MIDP Curriculum

Traditional Program

Length: 24 months

Forty-eight (48) course credits are required to obtain the traditional degree. These credits are typically completed over four academic semesters. 24 credits must be MIDP courses while the remaining 24 credits may be graduate-level courses chosen at any department at Duke or outside institution (UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, NCCU) through the interinstitutional agreement.

MIDP Required Courses (5 courses)

• PUBPOL 700S
• PUBPOL 701
• PUBPOL 702
• PUBPOL 741
• PUBPOL 800

 Master's Project (2 courses)

• PUBPOL 704
• PUBPOL 705
• Students in the traditional degree program are required to complete a final master’s project during their second year of study. The master’s project is a 30-35 page paper required of all candidates for the master’s degree. It is intended to demonstrate mastery in defining a policy problem, analyzing it in an interdisciplinary manner, and recommending a specific course of action to address that problem. More specifically, the master’s project must also measure up to the standards of good analysis, including a precise definition of the problem, careful evaluation of the evidence from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, review of other countries’ experiences, identification of important costs and benefits, and a clear presentation of the results and recommendations. Additional guidelines on the master’s project are issued annually.

Writing and Communication practicums (3 ungraded courses)

• PUBPOL 711
• PUBPOL 712
• PUBPOL 713

Additional MIDP courses

• The remaining MIDP course credits (total 24 credits) must be chosen from courses offered by MIDP each semester or those listed on the MIDP course information sheet distributed to students.

Elective Courses (24 credits)

• Choose the remaining 24 credits from any department at Duke or from an outside institution.
• Elective courses must be selected in consultation with the academic advisor to ensure that the course is appropriate.
• A maximum of two interinstitutional classes per term may be taken, provided the student is also registered for the balance of their
  normal load at the home institution.
• Undergraduate, physical education, music, foreign language, English, and other recreational elective courses do not count toward
  the degree.

Internship

• MIDP fellows in the traditional (48 credit) degree track are required to complete at least 300 hours of relevant, practical training in the field. This requirement is typically fulfilled through participation in an internship usually completed in the summer between the first and second year of study, although fellows who meet certain criteria may petition to have prior experience evaluated and counted as fulfillment of this requirement. For students who complete an internship, the experience must last at least 10 weeks full-time (or the equivalent of 300 hours) and must be policy-relevant, as determined by Sanford Career Services. To receive credit for completion of the practical training degree requirement through an internship experience, a letter of internship offer, a self-assessment and supervisor assessment must be submitted to Sanford Career Services upon offer and completion of the internship. 

Courses numbered below the 500 level (undergraduate courses) do not count toward the required credits needed for a master’s degree. With the approval of their director of graduate studies, graduate students may enroll in undergraduate courses, but these courses will not count toward any graduation requirements and will not be included in a student’s GPA calculation. Graduate students must be classified as full-time students based on their graduate-level course enrollment as a prerequisite for enrolling in courses numbered below 500.

Accelerated Program

Length: 12 or 18 months

Thirty (30) course credits are required to obtain the accelerated degree. The accelerated degree program can be completed in one of two ways: 

1. Over three traditional semesters (fall, spring, fall)
2. Within a calendar year, if the student enrolls in a summer semester and takes a sufficient number of credits courses (fall, spring, summer)

 Students in the accelerated degree program must complete a minimum of 15 course credits offered by the MIDP Program.

MIDP Required Courses (2 courses)

• PUBPOL 700S
• PUBPOL 701 or PUBPOL 702

Master's Project (2 courses)

• PUBPOL 704
• PUBPOL 705
• One-year fellows are required to complete a final master’s project and will start this process during their first semester of study. The master’s project is a 30-35 page paper required of all candidates for the master’s degree. It is intended to demonstrate mastery in defining a policy problem, analyzing it in an interdisciplinary manner, and recommending a specific course of action to address that problem. More specifically, the master’s project must also measure up to the standards of good analysis, including a precise definition of the problem, careful evaluation of the evidence from an interdisciplinary viewpoint, review of other countries’ experiences, identification of important costs and benefits, and a clear presentation of the results and recommendations. Additional guidelines on the master’s project are issued annually.

Additional MIDP courses

• The remaining MIDP course credits (to total 15) must be chosen from courses offered by MIDP each semester or those listed on the MIDP course information sheet distributed to students.

Elective Courses (complete 15 credits)

• Choose the remaining 15 credits from any department at Duke or from an outside institution.
  Elective courses must be selected in consultation with the academic advisor to ensure that the course is appropriate.
• A maximum of two interinstitutional classes per term may be taken, provided the student is also registered for the balance of their
  normal load at the home institution.
• Undergraduate, physical education, music, foreign language, English, and other recreational elective courses do not count toward
  the degree.

