We are pleased to offer a number of dual degrees. Select students can work towards two degrees at once! Pair your MPP with an MBA, MD, JD and more. Graduates with dual degrees are prepared to take on a broad range of career opportunities.
Why consider a dual degree?
An MPP can give you the analytical and policy skills you need while you complete graduate study in an area you are passionate about, such as environmental science or entrepreneurship.
How long does a dual degree take?
The total time involved for a dual degree is longer than completing a single degree program. However, dual degrees often cost less time and money than completing two separate master's degree programs.
How does it work?
Dual degree students complete MPP first-year courses and the summer internship, and then register for courses in Law, Business, Environment, Divinity or Medicine during their second year at Duke.
During the final year of study in the dual-degree programs, students will complete coursework, including a Master’s Project under the close supervision of a public policy faculty member.
Dual degrees and financial aid
Dual degree students are eligible to be reviewed for scholarships and fellowships. Please review each dual degree page below to view that program’s financial aid eligibility.
Program Options
Typical Dual Degree Course Sequence
Fall Semester
- Policy Analysis I
- Statistics & Data Analysis
- Microeconomics I
- Politics of the Policy Process or Globalization & Governance
Spring Semester
- Policy Analysis II
- Microeconomics II
- Quantitative Evaluation Methods
- One or two electives
Fall Semester 2
- Master's Project I (3 credits)
- 1 public policy elective (3 credits)
SPRING SEMESTER 2
- Master's Project II (3 credits)
- 1 public policy elective (3 credits; if not taken in spring of the first MPP year)
Internship + Year 2
An internship the summer after completing the first MPP year is required. Our Career Services staff will support you and help you find an internship that matches your interests.
After completing the first year and the summer internship, you'll register primarily for courses through the Law, Business, Environment, or Medical School. During the final year of study, students register with Sanford for three or four courses, two of which focus on a Master’s Project which is completed under the supervision of a public policy faculty member.
Two Applications are Needed
Separate applications are required for each program. You'll need to submit evaluation forms, transcripts and test scores to each program. You may use the same recommendation for both applications, but the forms themselves must be submitted independently.
Student Handbook
Get all the information you need about the program. Download the MPP Student Handbook.
At Sanford, you develop the skills to address the policy issues that will have the greatest impact. [The dual degree] broadened my potential as a policy analyst and allowed me to get more out of my degree.
Matt Jentgen MPP/MEM ’12, Senior Air Quality Specialist, US Environmental Protection Agency