Academic FAQs

Sanford offers a wide range of graduate elective topics. To explore Sanford's current course offerings, please visit Duke's course catalog and select "School of Public Policy" under the [Academic Career] dropdown menu. To view details of a class, click on the [Expand] option, denoted to the left of the section number as an arrow.

The course catalog can also be used to explore classes across Duke University. Sanford students may take graduate-level electives (500 level and above) across different schools/departments at Duke, but must confirm with their program which subjects and courses can be counted towards their degree completion. Students can also audit classes for personal enrichment.

Yes, Duke University has inter-institutional agreements with North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The majority of courses each semester must be taken at Duke.

We are affiliated with the following organizations:

• Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA)
• Association for Public Policy and Management (APPAM)
• Idealist - Action Without Borders (Idealist.org)
• National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP)
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)

All graduate students, including those enrolled in our hybrid programs, have full access to Sanford Graduate Career Services and resources. Our Sanford Career Team delivers personalized advising, workshops, alumni and employer connections, and hands-on opportunities to help you achieve your career goals.

Get an overview of Graduate Career Services.

We do not offer part-time or online options for the MIDP and MPP degrees. Sanford’s residential programs are in-person, full-time programs.

• Core courses are traditionally scheduled Monday – Friday, within the 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM window of time.
• Electives are traditionally scheduled Monday – Friday, within the 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM window of time.

The in-person, full-time model is necessitated by the rigorous academic and professional expectations of the programs, paired with our community’s emphasis on in-person collaboration. Please note, full-time enrollment requires a minimum of 9 graduate credits per semester. Most graduate courses are 3 credits.

For MPP: The MPP program does not offer a spring start date for the program. Our core curriculum is linear and requires students to begin in the fall semester.

For MIDP: The MIDP program accepts a small cohort of spring-start students, usually through partnerships.

For MPP: Yes, MPP students are required to concentrate in one of our MPP concentrations, or to declare themselves a Policy Generalist, where they focus on non-subject specific skills-based courses and explore the intersectionality of different policy areas.

For MIDP: MIDP offers nine optional areas of focus that students may pursue to help guide their studies. In addition, students can work with their advisors to find elective courses in their specific areas of interest.

For MPP: MPP targets an enrolling class of 80-90 students each fall. Core courses usually contain 40-45 students; elective courses range from 15-30 students per class.

For MIDP:  MIDP targets an enrolling class of 25-30 students each fall. Core courses usually contain 25-30 students; elective courses range from 15-30 students per class.

The faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy lead or collaborate with a wide variety of on-campus interdisciplinary research centers that are exploring vital policy questions and bringing provocative and timely speakers to campus. These research hubs can offer students opportunities to work with faculty on ground-breaking research, and to engage with leaders in many fields.

For a look at recent professional opportunities pursued by Sanford MIDP/MPP students, please visit our Career Services Fast Facts to view our Career Services Annual Report. In addition to the Annual Report, we are listing below a few examples of internship opportunities pursued in recent years:

State & Local Government

• North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management
• City of Chicago
• Montgomery County Council
• City of Durham
• National Governors Association

Federal Government

• U.S. Department of State
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Federal Reserve Bank
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Think Tanks

• Urban Institute
• Wilson Center
• The Hunt Institute
• Mathematica
• U.S. Institute for Peace

Consulting and Private Sector

• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Manatt Health Strategies
• Amazon
• Deloitte
• Rios Partners

Nonprofit Organizations

• American Civil Liberties Union
• North Carolina Justice Center
• Greenpeace
• Housing for New Hope
• Self-Help Credit Union and the Center for Responsible Lending

International Development Employers

• United Nations (multiple agencies)
• World Bank
• Oxfam International
• International Finance Corporation
• Heifer International

Explore MPP internship stories (YouTube)>>

While portions of our MIDP and MPP curriculums incorporate data analysis, microeconomics, and statistics, our residential programs are not STEM designated. As such, Sanford’s residential programs do not qualify for the 24-month extension for optional practical training (OPT).

Sanford residential programs offer a two-pronged approach for academic advising.  Program staff and faculty advisors work together to advise students.

For MIDP: For MIDP students, assigned faculty advisors are familiar with students’ professional interests and can help guide them in creating a study plan. Later, students will be assigned a Master’s Project (MP) advisor, who will guide them on their Master’s Project research.

Welcome to the Research Triangle!

Students join us on campus for two (separate) weeks in the first summer. In addition to the immersion weeks students join us for two long weekends each term (fall and spring).  Students take courses online for the rest of the term. 

At the beginning of the semester, the professors provide a syllabus, online content, and a class meeting schedule. In addition to reviewing materials, lectures and doing assignments on your own schedule we will also hold some synchronous sessions so you can work with your classmates and professor in real-time.  Your courses will continue in this model throughout your program, where you do “pre-work” and assignments on your schedule and come together for live sessions so you can apply the material with your cohort and instructor.

This is a rigorous program and interested students should already possess the necessary discipline and time management skills to participate.  The program allows flexibility each week in terms of when the student can complete preparatory work for class, but a one-year program implies a significant commitment by the students—many of whom are also employed full or part time.  Individual routines on weekends and during evenings are likely to be impacted.  Students will write papers, take examinations, participate in weekly classes (evening) with faculty, work in virtual groups, and give presentations. During the semester, a commitment of at least 15-20 hours, spread out through each week, would be the minimum necessary for success.

