An introduction to Middlebury Institute of International Studies

About Middlebury Institute of International Studies,

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies offers international and professional education in areas critical to a changing world. It has a mission to gather, disseminate, and act on knowledge gained by providing a platform for all voices to be heard, particularly those of the marginalized, oppressed, and unprivileged, as well as exchanging information and ideas between the community of scholars and the community of practitioners working on conflict and peace issues.

Middlebury Institute of International Studies | A brief overview

Gaspard Weiss founded the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies in 1955, along with his wife, Louise Weiss, and cofounders Frank Elton and Sybil Fearnley. Weiss and his colleagues envisioned a graduate school that would promote international understanding through language and culture studies. While the name and programs of the Institute have changed, its core identity as an innovator and leader in international professional education has not.

The school purchased its first building in 1961, at 425 Van Buren Street, just up the hill from downtown Monterey. Built in 1911, The Segal Building’s previous name was the Monterey Public Library. The Segal Building, commemorated on the Institute’s shield, has housed the offices of every Institute leader since 1961.

The Institute got its new name, the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 1979. Following a five-year affiliation agreement, Middlebury formally acquired the Institute in 2010. Middlebury is famous around the world for its leadership in language instruction, environmental studies, international programs, and experiential learning innovations. Founded in 1800, Middlebury College also runs the Middlebury C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, the Middlebury Language Schools, and the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English.

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey was renamed again in 2015. As part of a global network of programs for future leaders, its rich heritage as a leading international professional graduate school continues to inform its mission and curriculum.

Campus

Middlebury Institute of International Studies has a beautiful campus in the world’s language capital, ‘Monterey,’ California. Middlebury has a sustainable campus, with students and faculty working to develop and implement sustainable practices.

Middlebury Institute of International Studies provides comfortable, well-equipped housing for up to 87 students on its campus.

Middlebury Library has a print collection of books, journals, periodicals, magazines, and other materials. It also includes e-resources like e-databases and e-books for students to use while studying and accessing library facilities off-campus. The campus’s College of Arts is a 100,000-square-foot structure. The college houses an art museum and provides spaces for creative art activities such as music programs, dance shows, and theater performances.

The Davis Family Library is a 135,000-square-foot structure that houses a massive collection of magazines, journals, print, and e-resources for students. On campus, there is also the Axinn Center for Literary and Cultural Studies.

Courses

Middlebury Institute of International Studies offers a wide range of master’s level professional degree programs, joint degree programs, and other programs.

Master of Arts in International Education Management, Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy, Master of Public Administration, and other professional master’s degree programs are available at the institute.

The institute also provides professional master’s degree courses in foreign language teaching, such as TOSEL. TOSEL is a professional course that prepares students for a career in English language teaching.

Middlebury’s joint degree programs include BA/MA, Joint Master in Public Administration, Joint Master of Arts in International Policy Development, and Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy.

Middlebury also offers professional development programs and certificate courses.

Postgraduate courses

International Policy and Development

Students can create and promote equitable and just policy responses to international, social, and economic challenges.

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Students can identify and assist in the management of international development opportunities for social change.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Impact Management

Students can manage risk and bring positive social change in international business as issues become more complex and challenging.

International Education Management

Students can prepare for a career in international education by participating in study abroad programs, student services, and government programs such as Fulbright and Education USA.

International Environmental Policy

Students can develop the critical knowledge and skills needed to address complex environmental challenges, particularly those posed by climate change.

International Trade and Economic Diplomacy

Students can investigate policy analysis and trade negotiations from one of three perspectives- business, government, or civil society.

Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies

Students can develop the knowledge and skills needed to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and effectively respond to terrorism.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Through the internationally recognized teacher education program, students can become a leader in ESL language education in the United States and around the world.

Teaching Foreign Language (TFL)

Through the internationally recognized teacher education program, students can become a leader in foreign language education in the United States and around the world.

Translation; Translation and Interpretation; or Conference Interpretation

Students can improve cross-cultural understanding and communication by practicing translation, consecutive interpretation, and simultaneous interpretation.

Translation and Localization Management

Students can learn the skills needed for a rapidly expanding industry centered on translation, technology, and project management.

Rankings

Middlebury Institute of International Studies ranked ‘#9’ in ‘National Liberal Arts Colleges’ by ‘U.S. News & World Report’.

Alumni

• Tim Ballard, CEO of The Nazarene Fund and Author.
• Mathew Lavin, Former Canadian Ambassador to Columbia, Spain, and Cuba.
• Rana Daggubati, Telugu Actor (India).
• Artur Dmochowski, Ambassador Embassy of Poland.
• William Scott Wilson, Author and translator of Japanese text to English.

Key takeaways

• Gaspard Weiss founded the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies in 1955 with his wife, Louise Weiss, and cofounders Frank Elton and Sybil Fearnley. They ed to promote international understanding through language and culture studies.
• Middlebury Institute has a beautiful campus in ‘Monterey,’ California. It has a sustainable campus where students and faculty work to develop and implement sustainable practices.
• Middlebury Institute offers various master’s level professional degree programs, joint degree programs, and other programs. Master of Arts in International Education Management and Master of Arts in International Trade are some of the courses available.

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FAQs

Q1. Is the Middlebury Institute of International Studies accredited?

Ans- The Middlebury Institute of International Studies has accreditation as a graduate school from The New England Commission of Higher Education which is a higher education accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Q2. Is the Middlebury Institute an Ivy League school?

Ans- The institute is one of the little Ivy League colleges, or ‘little Ivies’, a title given to colleges that are on par with big universities belonging to the Ivy League.

Q3. What is the acceptance rate for the Middlebury Institute of International Studies?

Ans- The acceptance rate for the Middlebury Institute is 63%.