Master of Arts in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies

Threats posed by terrorism and nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons remain leading concerns on the global security agenda.

Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies chair Jeffrey Knopf and current NPTS students discuss how this program is preparing them for essential careers addressing threats posed by terrorism and nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. — Working Toward a World of Change

Transcript

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) prepares you for professional careers responding to the spread of weapons of mass destruction and threats from violent extremism.

The Institute’s affiliation with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) 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.

Our NPTS program integrates instruction in international security, science and technology, history, and regional studies with opportunities to apply practical skills. Improving language competence is central to all degree programs at the Institute, and students take courses taught in their chosen language of study.