With the Study Away at Monterey program, undergraduate students can access the extraordinary resources at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS), a graduate school of Middlebury College. Spend a semester or a year at MIIS, learning from experts in international policy (environmental, trade, development, and nonproliferation), education, and linguistics. These programs educate students to advance understanding, promote peace, and drive change in pursuit of a more just world.
Programs
The Middlebury California Coast and Climate Semester immerses students in the study of climate science and policy on California’s dynamic coastline through an interdisciplinary approach. The program combines core courses designed specifically for the Coast and Climate Semester with graduate courses at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS). Students directly enroll in the Environmental Policy and Management graduate program at MIIS, gaining hands-on experience and deeper insights into the intersection of climate science, policy, and coastal management.
The Middlebury Global Security Semester offers students the chance to study nonproliferation, terrorism studies, financial crime, and cybersecurity, and the option to take language classes. Students directly enroll in courses in the Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies program at MIIS.
The Middlebury International Studies Semester offers students the opportunity to enhance their undergraduate degree with a customized semester of classes at our Monterey campus. Students directly enroll in MIIS courses learning from experts in international policy, trade, intercultural study, and global security.
Study Away + Study Abroad
Many students have successfully combined Study Away at Monterey with a study abroad program, spending one semester in Monterey and one semester abroad. It is important to keep academic calendars and visa requirements in mind. Middlebury students should click here to schedule a meeting with an advisor to discuss options. Students from other institutions should speak with their study abroad advisor to determine if they could combine Study Away with studying abroad.
Hear from Recent SAAM Students
Friends From Around The World
I think what I like best about Middlebury Institute is like how diverse it is. I actually think it’s really cool how American students are kind of the minority here and you get to learn from a bunch of different cultures, like I have friends from France, Germany, Asia, Africa, and it’s super cool to kind of just hear and learn from all of their perspectives. And I think also living in the Monterey area too is just a really great way to like experience the outdoors. Obviously being next to the ocean is really cool because you get to see it every day. A highlight of the semester has been taking like my Dark Web Workshop, which is like we went on to the dark web and like learned how to do research on it safely. And that was really cool because obviously that’s not something you get to do at a lot of other places. A piece of advice to people that are maybe thinking about like going to MIIS to do like a study away is maybe just be open right? Like being willing to like just take on new kinds of challenges, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
Explore A Different Part of the Country
I was looking for a cool opportunity to travel and explore different parts of the country and the world. I was also really interested in the program itself. I’m doing the Global Security Semester, so I’ve gotten a chance to take some really interesting classes. And I also came out looking for a little bit of clarity on my career, my career path. There’s so many students I can learn from who have spent a career in the service for 20-25 years, students that have already led guided research projects for two years in a foreign country, and kind of everything in between. it’s very evident to me that there are a number of students here who are figuring out a career path or students that are here because they’re changing a career path and so I think I was really calmed by the sense of “it’s okay to explore, it’s okay to learn.” Even more than being okay, it’s really encouraged. I spent a bunch of time out on the water at the local Yacht Club sailing. I was able to get involved in some local pickup soccer, just explore everything the Bay Area has to offer as a whole. California Dreaming as well as the grad school opportunity as, you know, a 20-year-old undergraduate.
Learning From Your Graduate Classmates
The difference between study away versus study abroad is that you kind of get to be in sort of a familiar place except just in a different part of the country. Study away at Monterey is a really really valuable, interesting experience I would say. My favorite part about being at MIIS is the fact that it’s in Monterey, on the coast. Learning how to surf going to Big Sur, doing a bunch of hikes— it’s just a really cool place to be. Yes there are lectures, but the teacher wants to hear from all the students and make you conversate to learn instead of just listen to learn. They’re happy to help you out in like a mentoring position and I think that that’s a really valuable experience because you’re going to school with a bunch of people who have already had careers, or already went to college and decided they wanted to do something different. And so you’re just kind of learning with a bunch of people who have already led completely different lives in a really interesting conversation-based format.