Academic Policies
The following policies apply to Sanford's professional master's programs: the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of International Development Policy (MIDP), Master of National Security Policy (MNSP), and Master of Public Affairs (MPA). Program-specific policies can be found in the respective program sections of this bulletin and more information, explanations, and process overviews can be found in the respective program student handbooks. Sanford students in PhD programs are subject to the academic policies of The Graduate School along with any program-specific policies outlined in The Graduate School bulletin. Undergraduate students pursuing a public policy major are subject to the policies outlined in the Duke Undergraduate Instruction bulletin. Policies are listed in alphabetical order below.
Academic Integrity
See the Sanford School Code of Professional Conduct section in this bulletin.
Academic Standing
To graduate from a Sanford professional master’s program, students must be in good academic standing. Good academic standing requires that a student maintain at least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average. Students who are not in good academic standing are on academic probation.
Academic Probation & Impact on Aid. Students will be on academic probation if they are not in good academic standing, have received an “F” in a course, or have more than two incompletes on their record at any given time. Students who are on academic probation may be subject to review of their financial aid eligibility and may be dismissed from the program.
Please check the respective program sections of this bulletin and the student handbook for any additional individual program criteria that might impact academic standing.
Accommodations Policy
The Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) is the office at Duke charged with and committed to providing educational opportunities for students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Students who anticipate the need for accommodations are responsible for initiating the SDAO registration process in a timely manner to allow for review and implementation. Accommodations must be formally approved by SDAO prior to implementation and are effective only from the date of approval forward, not applied retroactively.
Auditing Courses
Sanford professional master's students interested in auditing a course should refer to the section of this bulletin for their program and to their program student handbook for any specific policies, requirements, or processes.
Non-Sanford students interested in auditing a Sanford course should reach out to the course instructor for permission.
Continuation Enrollment and Fees
Students who do not complete all degree requirements within the prescribed time to degree for their program are subject to a continuation enrollment fee. Continuation fees are assessed on a per-semester basis and will continue until all degree requirements are completed. Program-specific timelines and fees are published in the program handbook and in the specific program sections of this bulletin.
Course Repeats
Students who receive a failing grade may petition to repeat a course with program approval, though such approval is not guaranteed and is granted on a case-by-case basis. Course repeats are considered an exception to standard program progression. Original grades remain on the academic record alongside any repeated course grade and both count towards calculation of cumulative GPA. Students are responsible for understanding how a course repeat may affect their academic standing, timeline, and financial obligations.
Grades
Grades in Sanford professional master's programs are as follows: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, F, I, and W.
More information about I (incomplete) and W (withdrawal) grades can be found below.
Incompletes (Course). A grade of I (incomplete) indicates that some portion of the student’s work is lacking, for an acceptable reason, at the time the grades are reported. Sanford professional master's students have up to one year to resolve an incomplete (I), or it will convert to an F and become a permanent part of the student’s record. The student and instructor should agree on a timeline for the submission of any missing work prior to awarding an I grade. Incompletes may not count towards graduation requirements.
Program or continuation fees may be assessed for students who must register for an additional semester to resolve an incomplete.
Students who have more than two incomplete grades on their record at any given time will be placed on academic probation at the discretion of the program's Director of Graduate Studies.
Withdrawal (Course). Course changes are permissible through the end of the Drop/Add period specified on the Duke Academic Calendar for that semester. After the end of Drop/Add, students may only leave a course by taking a Withdraw (W) grade. Course withdrawals are allowed up through the last day of graduate classes in any given term. The Withdraw (W) grade will be noted on a student's permanent record.
Individual programs may have additional requirements to withdraw from a course, so students should review the registration policies of their respective programs in this bulletin.
Credit/No Credit. Courses graded Credit/No Credit cannot count toward graduation requirements.
Non-Sanford Course Grades. If a student takes a course for credit at another Duke school, such as The Fuqua School of Business or Duke Law School, which does not assign grades used by Sanford, the instructors should review Sanford grades found at registrar.duke.edu/student-resources/grade-point-average-gpa and assign the appropriate Sanford grade accordingly.
Independent Studies
Sanford professional master's students interested in an independent study should refer to the academic policies section for their respective programs in this bulletin and to their program student handbook for any specific policies, requirements, or processes.
Leave of Absence
In the event of unforeseen personal circumstances, students may take a leave of absence (LOA) from a Sanford professional master's program of up to two semesters. Typically, a student can request an LOA only after completion of at least one full semester of the program. Students who think they may need to pursue this option should contact their program's Director of Graduate Studies to discuss their options and the implications of an LOA for their course of study. Specific instructions on how to request an LOA can be found in the respective program's student handbook and in the respective program sections of this bulletin.
Program Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw from a Sanford professional master's program and discontinue their enrollment at Duke University must notify their program's Director of Graduate Studies in writing prior to the date of the expected withdrawal and no later than the last day of classes for that semester.
After approving the request, the Director of Graduate Studies will initiate the formal withdrawal process through the Sanford School Registrar. Withdrawal from a program may impact loans, financial aid, and other benefits. Students should discuss the repercussions of withdrawing with the Director of Graduate Studies for their program and the Sanford Director of Financial Aid.
Transfer Credits
Students may apply to transfer up to 6 credits towards their master's degree, but specifics vary by program. Students should consult the academic policies section for their respective programs in this bulletin and to their program student handbook for additional information, requirements, and any applicable processes and deadlines.