Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies

The Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies is a non-degree graduate program designed for professional training in the control, reduction, and elimination of weapons of mass destruction (including chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons).  Certificate students take courses, seminars, and workshops on nonproliferation taught by faculty in the Graduate School of International Policy and Management (GSIPM) and experts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). The Certificate requires a total of 16 credits and may be completed in one year or less in residence at the Monterey Institute.

CNS is recognized internationally as a leading center of expertise in controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction and is the only organization in the world dedicated exclusively to graduate education and research in nonproliferation. In addition to teaching and research, CNS Director Professor William Potter and other CNS staff participate actively in international negotiations and prepare students for nonproliferation careers through on-the-job training and interaction with visiting scholars and specialists from other countries. Certificate students are also eligible to work as research assistants on a wide variety of CNS projects, including nonproliferation databases, in-depth studies of WMD programs and the international nonproliferation regime, and timely analyses of events and issues in WMD proliferation and control.

Admissions Requirements

Individuals holding advanced degrees (MA or above or the equivalent) or equivalent work experience in international relations, science, engineering, law, or related fields may apply for admission to the Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies. Please contact one of our Enrollment Managers for more details.

Monterey Institute students enrolled in degree programs (including the BAIS, MAIPS, MPA, MBA, MAIEP, and the MA degrees granted by the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education) may also apply for admission for the Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies. Completing the Certificate requires a minimum of 16 credits in addition to those required for a degree. Students may not count the same credits toward both a degree and a non-degree Certificate.

Required and Optional Courses

To earn the Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies, students must complete at least 16 semester units with an average grade of B or higher for all courses completed in furtherance of the certificate.

Required Courses

All students earning the Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies must complete the following courses:

• IPOL 8574 Introduction to WMD Nonproliferation (4 credits)
• IPOL 8559 WMD Science and Technology (4 credits)

Optional Courses

In addition to the above required courses, students earning the Certificate in Nonproliferation Studies must complete at least 8 credits of advanced courses and/or workshops in Nonproliferation Studies. Courses and workshops in this field include the following:

• IPOL 8510 Security & Arms Control in Northeast Asia
• IPOL 8516 NPT Simulation
• IPOL 8526 Strategic Trade Controls & Nonproliferation
• IPOL 8586 U.S.-Russian START+ Simulation
• IPOL 8606 Seminar: Chinese Nonproliferation and Security Policy
• IPOL 8631 Seminar: Nuclear Proliferation Trends and Trigger Events
• IPOL 8654 Seminar: Security and Nonproliferation Issues in the Middle East
• IPOL 8658 Seminar: Terrorism and WMD
• IPOL 8675 Seminar: The Nuclear Renaissance and Nonproliferation
• IPOL 8678 Seminar: Verifying Nuclear Arms Control
• IPOL 8683 Seminar: South Asia & WMD
• IPOL 8684 Seminar: Biological and Chemical Weapons and Arms Control
• IPOL 8693 Seminar: Practical Issues: Nuclear Disarmament
• WKSH 8523 U.S. Nuclear Weapons History & Cost
• WKSH 8568 WMD & Intelligence Analysis
• WKSH 8576 Trafficking in Nuclear & Radioactive Materials
• WKSH 8591 The Nuclear Difference: Nuclear Science for Policy Makers
• WKSH 8522 Iran’s Nuclear Program
• NPGA 8510 Naval Postgraduate Agreement (credit varies)