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Professional Masters Degrees

Why the Nicholas School?

Concurrent Degrees

Students enrolling at the Nicholas School have the opportunity to seek concurrent degrees with Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business (MBA), the School of Law (JD), the Sanford School of Public Policy (MPP) and the Graduate School for a Master of Arts in Teaching (MA). To be considered for concurrent degrees, students apply to both programs in separate applications. Students enrolled in the concurrent programs may work for both degrees simultaneously, reducing total tuition and time in residence.

You may combine a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) or a Master of Forestry (MF) with a:

Standardized Exam Requirements for Concurrent Degrees >

Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry

With careful planning of their curriculum, students can earn both the MEM and the MF degrees concurrently. (information on the MF degree is available here >)Determination of eligibility for the degrees will be made on an individual basis and will consider the educational background and objectives of the student. The requirements for earning both degrees are:

  • The student must qualify for either the MEM or MF degree by earning 48 units of credit
  • For the second degree, the student must complete an additional 24 units of study that, in combination with courses taken for the first degree, meet the substance of the requirements for the second degree.
  • Two additional semesters in residence are normally required, although, with careful planning, the student may complete both professional degrees in a total of five semesters.
  • One Master’s Project should combine the two areas of study

Master of Environmental Management and Master of Business Administration

The techniques of management science are applied with increasing frequency in the management of natural resources, and they are also now commonly used in the analysis of environmental and corporate sustainability challenges. To train students in the integration of management and environmental sciences, Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment and Fuqua School of Business offer a concurrent business and environment degree. At least three years of study are required to earn the combined degrees of Master of Environmental Management/Master of Business Administration or Master of Forestry/Master of Business Administration.

Duke's concurrent MEM/MBA program is one of the most prestigious business and environment degree programs in the world, and is supported by resources at the Nicholas School of the Environment, Fuqua School of Business, and Duke's Corporate Sustainability Initiative. More than 30 students are currently enrolled in the concurrent MEM/MBA program. Students who wish to undertake either the MEM/MBA or MF/MBA concurrent degrees can complete one application for admission; students apply using the Duke MBA online application and complete an extra personal statement essay unique to the environmental concurrent degree. For more information about the MBA degree, prospective students may visit: http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/other_programs/joint_degree_programs/.

At least 36 units of credit within the Nicholas School are required to receive the MEM or MF degree; these include 4 to 6 units for the Master’s Project. Students will begin their studies the first year in the Nicholas School followed by a year in the Fuqua School of Business, and concluding with the final year of combined work in both schools. Students electing to pursue the MEM concurrently with the MBA must complete requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded. Because of the academic demands of these degrees, those entering without the necessary analytical skills or life science background may be required to take additional work beyond that specified.

For more information about policies and requirements, concurrent degree students may view the Business & Environment Concurrent Degree Programs Student Handbook.

Master of Public Policy

As issues concerning natural resources and the environment have become increasingly significant to the nation, a corresponding need has developed for well-trained policy analysts who can provide timely and appropriate information and analysis to resource policy makers.
Students interested in a professional degree in environmental policy at Duke have three options:

  • the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree in the Environmental Economics and Policy program of the Nicholas School
  • a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the Sanford School of Public Policy; or
  • concurrent MEM/MPP degrees from the Nicholas School and the Sanford School.

The concurrent MEM/MPP degree provides training in the politics and economics of resource and environmental policy-making. Emphasis is placed on understanding the social and political forces involved, developing facility with quantitative and logical methods of forecasting and evaluating policy consequences. Knowledge of the uses and limitations of policy analysis and an awareness of the ethical dimensions of policy choice are also stressed. The concurrent degree takes three years to complete. The first year is typically devoted to study in the Sanford School of Public Policy, the second year is spent in the Nicholas School and the third year is divided between the two schools.

  • At least 36 units of credit within the Nicholas School are required to receive the MEM or MF degree.
  • A summer internship with a resource or environmental agency, or with a related legislative, judicial or interest group, is required for the policy degree.
  • Students in this concurrent degree program complete both a Master’s Project for the policy degree and a separate Master’s Project for the MEM or MF degree.
  • Students electing to pursue the MEM concurrently with the MPP must complete requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded.
  • Students must apply to and be accepted by both the Nicholas School and the Duke University Graduate School.

For detailed information on the MPP degree, e-mail toMPPadmit@duke.edu or write to the Admissions Office, 171-B Rubenstein
Hall, Duke University, Box 90243, Durham, NC 27708-0243, or visit the Sanford School Web site at http://www.pubpol.duke.edu.

Juris Doctor in Environmental Law and Juris Doctor/M.A. Option

Environmental and natural resource issues increasingly require legal and regulatory knowledge for resolution. There is a growing demand for resource managers and scientists who have legal credentials; similarly, attorneys are facing more situations in which knowledge of natural resources and the environmental sciences is critical to the resolution of disputes. To satisfy these demands, the Nicholas School and the School of Law have developed a cooperative arrangement to allow pursuit of concurrent Master of Environmental Management and Juris Doctor degrees. For students in the concurrent MEM/JD program:

  • the Nicholas School requires 36 units of credit, including a Master’s Project.
  • the School of Law requires 84 units of law credit, 12 units of which may be satisfied through courses taken in the Nicholas School.

Typically, a student will complete the first year of study in the School of Law and the second in the Nicholas School. During the third and fourth years, the student will take a combination of courses in both schools. MEM/JD candidates must apply to and be accepted by both the Nicholas School of the Environment and the School of Law. Students electing to pursue the MEM concurrently with the JD must complete requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded. Students must apply to and be accepted by both the Nicholas School and the School of Law. For information on the law degree, prospective students should write to the School of Law, Admissions Office, Duke University, Box 90393, Durham, NC 27708-0393, or visit the Law School Web site at http:// www.law.duke.edu.

