Living in Monterey, you might occasionally hear the name MIIS. At first, I thought it was the name of some research institute.

It turns out to be quite a famous graduate school specializing in international studies. Its full name is the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, abbreviated as MIIS.

The school is located at 460 Pierce Street, right next to downtown Monterey. It's not far from the beach, which is popular with tourists, making it easily accessible. However, if you imagine a typical American college campus bustling with thousands of undergraduates, it's a bit different. Being a small graduate-focused institution, it has a quiet and professional atmosphere.

MIIS has a history that dates back to 1955. It is now an institution under the prestigious liberal arts college Middlebury College in Vermont. As the name suggests, the major itself is quite unique.

Notable fields include international policy, translation and interpretation, language education, international education, environment and sustainability, and nonproliferation and terrorism studies. In simpler terms, it's more of a school for those preparing for specialized careers in international organizations, government agencies, diplomacy, security, and translation, rather than a business school for general employment.

The field of translation and interpretation is particularly significant when discussing MIIS. It is one of the graduate schools that many people looking to study professional interpretation and translation in the U.S. are aware of. Simultaneous interpretation is not something you can just do because you are good at a foreign language. It requires professional training since you need to listen with one ear while conveying the message in another language almost simultaneously. MIIS has facilities and curricula that allow students to practice simultaneous interpretation in real-life scenarios.

This aspect is also interesting for Koreans. For those who are proficient in both Korean and English, it opens up the possibility of developing their language skills into a professional career rather than just saying, "I speak English well."

Another notable field is Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. The name itself is a major that is hard to find in general universities. It focuses on issues like the proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, international security, and terrorism. The fact that there is a graduate school in Monterey studying these fields is somewhat surprising.

The number of students is not large compared to major universities. However, students come from various countries, creating a very international atmosphere on campus. It's not just English that you hear; multiple languages blend naturally in the environment. For students aiming for careers in diplomacy or international organizations, this network can be an important part of their school life.

From the perspective of someone living in Monterey, the location is also great. The campus is close to Downtown Monterey, so cafes and restaurants around the school are frequented by both students and local residents. It feels like the graduate school is right in the heart of the city, making it not completely separate from the community.

However, it's important to note that MIIS is not a typical four-year college but a graduate-focused institution. If you are looking for a school to enter right after high school, it is completely different from CSUMB or Monterey Peninsula College.

If you want to study a new professional field as an adult or have an interest in international relations, translation, foreign language education, or international development and security, the situation changes. Living in Monterey with such a specialized graduate school nearby is a significant advantage.

Monterey may seem like a small tourist town, but it is actually quite an interesting place. There's CSUMB, the Naval Postgraduate School, and MIIS. It's not just a place with beaches and golf; if you look a little deeper, it's a unique educational city connected to international policy, languages, and military and security fields.