Surveying International Studies Programs: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

International studies (IS) programs have proliferated across campuses over the past decades. Given the increasing ubiquity of IS education, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of IS, most previous scholarship on IS programs has focused on issues of curricular structure. Yet there is a lack of systematic information on many key issues facing IS programs. Through a survey of directors of these programs, this study seeks to examine some of the broader issues surrounding IS as a field of undergraduate study. In particular, I examine student popularity of our programs, the various ways in which they are administratively structured, and the perceived stature of IS programs within home institutions. Additionally, some of the factors that contribute to growth in IS programs are examined. The overall goal of this study is to provide a “first step” towards building a comparative assessment and benchmark of the institutional and administrative characteristics of IS programs.