The director of the program establishes a roster of courses informally, calling for proposals via university email in the Spring. Details are worked out individually. The aim is to finalize a roster by Labor Day, so that preparations for the following Spring semester and for promoting the tours--nearly all run over Spring break or in May--can proceed deliberately.

Interested faculty members should consider, first, what courses and tour destinations are likely to draw sufficient enrollment. Since students' costs cover the faculty member's expenses, cost-efficiency generally requires ten paying travelers per instructor. Second, they should be aware that non-majors are often attracted to International Studies courses. Finally, they must get the approval of their department chair. In most cases, departments should select course numbers providing for "G" credit in the general curriculum.

The dean's office has approved three standard course formats. "Seminars and Study Tour" is the most common since, taught as an overload, it is not subject to departmental and decanal review of enrollment. "The Plus Option" has not proved attractive to students since they prefer credit to come in units of three.

Students often inquire about earning credit for travel in combination with independent study, a matter left to the discretion of individual instructors and departments. Variable credit arrangements sometimes require a course number with credit "by arrangement."