The Sanford Institute of Public Policy is dedicated to providing both Duke students and decision-makers in the public and private sectors with this capacity through the institute's teaching and research programs. The undergraduate major in public policy studies began in 1972. Founders envisioned an interdisciplinary liberal arts major that would integrate the analytic tools and substantive knowledge necessary to understand and improve policymaking in government, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector. Over the years, increasing numbers of Duke students have taken advantage of this opportunity, and public policy has become one of the university's most popular majors. In completing the course requirements, PPS majors acquire the ability to do quantitative and qualitative analysis, and they have the opportunity to apply these skills in an in-depth study of one or more substantive policy topics of their choosing.
Some courses also integrate field research in the Durham community with classroom discussion.
An important part of the PPS undergraduate curriculum is the required internship, usually performed in the summer between the junior and senior years. The ten-week internship provides students the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of one or more public policy areas, to apply that understanding in a job during the summer, and to return to the classroom to build on their fresh knowledge and experience. Seminar topics include arts, health, journalism, telecommunications, government, international policy, environmental policy, and the administration of justice policy. The student-led PPS Majors Union has become an influential and creative voice in the administration of the institute, providing input on such issues as the selection of faculty, the curriculum, and the internship program. Moreover, the Majors Union encourages students and faculty to meet informally by sponsoring social functions and lunches throughout the year.