The Sanford School of Public Policy is a vibrant, dynamic community of thinkers and doers who are dedicated to leaving the world a better place.
The public policy major offers many exciting opportunities. We teach courses in a broad array of areas, including education and social policy, health and population, environment and energy, international development, global governance and security, civil society, and leadership and ethics.
Rigorous coursework provides students skills in political and economic analysis, knowledge about how to lead people and organizations, and a strong ethical foundation for decision-making. As a liberal arts major, public policy studies teaches students to read critically, think analytically, and write concisely.
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Suzanne Katzenstein is the Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Sanford School.
"The Public Policy program offers a vital platform for students to develop the analytical skills and ethical grounding needed to address complex societal challenges," Katzenstein said. She is passionate about working with undergraduates. In 2022, she received the Susan E. Tifft Teaching and Mentoring Award in spring of 2022, which recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching undergraduates and a deep commitment to the intellectual, professional and personal development of undergraduate public policy students.
Featured Centers and Initiatives
Exciting Opportunities
Minors & Certificates
CHILD & FAMILY POLICY
Sponsored by the Center for Child and Family Policy, this certificate builds students’ knowledge of child and family issues and provides academic tools to engage in research that informs policy and practice.
JOURNALISM & MEDIA MINOR
This minor prepares students for careers in media policy, journalism, and related professions. Sponsored by the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy.
Health Policy
Co-sponsored by the Margolis Institute for Health Policy, this certificate is for students interested in how policy relates to health care and its effect on the economy, society, governments, and the private sector.
Couldn't Be Happier
"If you had told me before I went to Duke (when I was interested in mechanical engineering!) that I’d be here right now, thinking about a summer internship in DC, with a potential job on the horizon in DC working in policy, I would have told you you’re crazy. But I couldn’t be happier, and I definitely couldn’t have gotten there without Sanford." - Devin Greeno PPS'24
PubPol to the Classroom
"Education was always super important to me because my parents were immigrants, and they never finished school. Me and my brothers grew up as first-gen students. I’m here because of so many teachers who believed in me, who pushed me to keep succeeding so that eventually I made it to Duke." - Jessica On PPS'24