Master in Public Policy

At Duke University, interdisciplinary problem solving is highly valued. And at the Sanford School, the extraordinary resources of this world-class institution converge.

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.

Sanford alums are changing the world. Holding influential positions in many countries, our graduates are addressing the most pressing issues faced around the globe. They share a spirit of optimism and a confidence that allows them to be creative, think big, and solve problems.

Benefit from a Close Community

Class sizes are small. With 70-80 students enrolling each year, you will know everyone and be known.

We offer individualized career counseling. Typically, 75 percent of graduates are employed within three months of beginning their job search and 95 percent within one year.

Full-time professors teach all core courses, and provide one-on-one mentoring.

Classmates often become friends for life. The Sanford School emphasizes collaboration over competition.

Graduates join an active network of alumni.

Matt LanzaIt is my passion to put lived experiences at the center of policy decisions and being at Sanford allowed me to develop the skills and experience to do that professionally. Using Human Centered Design, I was able to plan design sprints for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, make recommendations to Ivy+ schools on how to better serve undergraduate veterans, and advise the City of Durham on improving homeless services. - Matt Lanza MPP'20

In keeping with our namesake’s legacy, the Sanford School of Public Policy has outrageous ambitions.

We aspire to be a great school of public policy for the 21st Century and to be recognized as a leader in our field.

The Duke Sanford School of Public Policy’s mission is to improve lives by researching the most pressing public policy issues and preparing students for lives of leadership, civic engagement and public service.

In 2019, faculty and staff of the Sanford School met to discuss the shared values that define our community. These values (in alphabetical order) guide the Sanford School every day.

COLLABORATION

The Sanford School produces exemplary research that brings multiple disciplinary perspectives to bear on significant issues facing our local community, our nation, and the world. Our work is held to the highest standards of academic rigor and can be a model for policy-relevant, inter disciplinary research that has a real and positive impact on the world.

EXCELLENCE

Our distinguished faculty includes 5 members of National Academies, 19 who hold distinguished chairs, and accomplished professionals such as former senior civilian attorney for the U.S. Army Tom Taylor and former Facebook executive Matt Perault.

Our teaching is of the highest caliber. We equip future and current policy leaders with the skills, knowledge and experiences that empower and inspire them to make a positive difference in the world.

INCLUSION & DIVERSITY

We have a vibrant and diverse community of scholars, teachers, administrators and students. We draw strength from a variety of disciplines, perspectives and personal backgrounds. We pride ourselves on the richness of our community. We recognize that to produce research that matters and to empower and inspire future leaders, we must embrace diversity. Indeed, it is the source of our strength. Learn more about our diversity & inclusion committee.

INTEGRITY & HONESTY

Dikgang Moseneke, Musical Group

Special Guests

Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to meet with campus visitors who have a wide variety of life experiences. During the 2019-2020 school year, the Hon. Dikgang Moseneke, who rose from a human rights leader during apartheid to Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, spent time on campus as a Rubenstein Fellow. Moseneke is the eighth expert to join Duke's Rubenstein Fellows Academy, and the first international fellow.

Our goal is to always conduct ourselves in a moral, fair and decent manner. Whether we are supervising research or joining in a classroom conversation, we believe who we are, and how we act, matters. We hold ourselves up to the very highest ideals. We strive to be truthful – to ourselves, and others, even when it’s difficult. We aim to be honorable, and trustworthy.

RESPECT

When visitors enter the Sanford building, they often see small groups of students and faculty deep in conversation. It’s this kind of respect, for each other as people and as scholars, that matters to us. We respect ourselves and others. We value each member of our community, and care about their feelings and wellbeing. We accept each other wholly.

SERVICE

We strive to make a difference. Students and faculty conduct research and volunteer in our community. One professor is now serving as our mayor! We are deeply engaged with state, national and international communities, too, including public policy makers in governments, international organizations, nonprofits, media organizations and the private sector. We want our engagement to be a two-way street, both an avenue for projecting our research into policy and practice and a way for policy makers and practitioners to inform our teaching and research.