This paper examines the organisation of the production of knowledge about international issues in US higher education, drawing on six case studies of Middle East studies. We review three key findings. First, we suggest that the American model for studying "the international" is rooted in a default, and outmoded, way of thinking about international issues, which we call "thinking nationally". Second, we find that teaching and research about the Middle East are centred in the humanities rather than in the social sciences. Third, we suggest that professional schools, rather than the arts and science core, are emerging as drivers of innovation in teaching and research about the Middle East on US campuses. (Contains 1 table and 11 notes.)