Additionally, the Duke University School of Law offers a unique program whereby students enrolled in the Law School may concurrently pursue a Master of Arts degree in a variety of subject areas, including environmental studies. Students who intend to focus their careers on law but who wish to supplement their legal education with continuing study of the environment may find this program of interest. Students pursuing the MA are governed by the regulations of the Graduate School but take their coursework alongside professional degree students. Applicants to this program must file an application with the Law School at http:// law.duke.edu/admis. The application is also reviewed by faculty in the Nicholas School, and admission is offered by the Law School and the Graduate School. The JD/MA program requires students begin their studies in the summer and continue through the following six academic semesters. During that time students will earn 30 units of credit in the Graduate School, of which 24 must be graded, and 72 units in the School of Law. M.A. students complete an oral comprehensive examination in the Nicholas School but are not required to complete a Master’s Project. Further information is available from the Director of Graduate Studies of the Nicholas School.

Master of Arts in Teaching

Over the last several decades, international concern for protecting our ecosystems has led to an increased need to educate citizens on the challenges facing our environment. Numerous education programs are now aimed at K-12 students as well as the general population. Environmental education is of increasing importance to those who prepare to teach, particularly in the sciences. Duke’s concurrent degree program between the Nicholas School and the Graduate School allows students to meet this challenge by earning a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree.
In this concurrent degree program:

  • to earn the MEM degree students must complete 36 units of credit in the Nicholas School, including a Master’s Project.
  • For the MAT degree, students will complete 30 units of credit, including a full-year teaching internship and all requirements for the North Carolina teaching licensure in comprehensive science at the high school level.

Competencies required by the state will be met through undergraduate courses taken prior to admission to Duke, science courses taken as part of the MAT or courses taken as part of the MEM Students will normally enroll in the MAT program during the summer and then complete an academic year of student teaching and MAT coursework prior to enrolling in the MEM program for three semesters. Students electing to pursue the MEM concurrently with the MAT must complete requirements for both degrees before either degree will be awarded. Students must apply to and be accepted by both the Nicholas School and the Graduate School of Duke University, citing the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Students admitted to the MAT program in comprehensive science must hold an undergraduate degree in one of the natural sciences with significant undergraduate preparation in biology and chemistry. Organic chemistry is required. Questions concerning the MAT degree should be addressed to the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, Duke University, Box 90093, Durham, NC 27708- 0093; telephone (919) 684-4353. Internet: http://www.duke.edu/web/MAT.

Master of Engineering Management Program

Duke’s concurrent degree program between the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Pratt School of Engineering provides a broad perspective to blend the Master of Engineering Management (MEMP) students’ engineering backgrounds and the Master of
Environmental Management (or Master of Forestry) students’ training in natural and social environmental sciences, resulting in graduates with a strong mix of technical and contextual knowledge and tools well suited to careers in several environmental sectors, particularly energy and environment, environmental health, and water resources. Students wishing to pursue the MEM in a concurrent arrangement with the MEMP should plan on two to three years of study.

  • Credit Requirements-Students must complete 36 units of credit in the Nicholas School, including a master’s project. An additional 24 credits must be taken in the Pratt School of Engineering, including a required summer internship.
  • Credit Distribution- Prior to enrolling in the fall, students fulfill their required

engineering internship in the summer preceding the fall term. During the first year courses are split evenly between engineering and environment with an emphasis on core engineering courses. The second year includes elective credits in the Pratt School and key core courses in the Nicholas School. During the third year students will complete their master’s projects for the Nicholas School; they may be able to finish in one additional semester or may require the full year to complete remaining credits and the master’s project.
Admission: Students must apply to and be accepted by both the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Pratt School of Engineering. Both the Nicholas and Pratt schools require an official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score to be submitted by ETS to the University’s institution code 5156. Questions concerning the MEMP should be addressed to: Master of Engineering Management Program/ Duke University Pratt School of Engineering/3120 Fitzpatrick Center (FCIEMAS)/Box 90300/Durham, NC 27708-0300/Phone:(919) 660-5455/Fax:(919) 660-5456/ Email:memp@pratt.duke.edu; Website:  www.memp.pratt.duke.edu/.

Concurrent Degrees with Other Universities

With the special permission of the faculty Education Committee and the dean of the Nicholas School, students are permitted, on an individual basis, to establish concurrent degree programs with certified graduate degree programs either within or outside of Duke University. In the past, students have designed such programs with law schools, business schools and graduate engineering programs. As with the other concurrent degrees, the student must be enrolled in the Master of Environmental Management or Master of Forestry degree program for at least 36 units of credit and normally be in residence for three semesters.  To receive permission to pursue a specially designed concurrent degree, the student must show an official acceptance from another certified graduate degree program. For additional information concerning special concurrent degrees, applicants should consult the Office of Enrollment Services.

Standardized Exams

Applicants wishing to pursue the MEM (Master of Environmental Management) or MF (Master of Forestry) combined with the MPP (Master of Public Policy), MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) or MEMP (Master of Engineering Management Program) will need to submit an official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score. Applicants wishing to pursue the MEM or MF combined with the MBA (Master of Business Administration) may submit an official GMAT or GRE score. Applicants pursuing the concurrent JD/MA will need to submit an official LSAT score. Applicants pursuing the concurrent JD/MEM will need to submit an official LSAT score to the Duke School of Law and an official GRE score to the Nicholas School. To find additional information about all standardized test requirements to go here >.