I would suggest looking at other schools. While Sharon Krause told me that department is seeking to bolster its reputation in IR, I personally doubt this will be achieved within the near term given economic constraints. As noted above they do have McDermott but she is not a permanent hire and may return to UCSB after the 2010-2011 academic year. Moreover, I believe her expertise is political psychology which would have little bearing on proliferation issues from a realist perspective. There is no benefit in attending a school without a relevant advisor. MIT and Harvard Kennedy School (not the government department) are both excellent schools with renowned scholars on nuclear proliferation. As a former resident of Boston, I know several colleagues who make the daily commute from Providence. These would be far better choices for you.