Ian Baucom, Higher Education Leader, Enterprising Administrator, and Prolific Scholar, Named President of Middlebury.
Logo for Middlebury Middlebury Middlebury

Study Away at Monterey

Middlebury California Coast and Climate Semester

Overlooking the Monterey Bay

Spend a semester at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) learning from experts addressing the climate crisis. Set against the backdrop of the California Coast — communities at the forefront of U.S. environmental policy — this program uses the region as a case study to explore global issues of climate change, resilience, and environmental justice.  As undergraduate students, you have access to exceptional resources at MIIS, including its Master of Arts in Environmental Policy and Management and the Center for the Blue Economy. This access offers a unique opportunity to learn, research, and innovate in the field of climate and environmental studies.

Apply

Academic Structure

With the California Coast and Climate Semester, students directly enroll in courses offered at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, including a core course uniquely designed for the California Coast and Climate semester. Throughout the semester, students learn alongside graduate students and hear from experts working across disciplines creating pathways for just and resilient climate solutions. Students take up to 18 credits, mostly in the Environmental Policy and Management program. Enrolling in a course outside of EPM (e.g. language) is allowed with approval.

Sample Courses

  • Sustainable Coastal Management
  • International Marine Science & Policy
  • Sustainable Cities
  • Applied Conservation Science & Policy
  • Sustainable Agriculture-Regenerative
  • Environmental & Natural Resource Economics
  • Environmental Leadership
  • Climate Migration
  • Economics of Inequality
  • Advanced Data Analysis
  • Organizational Development & Leadership

Note: Use the course schedule to find details about each course. This is not a comprehensive list and may change from semester to semester.

Dates

The program runs both fall and spring semesters.

Click here for the 2024-2025 MIIS calendar and check out the following pages for more information about Dates and Fees, Admissions, and Housing.

For Middlebury College students: If you study away at Monterey for the spring semester, you may not enroll in J-term on the Vermont campus. Instead, you will earn a Winter Term Equivalent credit (WTEQ) if you enroll in a full load of courses at MIIS.

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.

Applying

Begin an application or click here for more information about admissions requirements, application materials, and deadlines.

Get a head start on your master’s degree and a scholarship too!

Head Start 

Apply your Study Away at Monterey semester toward a master’s degree in the Environmental Policy and Management Department at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS). Reach out to Ms. Toni Thomas, Associate Dean, about how these courses would apply toward your degree (tmthomas@middlebury.edu).

Scholarships

MIIS guarantees $10,000 scholarships for alumni of any Middlebury degree program and their extended family members. Past participants in nondegree Middlebury programs such as Study Away, Study Abroad and the Language Schools are eligible for a $5,000 scholarship.