Now Enrolling — Fall

Study International Relations Online. No Career Pause Required.

Salve Regina University offers the first fully online Ph.D. in International Relations in the United States — plus an accelerated M.A. track — built for professionals who can't stop the world to go back to school.

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100% Online & asynchronous
36 Credits to graduate
30+ Years of military partnerships
#1 First online IR doctorate in the U.S.
Military & Veterans: Salve Regina is approved for veterans' benefits and recognized as a Military Friendly® School. Tuition reimbursement available.

Choose Your Path

Two Programs. One Global Vision.

Whether you're building toward a terminal degree or launching a career in foreign affairs, Salve Regina has a program designed around your life.

Master's Degree

M.A. in International Relations

Refine the analytical skills you need to succeed in foreign affairs, defense, government, and global business. Tackle political thought, comparative politics, and human rights through an international lens — all online, all on your schedule.

Format
Online, asynchronous
Credits
36 credits (12 courses)
Time to complete
18 – 24 months
Admissions
Rolling (3 starts/year)
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Doctoral Degree

Ph.D. in International Relations

The first online doctorate of its kind in the United States. Earn your terminal degree through rigorous coursework, a language proficiency requirement, a comprehensive exam, and an original dissertation — without leaving your current role.

Format
Online, asynchronous
Credits
36 credits + dissertation
Time to complete
~4 years
Designed for
Mid-to-senior professionals
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Program Leadership

Meet the Program Director

Dr. Symeon Giannakos, Professor and Program Director

Dr. Symeon Giannakos
McAuley Hall, Newport RI

Dr. Symeon Giannakos

Professor & Graduate Program Director — Political Science & International Relations

Dr. Giannakos is the founder and director of the first online international relations Ph.D. program in the United States. Since launching the program in fall 2018, he has built a vibrant community of more than 60 active doctoral students drawn from the diplomacy, defense, and education sectors — with over 20 degrees already awarded. His own research focuses on the nexus between ethnic and national identity and interstate and intrastate conflicts, and his scholarship has appeared in leading journals including Nationalities Papers and the Harvard International Review.

Areas of Expertise

International Relations Theory Russian Foreign Policy European Union Nationalism Ethnic Conflict

"The world is changing faster and more profoundly than ever before. Stay on top of it by enrolling in the first online international relations Ph.D. in the United States, designed to give working professionals a competitive edge through a formal, rigorous and systematic study of all global affairs."

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Meet the full faculty. Our instructors are renowned scholars in political philosophy, American foreign policy, Russian affairs, Latin American politics, East Asian security, and more.

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The Salve Difference

Built for Your World, Not a Traditional Campus

For over 30 years, Salve Regina has partnered with military officers, diplomats, and government professionals to deliver graduate education without the tradeoffs.

Learn on Your Terms

All coursework is asynchronous. Log in when your schedule allows — whether that's early mornings, late nights, or between deployments.

Scholar-Practitioners

Faculty are renowned researchers across political philosophy, American foreign policy, Russian affairs, Latin American politics, and East Asian security — with care for each student's progress.

A Truly Global Cohort

Study alongside military officers, U.S. and international diplomats, and global policy professionals — a network unlike any traditional academic program.

Mercy-Driven Mission

Salve's founding Sisters of Mercy shape a curriculum that examines human rights, immigration, nonviolence, and global justice as core analytical lenses — not electives.

Multiple Start Dates

Fall, spring, and summer entry available. The M.A. offers rolling admissions so you can begin when the timing is right for you.

Employer Reimbursement Ready

Salve works directly with employers for tuition reimbursement, and financial aid is available for eligible graduate students.

Career Outcomes

Where Graduates Land

Salve graduates go on to careers across defense, diplomacy, academia, and global business — equipped to lead in a rapidly shifting world.

Industries

  • Defense & Military
  • Federal & State Government
  • International Business
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Higher Education & Academia
  • Journalism & Media
  • International Security

Roles

  • Political Scientist
  • Foreign Intelligence Analyst
  • International Security Specialist
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Government Affairs Manager
  • Economic Analyst
  • Political Consultant

Alumni Voices

From Graduates Who've Been Where You Are

Salve's international relations doctorate was the right fit for me. Everything but the final oral defense can be completed online. The faculty go out of their way to assist with your learning experience.

Col. Jerry Krieger '24 (Ph.D.)
Retired Army Colonel, writer and historian

The flexibility of the online program made it possible to balance rigorous academic study with my professional responsibilities, turning the goal of earning a doctorate into a reality.

Terence Nicholas '23 (Ph.D.)
Assistant Professor, U.S. Naval War College

Completing my M.A. in international relations as well as participating in the Boren fellowship led directly to my employment at the Pentagon — in the Office of Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism.

Andrew Loftesnes '20 (M.A.)
Foreign Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of Defense

It's the connections that you make with students, faculty and other alumni that open doors later in life. My advisor's willingness to vouch for me four years after completing the program is a testament to the 'people-first' Salve approach.

Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Garrow '12 (M.A.)
Assistant Professor, U.S. Naval Academy

Admissions

Application Deadlines

The Ph.D. program has three annual entry points. The M.A. program accepts applications on a rolling basis year-round.

Ph.D.
Summer Start
Deadline: March 1
Ph.D.
Fall Start
Deadline: July 1
Ph.D.
Spring Start
Deadline: November 1
M.A. program: Rolling admissions with fall, spring, and summer starts available. Apply when you're ready — no need to wait for a deadline cycle.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Connect with Salve Regina's graduate admissions team to learn more, download a program brochure, or begin your application today.

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