Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

What you'll study

MIIS is a graduate-only institution and does not provide a bachelor’s curriculum. That said, a typical undergraduate BA in International Relations and National Security Studies (offered by undergraduate colleges) usually combines core political science and international relations theory with regionally focused courses, national security policy, intelligence studies, and research methods.

• Core international relations: theories of international politics, international law, comparative politics, and diplomacy.
• National security and defence studies: national security policy, civil–military relations, homeland security, intelligence fundamentals, and conflict analysis.
• Research and quantitative methods: political methodology, statistics for social sciences, and qualitative methods for case studies.
• Regional and thematic electives: area studies (e.g., Middle East, East Asia, Europe), terrorism and insurgency, cyber security and technology policy, and non‑proliferation policy.
• Language and communication: sustained language study and courses in negotiation, policy writing, and public diplomacy.
• Capstone or honours project: an extended research project, internship, or practicum connecting academic study to policy practice.

Students who complete such an undergraduate programme are well positioned to apply for MIIS graduate programmes—such as MA degrees in International Policy, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, or International Education Management—which emphasise applied skills, practicum work, language proficiency and professional internships.

Entry requirements

Because MIIS does not offer a bachelor’s, entry requirements below describe two pathways: (1) typical undergraduate admission expectations for a BA in International Relations at a selective liberal arts college (such as Middlebury College), and (2) what MIIS expects from applicants to its graduate programmes.

• Undergraduate (BA) typical expectations: a strong secondary-school academic record with challenging coursework, letters of recommendation, personal essays, and evidence of engagement in relevant extracurricular activities (debate, model UN, internships, community service). International applicants normally submit recognised English language test scores if their education was not in English.
• Graduate (MIIS) typical expectations: a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, transcripts showing relevant coursework or quantitative ability where required, a personal statement describing professional goals, one or more letters of recommendation, and CV/resume. Certain MIIS programmes may require demonstrated language ability or relevant professional experience; international applicants often submit English language proficiency test results.

Career prospects

Graduates of an undergraduate BA in International Relations and National Security Studies commonly progress into roles that prepare them for professional work or graduate study. Typical early-career pathways include:

• Entry-level analyst or research assistant roles in think tanks, policy institutes and research centres.
• Positions in government and public service: foreign service staff, defence and homeland security support roles, and policy officer traineeships.
• Careers in intelligence community support, risk analysis, and private-sector security consultancies.
• Work in international organisations, NGOs and humanitarian agencies focused on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and development.
• Journalism, communications and advocacy roles that focus on international affairs.
• Pursuit of graduate study: specialised master’s degrees in international affairs, security studies, public policy, law, or area studies—MIIS is a common choice for professionally oriented graduate training in these fields.

Why study at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

While MIIS does not award bachelor’s degrees, it is a globally recognised graduate school for students who want applied, career-focused training in international policy, security, nonproliferation, translation and interpretation, and international education. Reasons students choose MIIS include:

• Professional focus: MIIS programmes emphasise practicums, internships and capstone projects that connect classroom learning to real-world policy and operational work.
• Specialist curriculum: unique offerings in nonproliferation, terrorism studies, language-intensive tracks, and programme areas that are directly relevant to national security careers.
• Language and regional depth: embedded language training and regional expertise that are valuable for diplomacy, intelligence and international organisations.
• Location and networks: Monterey’s proximity to federal and defence installations, research centres and a compact campus community produces networking and internship opportunities with public- and private-sector employers.
• Small cohorts and experiential pedagogy: small class sizes and practitioner faculty provide mentorship and hands-on learning geared to immediate career application.

If you are seeking a bachelor’s-level education in international relations and national security, investigate undergraduate offerings at Middlebury College or other undergraduate institutions, then consider MIIS for specialised graduate study once you hold a BA.