The concept of Immersive Learning is a significant component of the MIIS experience. Every student is encouraged to take advantage of the many venues available to expand his/her skills and knowledge beyond the classroom setting. Luckily, students do not need to look too far, as the Monterey Institute is home to an important number of research centers and initiatives available for students to explore innovative and original approaches to pressing global issues.
From the possibility of participating in relevant internships and fellowships, to the opportunity to conduct further research and the chance to be published in scholarly journals, faculty and staff at each of the eight research centers and initiatives are available to supplement the students’ learning process, by exposing them to specialized resources and tools.
- The Center for the Blue Economy (CBE) explores the economic contributions of the oceans and coasts to human welfare, as well as the current economic drivers that undermine ocean health.
- The Center for Conflict Studies (CCS) develops programs and publications contributing to the exploration of conflict, from understanding its causes to developing tools and skills to resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner.
- The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) sponsors research, seminars and lectures relating to contemporary issues pertaining to the region of East Asia (China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan).
- The Center for Social Impact Learning (CSIL), the newest research center on campus, provides programs for budding social entrepreneurs and conducts research on management issues in social ventures and impact investing.
- The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) is the largest nongovernmental organization in the world devoted to curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and is the only organization dedicated exclusively to graduate education and research on nonproliferation issues.
- The Mixed-Methods Evaluation, Training and Analysis Laboratory (META Lab) aims to capitalize on the flourishing importance of data-science as a discipline, and the rising demand for evidence-based policy evaluation.
- The Monterey Cyber Security Initiative (MCySec) addresses the impact of the information age on security, peace and communication through multidisciplinary research, key-leader engagements and public-private partnerships.
- The Monterey Terrorism Research and Education Program (MonTREP) conducts in-depth scholarly research, assesses policy options, and engages in public education on issues relating to terrorism and counterterrorism, extremist groups, regional studies of terrorism, and related aspects of international and homeland security.