Prepare for a career countering threats posed by terrorism, financial crimes, and nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
Working Toward a World of Change
The subjects that we focus on in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies keep us interested. They're important problems with big real world implications. We wanna make sure that there's never a nuclear war, that new states don't get chemical or biological weapons that we find effective. Strategies for fighting back against terrorism.
Conflicts and strife within the Muslim community, the Middle East communities from the very beginning. And then of course when Mohammed died, it was more conflicts over the succession.
And all I have to do is read newspaper headlines in the morning when I get up and I know I have an important job and an important mission to help educate our students to work professionally in these fields.
We've really sort of been left on our own to defend ourselves. And do you think, is this the moment Jacob to be open about the fact that we have in the weapon?
The IDF is not custodian of the new materials.
I've been able to take my Russian language skills that I came to the program with, and really build them so that I can use them in a professional setting. So now I feel like I can actually talk about real life problems. Talk about arms control issues in this very specific context here at the Institute.
We call all seats in the region to declare the Middle East to be a region free of nuclear testing.
Even for those states who have not signed a ratified CBEQ.
The amputation relation is a class where you simulate the negotiation of the nonproliferation treaty. It's a really interesting class, you learn a lot about your country. It's a lot of work, but the fun part is that you are interacting all the time. You're representing a different state and representing different interests that you may or may not align with.
It made me confident that I was able to accomplish such projects. And that I can go into the workforce loaded with the knowledge that I needed.
For me that felt like a class where I was able to take everything I've learned in my introductory courses that far and apply them to real life problems. And after I completed that course, I had the chance to then go and serve as an intern at the UN office for Disarmament Affairs in New York, where we were working on that exact treaty. So I took the skills that I learned in that seminar and applied them directly to supporting the secretariat in that endeavor.
Every time I take a trip to Washington, DC, I bump into one of our alums who's working in DC at the State Department, the Treasury Department, the Defense Department. For Congress, I mean, really have students working just all throughout the U.S. government.
The greatest thing about the Middlebury Institute is that it combines not only excellent academics, but also professional opportunities.
What we do is pretty unique. We have a very specialized niche. And if what we're doing is what interest you and it's what can help you get launched on the kind of career you want. Then I think it's very hard to do better than to come here.
The Middlebury Institute Master of Arts in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (NPTS) is focused on building the professional knowledge and skills you need to respond to the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to threats from violent extremism and financial crimes. It is a four-semester, 60-credit program.
The Institute’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC) gives our NPTS students a distinct advantage. CNS is the largest nongovernmental organization in the United States devoted exclusively to disseminating timely information and analysis on WMD issues and to training the next generation of nonproliferation specialists. Members of its research staff are routinely quoted in national and international media on timely topics such as North Korea’s nuclear program. CTEC, which was launched in 2018, has already been commissioned by a number of Silicon Valley tech companies to help them better understand how extremists use social media and the internet.
Career-Oriented Course Work
Our NPTS curriculum integrates instruction in international security, science and technology, history, and regional studies with real-world opportunities to apply your learning.
Course work is focused on giving you professional experience before you graduate to accelerate your career growth. You can build practical skills like policy memo writing, geospatial analysis, social network analysis, and investigating financial transactions.
Improving language competence is central to all degree programs at the Institute, and students take several content-based courses taught in their chosen language of study to support their ability to work across cultures and borders.
See the curriculum for more details.
Financial Crime Management
NPTS students can use their electives to add the Financial Crime Management specialization. This specialization gives you the skills and confidence to pursue a career in the fields of private sector compliance and investigations, government intelligence, training and research with multilateral organizations, and anticorruption compliance for NGOs.
Dual Degree Option
Students who are specifically interested in WMD issues and U.S.-Russia relations can apply for the Institute’s Dual Degree in Nonproliferation Studies with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).
Research and Work Experience
The Institute is home to a number of important research centers and initiatives that are integrated into the degree curriculum. Students gain real-world work experience as paid research assistants:
- The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) strives to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction by training the next generation of nonproliferation specialists and disseminating timely information and analysis. CNS provides NPTS students with a wealth of resources, including opportunities for internships and research.
- The Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC) conducts in-depth research on terrorism and other forms of extremism. CTEC’s research informs private, government, and multilateral institutional understanding of and responses to terrorism threats.
- The Cyber Initiative provides an interdisciplinary approach to assessing the policy impact of the information age on security, peace, development, and communications in international affairs.
Our offices in Washington D.C., and Vienna, Austria, give students access to a wealth of resources, including opportunities for placed internships and conducting research.
Learn from Experts
Our experts are regularly featured in the news due to their groundbreaking work around the world. Hear directly from them on some of the techniques you will learn:
- Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at CNS, explains how we use language skills, satellite photographs, and 3D models to monitor North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, all without ever leaving the splendor of the Monterey Peninsula. Watch the video.
- Professor Moyara Ruehsen explains our Financial Crime Management specialization and the exciting careers it opens up—from investigative units at private banks to the FBI to compliance at tech companies like AirBnB. Watch the video.
- Professor Jason Blazakis, Director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, discusses the current domestic threat landscape and the steps policymakers should take to counter the rise of right-wing terrorists in the U.S. Watch the video.
Featured News
Our graduates find rewarding careers promoting the reduction and elimination of weapons of mass destruction and countering threats of terrorism.
Career Outcomes
- 98%
- Secured internships in 2017
- 93%
- Working, continued education, or other within one year of graduation
- 10+
- Industries entered by recent graduates