Summer Internship (optional)

•  The summer internship is optional for completion of the accelerated degree. Accelerated degree candidates who wish to undertake an internship may do so either upon completion of their studies or over the summer after completing at least one academic year (for students who begin in fall). The internship must meet certain criteria, including being policy-relevant, as determined by Sanford Career Services. 

Courses numbered below the 500 level (undergraduate courses) do not count toward the required credits needed for a post-baccalaureate degree. With the approval of their director of graduate studies, graduate students may enroll in undergraduate courses, but these courses will not count toward any graduation requirements and will not be included in a student’s GPA calculation. Graduate students must be classified as full-time students based on their graduate-level course enrollment as a prerequisite for enrolling in courses numbered below 500.

Policy Analysis for Development examines the role of policy analysis in solving important international development problems and hones the analytical and communication skills needed to undertake effective policy analysis. 

Economic Foundations for Development provides an overview of microeconomic and macroeconomic principles related to development. Fellows gain analytical tools for the study of economic policies and problems in developing countries. 

Empirical Analysis for Development (Statistics) provides an introduction to basic concepts of quantitative and empirical analysis and enables fellows to read and assess the quality of the empirical data and results that are used in reports. Fellows learn basic applied tools using statistical software. 

Applied Development Economics examines the basic principles and policy issues in the study of economic growth and development. Fellows learn about the roles of various sectors in explaining patterns and causes of variations in countries’ growth and development performance. 

The goal of this course is to introduce you to several key principles of good writing in a practical way. We will use your own writing for your other courses as the “raw material” of the class. Through in-class exercise, lectures, and homework, the key principles we will cover include: 

1. The role of culture in determining style
2. Writing clear sentences
3. Writing focused, connected paragraphs
4. Motivating your reader
5. Pulling papers into a coherent whole. 

To be effective, policy writing must be well-structured, clear and free from distractions. While most of our writing efforts must be focused on content, in today’s world, writers  must also learn how to pay attention to form and format. In this short practical course, you will learn the mindset and specific skills needed for a professional level of writing and editing. 

This 5-week, non-graded lab supports MPP and MIDP students in building essential professional skills for internship and job searches. Through interactive sessions, students explore topics such as resume and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profiles, networking strategies, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

Sections are tailored to meet students' specific needs:

• One section supports international students and those interested in international development careers.
• Other sections focus on navigating U.S.-based job searches.

The lab includes short lectures, demonstrations, individual assignments, peer work, and guest speakers. It is complemented by additional career workshops offered throughout the academic year.

• Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy
• Duke's Law School
• Duke's FUQUA School of Business
• Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment
• Duke's Pratt School of Engineering
• Duke's Graduate School
• Departments across Duke

• UNC-Chapel Hill
• NC State
• NCCU 

This area emphasizes the economic policy aspects of development—including issues of international trade and competitiveness, public finance and evaluation of public expenditures, banking and financial sector management, privatization, external debt management, factors that bolster economic growth, domestic revenue generation, and international capital markets.

This area has a strong foothold in political science and covers issues of public and private partnerships, civil society and governance, fiscal decentralization, political risk analysis, aid coordination, regional planning, or other sector development issues.

Focus on how to improve the lives of citizens by supporting their education, welfare, work and well-being. This area focuses on safety net policies as well as on issues of gender, ethnic and economic inequality, poverty reduction, building human capital, and social entrepreneurship.

Explore social policy.

This area emphasizes international environmental and energy policy, security, regulation, and institutional development. Sanford expertise is complemented by the resources from the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability in areas such as natural resource economics, energy access, climate change, and environmental advocacy and regulation.

Explore environmental and energy policy.

This area focuses on health equity and policy alternatives for current global health challenges. Sanford expertise is complemented by the resources of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and the Duke Global Health Institute. Those interested may pursue the Global Health graduate certificate offered by the Duke Global Health Institute.

Explore health policy.

This area equips future leaders to promote greater tolerance, cooperation and peace among people. Course choices focus on democracy, negotiation and conflict resolution, and the promotion of effective cooperation in international development. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a certificate in peace and conflict resolution for two-year MIDP fellows through the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center. Students also have the opportunity to explore national security curriculum. 

Technology plays a crucial role in sustainable and inclusive development. This area focuses on the impact that technology has on society across industries as well as the role of technology in governance and democracy.

Explore tech policy.

This area focuses on the range of strategies that promote economic growth in developing countries by creating healthy enabling environments for private enterprises, whether small, medium or large. Strategies include political risk analysis, regulation, and global value chains. Additional options are also available through Duke's Fuqua School of Business.

Drawing on Duke’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship and its pioneering leadership in policy and social entrepreneurship education, this focus area aims to further enhance fellows’ abilities to explore the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems and complexities, as well as develop innovative and entrepreneurial methods to address local and global challenges. Those interested may pursue a graduate certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.