral presentations and research-based studies. Other good master’s degrees to consider are those in the legal field, with the Master’s of Law in International Business or International Law providing many opportunities to understand treaty obligations. Both sets of degrees tend to focus on how the laws of one’s home country might interact with the laws of other nations, and the chance to read real court cases or view the records of real international organizations to understand how such relationships work can be an invaluable experience.

Online degrees for becoming a diplomat

Of course, online degrees can also be helpful for diplomat jobs. The best online degrees are similar to those listed above, and often involve the same course work. The top online degree programs offer the same kind of experience as a traditional campus, but do not require students to be present in a specific location at a specific time. This can be quite helpful for those that want to be diplomats but that cannot dedicate time to a typical college schedule.

Detailed Discussion of Degree Programs for Diplomats

There are numerous paths that can lead to a career as a diplomat. Some people who enter the Foreign Service come to it late in life, while others have that aim from a young age. Foreign service is without a doubt one of the most unusual careers in many ways. This article addresses one of those unique elements that sets the career apart from others. What does one study to become a diplomat? This is a difficult question to answer, especially because entering the Foreign Service requires no degree. Applicants must go through a rigorous testing phase, but passing that test is all that is required. The testing phase is extensive, unique, and one for which it is almost impossible to adequately prepare in any traditional manner.

While a college degree is not required to enter the Foreign Service, that does not mean a degree will not be useful. The testing process, and the job of diplomat are both difficult things for which college can prepare a person. The question of what to study is somewhat more difficult to answer. The test is broad in its scope and can include questions that vary wildly from issues of obscure geography to popular culture. The second phase puts students into a team, and gives the team a situation in which they must roleplay as a team of diplomats. Critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, humility, these are all essential if one wants to pass the foreign service test.

There is also the question: in which capacity do you wish to serve? Should you pass the test, your education and work experience will affect everything from where you are stationed to what role you play. This is a list of the top undergraduate programs for aspiring diplomats. Six categories of program, each with five schools listed. There is no ranking because the list is intended to serve more as a guide and it is our hope that every reader will find a great option here that suits their needs. The category “Traditional Liberal Arts” is the only category that features traditional brick and mortar programs. The rest of the programs are online programs.

Traditional Liberal Arts

The study of the Liberal Arts has been much maligned in recent years, but for aspiring diplomats it is hard to envision a better area of study. Liberal Arts programs are incredibly flexible, most of the schools offer students the ability to create their own custom program. Students considering a diplomatic career will find this incredibly helpful as they can tailor the program to meet their goals like a glove.