Program Overview

Master of Public Policy: International Development Policy Concentration

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) with a concentration in International Development Policy is designed to provide students with a firm foundation of knowledge about development challenges and experiences, the ability to apply a wide range of evaluative and analytical tools, an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, and strong communications skills.

Program Description

This concentration offers options for students to tailor their training in international development for a variety of careers. Graduates have secured jobs in applied development research, consulting, public financial analysis, impact and project evaluation, and management positions in government and non-government organizations.

Careers

The MPP concentration in International Development Policy prepares students for careers in:

• Applied development research
• Consulting
• Public financial analysis
• Impact and project evaluation
• Management positions in government and non-government organizations

Courses

The program includes core MPP courses in economics, policy analysis, and statistics, which provide a solid grounding in the practical tools necessary for work in development. The foundation course, Globalization and Governance, covers international political, economic, and social implications of globalization, the design and operation of global governance institutions, and current policy issues of security and human rights.

Electives

Students must select nine additional credits from a wide array of international development elective courses available at Sanford and across Duke, taught by tenure-line faculty and practitioners.

Program Benefits

Students in the MPP concentration in International Development Policy can benefit from:

• Outstanding faculty with expertise in international development
• Field research projects in over 20 countries
• Campus visits, conferences, and speeches by renowned international development practitioners and researchers
• Opportunities for graduate student engagement and networking

Policy Concentration Advisors

The program is advised by:

• Marcos A. Rangel, Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
• Sarah Blodgett Bermeo, Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy

Student Stories

The program features stories of students who have pursued their passion for international development through the MPP concentration, including Nilab Ahmadi, who focused her studies on economic and education policy with a keen interest in international development and social policy.

Related Stories

The program is also featured in related stories, including:

• Student Voices: Grounded in Grassroots, Growing in Global Advocacy
• 2025 Graduation Stories: Nilab Ahmadi
• 2025 Graduation Stories: Antonella Di Ciano
• Spotlight on the Class of 2025
• 2025 Graduation Stories: Lucas Vaughan