The International Relations specialization was originally established in 1961 as part of the Department of State Administration within the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Katolik Parahyangan. The specialization later evolved into an independent Department of International Relations in 1983, a status it maintains to this day.

The first head of the Department of International Relations was Drs. Suwardi Wiriatmadja, who served from 1986 to 1987, followed by Drs. Atom Ginting Munthe, who held the position from 1987 to 1996. He was succeeded by Drs. Marsedes Marbun, M.A., who served from 1996 to 2000, and then by Drs. P.Y. Nur Indro M.Si from 2000 to 2002. Following this, Prof. V. Bob Sugeng Hadiwinata, Ph.D., took over from 2002 to 2004, and was succeeded by Aleksius Djemadu, Ph.D., who served from 2004 to 2007. Subsequently, Yulius Purwadi Hermawan, Ph.D., served as the head from 2007 to 2011, followed by I Nyoman Sudira, Ph.D., who held the position from 2011 to 2015. The position was then held by Sylvia Yazid, Ph.D., and later by several other heads, including Vrameswari Omegawati, S.IP., M.Si(Han), Marshell Adi Putra, S.IP., M.A., and Angguntari C. Sari, Ph.D.

Currently, the head of the International Relations Study Program is Dr. rer. pol. Albert Triwibowo.