Middlebury International Studies

Spend a semester at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) learning from experts in international policy, trade, intercultural study, and global security. Undergraduate students can access the extraordinary resources at MIIS, enhancing their undergraduate degree with a customized semester of classes available at Middlebury’s Monterey campus.

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Academic Structure

With the International Studies Semester, students take up to 18 credits, choosing courses from various MIIS programs based on areas of interest:

Sample Classes

Global Politics
Power, Social Change & Organizations
Introduction to Trade Policy & Institutions
Public Policy & the Environment
Trust Across Cultures
Introduction to Intercultural Competence

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

Sample Language Classes

Students are invited to take content-based language classes in Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian or Spanish. Students need to be at the second-year college level (minimum) and will be required to pass a language placement test offered just before the semester starts.

Arabic: Islam in Central Asia
Chinese: Three Kingdoms & International Affairs
French: Security & Development in the Francophone World
Japanese: Modern Japanese Society
Russian: Russian from the Source
Spanish: US Foreign Policy in Latin America

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. 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 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.