Master of Public Policy

Program Code: P-PPS-MPP
Degree Designation: Master of Public Policy
Department: School of Public Policy
Website: sanford.duke.edu/academics/masters-programs/master-public-policy

Program Summary

The two-year professional MPP Program prepares students for leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations, both in domestic and international locations. Dual degrees in law (JD) and business (MBA) are available through Duke University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A dual degree in law (JD) is also offered through North Carolina Central School of Law. Dual degrees in environment (MEM/MF), divinity (MDiv), and medicine (MD) are offered through Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Divinity School, and the Duke University School of Medicine. The MPP Program requires full-time enrollment, and most students have two-to-six years of post-undergraduate work experience.

4+1 Accelerated MPP: The 4+1 Accelerated MPP track is an opportunity for all undergraduate majors at Duke, to complete both their undergraduate and master’s degrees in five years. Majors who are able to pursue graduate-level coursework during their senior year are eligible to apply in the spring of their junior year.

Electives and Concentrations

The MPP Program offers seven policy-area concentrations that span domestic and global policy issues—environment and energy policy; health policy; international development policy; national security and foreign policy; social policy; education policy and technology policy—for which the concentration is recorded on student’s transcript upon graduation.

Requirements to earn a concentration include the following:

  • completing 9.0 course credits of coursework in the specified concentration (either one, 3.0-course-credit foundations course plus 6.0 elective course credits, or, for concentrations without a designated foundations course, 9.0 approved elective course credits);

  • completion of a summer internship related to the concentration; and

  • writing a master’s project in the concentration area.

Regardless of whether a student chooses to concentrate in a particular policy area, elective courses will play an important role in shaping the student’s learning experience. MPP students may take elective courses within the Sanford School, in other departments and schools at Duke, and at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, or North Carolina Central University. Students should plan their coursework based on the course offerings for a particular semester.

Information about concentration requirements and sample course offerings can be found at sanford.duke.edu/academics/masters-programs/master-public-policy/concentrations. For current course offerings, consult Duke University’s official schedule of classes available through DukeHub.

International Opportunities

Duke Global Policy Program in Geneva. The Duke Global Policy (DGP) Program in Geneva is a summer program designed to equip graduate students with the practical tools and knowledge necessary to be global change agents. All candidates for the program will apply to a policy track of their choice. Students will learn how international and non-governmental organizations in Geneva are working to address today's most pressing global challenges through their summer internship with a UN or UN-affiliated organization, and our signature Global Policy Intensive Course Week. During the Intensive Course Week, students meet with approximately 20 practitioners, attend site visits to Geneva-based IGOs and NGOs, participate in networking events, and complete a policy memo research assignment. As part of the internship program, students will receive support from the program for securing a summer internship with a UN or UN-affiliated organization in Geneva. Students also have the option to participate in our Intensive Course-only Program, which does not include an internship component. This option is perfect for students with other summer commitments. Detailed information is available on the program website at sanford.duke.edu/academics/special-programs/geneva-program.

Hertie School of Governance Exchange Program. Each year, the Sanford School MPP Program offers a fall-semester (12-credit) international exchange opportunity for students with the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany. Launched in 2005, the Hertie School is modeled after leading professional public policy schools in the United States, and offers an English-language MPP degree. Located in the heart of Berlin, Hertie’s strengths are in international policy (particularly EU), technology policy, data science for public policy, and global governance. The exchange should be particularly valuable for MPP students with those interests and/or those who may be writing a Master’s Project for a client based in Europe (though not required).

This exchange will take place in the fall; up to two MPP students are selected to attend each year. Here are a few highlights:

  • Tuition for the exchange program is included in the cost of Sanford tuition

  • Students who attend Hertie are from over 50 countries

  • Students can choose up to 4 electives. Classes are available from both the Master of Public Policy, Master of Data Science for Public Policy and Master of International Affairs programs at Hertie

  • Sanford MPP students are able to access resources from the Hertie Career Development office, including 1:1 coaching, self-assessment workshops, and consulting fairs

The application process takes place in late January/early February and consists of the following:

  • CV/Resume

  • Letter of Motivation (max 450 words)

Each applicant’s overall academic performance in the MPP Program to date will be considered in the application review process.