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. The MPP program offers great flexibility. Students may choose to specialize in a particular policy area or to pursue a more general program. Two-year students have five electives, an internship, and a master's project through which they address specific areas of interest. Close relationships between the Sanford School program and other schools and departments across the University allow students to customize their courses of study. In addition to the electives offered by the Sanford School, MPP students may choose from a wide array of courses offered by other schools and departments at Duke and by neighboring universities. Social Policy Many important public policy issues concern social problems: welfare, education, crime, childcare, and employment, wealth, and income inequalities. Although these problems are diverse, they have numerous common features. Social issues often affect various elements of society differently, so that analyses must take into account concerns about equity, ethics and politics. Proposed solutions often involve “programs,” which are distinct interventions that can be evaluated rigorously for their efficiency and effectiveness. Further, the implementation of social policy often involves multiple levels of government: local, national and international. Students may specialize in such areas as: Education Child and Family Crime, Law and Deviance Race, Ethnicity and Gender Wealth, Inequality and the Welfare State Urban Development and Planning