This program is offered in two options. You can take the courses over a rigorous 12-month period or stretch the same courses over 20 months.  The difference will be taking 3-4 courses a term versus 2-3 courses a term.  Both options are accelerated for a master’s degree, and the decision between the two choices should relate to your anticipated work/life balance obligations.  The cost is the same, however the 20-month option might have a nominal higher total due to taking courses over more semesters which would incur more university-level student fees.

The first summer will consist of two separate, one-week experiences on campus.  The first week is a program orientation which will allow you to get to know your instructors, those in your cohort, as well as familiarize you with the technology and programs we will be using to facilitate your courses.  That first week will also include a start on reviewing current topics in the field of national security.

The second campus immersion experience includes a format focusing on taking classes on Duke’s campus.  This second week will allow you to be in person for one week of your summer courses, connecting with classmates, faculty, and campus students and resources.

Students come on campus for two weekends (Friday/Saturday) each fall and spring term you are taking classes.  These weekend experiences will focus on doing collaborative, application, work with classmates and faculty which is better suited for a face-to-face environment.  These weekends will also allow students to network with one another as well as with guest speakers.  These on-campus events will also seek to allow students to gain access to Duke campus resources.

This program does not require a “Master’s Thesis."  Your experience will culminate in two courses where you can apply our curriculum to your professional practice.  All students will work in a team-based learning experience where you and members in your cohort will work together to solve a real national security work problem with the guidance of a faculty supervisor.  This experience will be replicated, but at the individual level in our Professional Practice course where you will work with a faculty supervisor to solve a problem, or complete a project related to your own work environment.

As an MPA student, you will strengthen your ability to research, analyze, and solve complex problems; develop your capacity to lead public (or publicly engaged) organizations; deepen your practical knowledge of public affairs actors, institutions, and processes; build confidence navigating differences effectively and respectfully; and apply the skills and knowledge developed in the program through the completion of a capstone project.

The MPA’s Leadership, Management, and Ethics (LME) concentration establishes additional learning objectives tailored to the unique needs of each cohort.
 

In lieu of a traditional master’s thesis, the Duke MPA culminates in a capstone project that challenges students to apply the knowledge and analytical skills they have acquired in the program to a real-world challenge within their employing organization or field of study. This capstone project will be conducted under the guidance of a Sanford faculty member and counts toward the program’s core curriculum requirements.

As an accelerated, hybrid program in which many students will continue working while earning their degrees, the Duke MPA does not require internships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships as a degree requirement. Our academic and career services advisors are available to work with students who are interested in pursuing off-campus internships or on-campus research or teaching opportunities in conjunction with their degree.

The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), which accredits the Sanford School of Public Policy and other leading policy schools, makes no distinction among the three degrees. Broadly speaking, however, Master of Public Policy programs tend to emphasize policy analysis and evaluation, while Public Administration programs tend to emphasize management and leadership of public organizations.

The Duke MPA combines the rigorous analytical tools of a public policy degree with the
management and leadership skills taught in many public administration programs. While many of our students work (or plan to work) in the public sector, the MPA is also designed for students in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors and in a range of private-sector professions.

Our world-renowned faculty, diverse and engaged student body, historic campus, and convenient location make Duke an ideal place to pursue a graduate degree in public affairs. The MPA program’s custom-built hybrid format and small size also set it apart from other executive programs in public affairs, policy, and administration. While some online programs simply allow students to join campus-based classes remotely, the Duke MPA combines in-person residencies in Durham, NC and Washington, D.C. with state-of-the-art online instruction, providing opportunities for networking and cohort development along with the flexibility of remote learning. 

Every course in our core curriculum and leadership, management, and ethics concentration has been custom-built for the program, and our small size allows students to receive individualized attention and support from our instructors and program staff.

Finally, Duke MPA students will have access to the full range of student services, amenities, and benefits available to all Duke students and alumni. Our goal is to provide students in the program with the “Duke experience,” despite the limited amount of time you will be spending on campus.

Each MPA term begins with an in-person residency period lasting approximately five days, occurring either on Duke’s main campus in Durham, NC or at the Duke in DC facility in Washington, DC. Each residency includes a combination of class meetings, orientation activities, civic engagement, cultural excursions, and other opportunities for networking and cohort-building. Attendance at all in-person residencies is a non-negotiable requirement of your participation in the program.

Following the initial residency period, your courses will continue online, combining synchronous elements (in which all students meet remotely in real time) and asynchronous elements (which students complete on their own time). While the exact balance of synchronous and asynchronous elements will vary by course, all MPA courses will meet Duke's rigorous standards for direct contact between instructors and students.

The Duke MPA program seeks to minimize the number of technical tools and platforms needed to participate. At a minimum, students must have a Windows or iOS computer with a working camera and microphone and a reliable internet connection. Most of your online coursework will occur via Canvas, Duke’s Learning Management System, which can be accessed via your web browser (Chrome is recommended). Some instructors may choose to use commonly available applications such as Zoom, Google Suite, or Slack for course activities. All students will be assigned a Duke ID and password through the university system and will have access to 24/7 technical support. Students must comply with all Duke University IT regulations.