Chronology
PIR PRESS NEWS
«I have never had any role models. Journalism is a craft; it is the knowledge of the subject you are going to write about. You have to have some background. Journalism is also about the ability to reach people. When I was still an officer, I was fortunate enough to visit military enterprises with my father and there I got to know their general directors. When I went to the military academy, we were taught naval tactics, we studied ship weapons systems, but it was all about iron. It was immaterial. But when I started communicating with constructors, that iron suddenly came alive to me. Once I approached the officer on the ship, I straightaway began telling the combat commander what kind of missile was in service on the ship, what it was capable of, and what it consisted of. It opened a lot of doors because even the officers were not always aware of the whole range of problems and characteristics which are inherent to this or that technical item. On balance, we ended up with an interesting conversation, which revealed a host of interesting details», — Dmitry Litovkin, a military journalist, editor-in-chief of the Independent Military Review ("Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye").
PIR Center continues a section "PIR Test". This project in the form of a game carries equally educational, research and analytical meaning. Users are given the opportunity to take the test - to answer one of the designated questions. Our today's PIR Test is about the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.
65 years ago, on October 4, 1957, the first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, was launched into Earth's orbit under the code name PS-1. This event has a great influence. The launch of the first satellite marked the beginning of space exploration.
The authoritative publishing house Palgrave Macmillan (part of the Springer publishing group) releases the 2nd edition of the monograph Russian–American Nuclear Nonproliferation Dialogue: Lessons Learned and Road Ahead. The book was prepared by a team of 13 young and experienced researchers, edited by PIR Center Founder and Director Vladimir Orlov and PIR Center Research Fellow Sergey Semenov. It is also supplied with prefaces from William Potter, director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), and Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Dual Degree Program in Nonproliferation Studies
Global Development and WMD Nonproliferation – Your Personal Contribution
Why Nonproliferation?
Development of nuclear, chemical, biological and other technologies is considered as the key to sustainable development, limiting global warming, formation of scientific and technical elite, strengthening independence and status in the region, transition to the new league of world politics.
The growth of global trade and increasing availability of information on the Internet are making the technology, materials, and know-how for WMD more widely available. Due to advances in biotechnology and other areas, such as 3-D printing, people can find new ways of creating dangerous weapons. But the spread of technology and scientific know-how associated with nuclear energy can also pose proliferation challenges, which require effective international safeguards and security measures. In many regions of the world, traditional rivalries and ongoing conflicts could motivate states or terrorist groups to seek nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.
These conditions create an urgent need to train new nonproliferation specialists around the world. In order to meet this challenge, three institutions have joined resources to create a unique international educational program in nonproliferation. It is designed to prepare students from around the world to pursue professional careers in the increasingly important field of WMD nonproliferation and global security.
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“There has never been a greater need for education in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation, especially with regard to weapons of mass destruction, but also in the field of small arms and international terrorism. Since the end of the cold war, changing concepts of security and threat have demanded new thinking. Such new thinking will arise from those who are educated and trained today” Report of the UN Secretary General “United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education” (А/57/124) |
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The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and PIR Center have partnered to develop a Dual Degree in Nonproliferation Studies. This is a two-year program beginning in the fall semester. The program prepares students for professional careers combating the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons in national governments, international organizations, academia, think tanks, and the private sector. The program is designed for students especially interested in nuclear energy, global development and security, WMD nonproliferation and U.S.-Russian relations. Interdisciplinary curriculum covers global security, history, science and technology, area studies, public policy, and research methods — with emphasis on practical skills. |
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Unique Program Structure Graduates are awarded two master’s degrees: one from MIIS with a degree in nonproliferation and terrorism studies (MANPTS) and the other from MGIMO with a degree in international affairs, with a specialization in WMD nonproliferation, nuclear policy, and global security. Students will take classes at MGIMO in Moscow in the fall semester of the first year. They will take classes at MIIS in Monterey in the second and third semesters. The fourth and final semester will be devoted to an internship and thesis preparation, with the student’s location determined on a case-by-case basis. The total workload of the program is 120 ECTS credits (60 U.S. credits), including classes and internships, as well as preparation and defense of a master’s thesis. All courses are delivered in English. However, native English speakers will also study Russian or another language. |
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MGIMO Russia’s best-known and most prestigious humanities and social sciences university |
MIIS A world leader in training nonproliferation specialists and social sciences university |
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PIR Center The leading Russian NGO in nonproliferation and arms control with many years of experience in nonproliferation education and research |
CNS James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) - the largest NGO in the U.S. devoted exclusively to research and training on nonproliferation issues |
Admission Requirements
The MIIS/MGIMO Dual Degree is open to applicants of all nationalities, including those with little or no professional experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in any field. Applicants may apply in the same year they obtain their degree.
- Excellent academic records from previous studies, including a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited undergraduate institution.
- Proficiency in English is required. Preferred minimum scores: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79 (IBT) or equivalent.
- Proficiency in Russian is welcome but not required.
Application Checklist
Applicants must submit the following documents* to the Middlebury Institute:
● Application form and application fee
● Transcripts from previous undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate degrees
● Statement of purpose
● Résumé or curriculum vitae
● Letters of recommendation (one required, two preferred)
● Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (for nonnative English speakers)
● GREs are not required but are highly recommended
* All documents have to be submitted in English
How to Apply
Applicants who wish to commence their studies in the fall should complete the following steps. To apply:
1) Visit MIIS new online application form.
2) register on the MGIMO apllication page (till July 1)
Tuition Fee and Scholarship Opportunities
The full information about enrollment requirements and tuition fees can be found on dualdegree.pircenter.org, also on MGIMO and MIIS websites.
Contact information
MIIS
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
460 Pierce St., Monterey, CA 93940 USA
Tel: +1 (831) 647 4166
[email protected]
MGIMO
76, Prospect Vernadskogo Moscow, Russia, 119454
Tel. +7 (495) 434-10-07
Coordinator of the program
Ms. Maria Apanovich
e-mail: [email protected]
PIR Center
Assistant to Director on Special Projects &
Education and Training Program Coordinator
Elena Karnaukhova
e-mail: [email protected]