Marketing the International Studies Major: Claims and Content of Programs at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions in the Midwest

Abstract

What are the purposes and benefits of majoring in International Studies (IS)? We investigate how IS major programs at primarily undergraduate colleges and universities in the Midwest market themselves and compare the “advertised” benefits with the program requirements. Knowledge, career preparation, and foreign language study are the most frequently cited benefits. A lack of correlation between advertised program benefits and actual course requirements is noted. The paper concludes with the suggestion that IS major programs may wish to review how well their claims match their program content.