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, among others, all on the beautiful Duke campus.
The Sanford School is a national and international leader in the dynamic field of public policy studies, with numerous interdisciplinary centers exploring vital policy questions in the field and in the classroom. Members of our faculty are experts in fields ranging from aging, education, and the environment to international affairs, media and democracy, and welfare reform.
Most of our students pursue doctoral-level public policy 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. They are united by their passion for public policy and their desire to have a positive impact on the world.
Duke’s PhD in Public Policy is distinguished by its truly interdisciplinary nature. The program offers a unique balance of depth in a discipline such as:
PhD students focus on a particular policy area such as social policy, global policy, health policy or environmental policy. They also interact with leading scholars and interdisciplinary centers at Duke such as:
With just 6-8 students a year all PhD students get lots of individual faculty attention. In addition to working with Duke’s world-class faculties of public policy, economics, history, political science, psychology and sociology and psychology, PhD students interact with leading scholars from:
Alison Pei PhD'24 earned a PhD at Sanford, dedicating her research to labor market dynamics and innovation. She now works at an economic consulting firm in Boston, focusing on antitrust and competition. Alison says Sanford gave her the confidence to research. “They kept encouraging me to voice my thoughts and contribute ideas as if I were a seasoned researcher.” she says. “This experience only stokes my passion for continuing to navigate the waters where research, policymaking, and the real world collide.”
Hear PhD candidate Gabriela Nagle Alverio talk about her experience at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.
Hear Ajenai Clemmons PhD ‘21 discuss her research project and passion for pursuing this work at the Sanford School.