From Scratch: Designing and Implementing a New International Studies Program at a Small College Chris Dolan Lebanon Valley College This article advances a blueprint for small colleges interested in imple- menting new international studies programs. In response to a call from its strategic plan, the faculty at Lebanon Valley College (LVC) recently approved an IS program with two concentrations (international affairs and comparative culture) emphasizing core and advanced elective courses, foreign language, study abroad, as well as undergraduate research, and internship experiences. This article frames the under- graduate international studies program within the broader context of the prevailing literature and identifies the potential advantages and drawbacks of initiating and directing the major and minor. It then pro- vides a brief discussion of the ways in which the program can be assessed and a general overview of the career opportunities available to majors. The article concludes by recommending that small colleges like LVC have the potential to prepare students for the responsibilities of global citizenship when international studies programs are designed to incorporate and maximize college-wide strengths. Keywords: international studies program, interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate research, study abroad, global citizen- ship The objective of this article is to propose an outline for developing an interna- tional studies program at smaller colleges interested in building a more global curriculum. Based on the recent experience of Lebanon Valley College (LVC) in Pennsylvania, the intention is to serve as a model for building suggested aca- demic strengths into IS programs while at the same time acknowledging the potential drawbacks. Small institutions are likely to have several general advanta- ges in designing and implementing IS programs, namely smaller class sizes, large central curriculums or general education programs, and potential for growth. However, the challenges presented by limited financial resources, higher teach- ing loads, and possible lack of diversity on campus may constrain the develop- ment and evolution of such a new program. This article highlights the ways in which the experience at LVC can be instructive for faculty at small colleges inter- ested in developing IS programs. Hopefully, this examination will encourage small colleges to build and expand international studies programs and help fac- ulty identify the ways in which they can promote the significance of the aca- demic program and the importance of global citizenship to their students. The primary goal of the new international studies program is to promote diversity and multiculturalism on campus, advance the core value of global Dolan, Chris. (2011) From Scratch: Designing and Implementing a New International Studies Program at a Small College. International Studies Perspectives, doi: 10.1111/j.1528-3585.2011.00435.x Ó 2011 International Studies Association International Studies Perspectives (2011) 12, 428–446.