Unlike most disciplinary-based academic programs, interdisciplinary international studies programs vary considerably in terms of their core curricula. They need to fit within the institutional context in which they operate and must insure that there are sufficient faculty and resources available so that required courses are accessible on a regular basis and students can move through in a timely fashion. This paper suggests a framework for crafting core curricula in international studies. It advances a set of recommended student learning outcomes designed to accommodate the diversity of curricula that exist while providing a basis for developing common learning experiences.