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What is Public Policy?
Programs We Offer
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.
Our two-year, professional Master of Public Policy (MPP) program offers students outstanding preparation for dynamic careers as analysts, leaders and managers at various levels of government, nonprofits and corporations – both domestically and internationally.
The Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) is a flexible interdisciplinary degree program focused on early to mid-career professionals who will dedicate their careers to policymaking and public service in developing countries. The program is run by the renowned Duke Sanford Center for International Development.
The four-semester, 16-course international Master of Environmental Policy (iMEP) is an international program that is designed to meet the growing global need for leaders who are versed in both Chinese and international environmental issues and policies. It is based at Duke Kunshan (China). Many students spend a semester at Duke's campus in Durham, NC and take classes at the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Sanford School of Public Policy.
The Master of National Security Policy program is a one-year program for those working in national security – government, military, defense or consulting – to help advance your career and skills. Achieve your ambitions in just one year while continuing to work. The program is for those currently working in national security who have at least seven years of work experience.
More information about the Master of National Security Policy program.
The Duke MPA will prepare you for leadership positions within an organization. It can also help mid-career professionals in other fields transition into a rewarding career in public affairs.
The PhD in Public Policy at Duke University enables students to collaborate with Duke’s top-rated faculty in public policy and with Duke’s departments of economics, political science and sociology. Most students pursue research with the goal of working in domestic and international public agencies, research organizations and policy consulting firms. Others seek academic positions in public policy, public administration and policy-oriented schools.
Executive education programs are for mid-career and senior-level professionals to enhance their skills on timely topics related to behavioral economics, cybersecurity leadership, corporate social responsibility and more. Open enrollment and custom programs for organizations are available.
Distinguished Lectures
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa spoke about the intersection of fake news, freedom of expression, human rights, and journalism's future. Recap | Student Perspective | Student Video
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Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson spoke to a sold out crowd about the the history and consequences of our country’s centuries-old hierarchies. Recap | Student Perspective
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Adam Benforado, prominent legal scholar, author, and professor known for his insightful explorations of the intersections between law, psychology, and society, spoke as part of the Wilson Distinguished Lecture Series. Recap
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New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof spoke with Frank Bruni about the stakes of the 2024 presidential election. Recap | Student Perspective
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Distinguished speaker Bryan Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery. His bestselling book Just Mercy, about his effort to exonerate a Black man in Alabama, was adapted into a feature film.
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Bryan Stevenson with journalism students studying advanced reporting in a class informally known as the Courthouse Project. (Professor Stephen Buckley is to the right of Stevenson.) Students read Just Mercy as part of the curriculum.
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Stevenson told personal stories, many about his grandmother. He also told heartbreaking stories, especially of the children he represented in his practice.
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“Often, policies don’t work because people are distant from the problems they are trying to solve. It’s only when you are proximate that you will hear things you otherwise would not hear, you see things you would otherwise not see.” – Bryan Stevenson
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“After today, there are students who will say there was a time before I heard Mr. Stevenson and there was a time after I heard Mr. Stevenson.”
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Key Themes
MPP Student Story
When asked where he came from, where he’s going next, and why he is getting a master’s degree in public policy, the answer is always, resoundingly, “San Francisco.” After graduation, Jordan Wilson is headed back to the Golden City and will be working in the mayor's office, actually implementing his master’s project, which aims to advance career technical education in public schools.