Dual- and Joint-Degree Programs
Aside from the traditional departments and programs, The Graduate School also promotes interdisciplinary research through specialized dual- and joint-degree programs.
- M.D./Ph.D. (MSTP program) with the Duke School of Medicine
- J.D./M.A. with the Duke School of Law
- J.D./Ph.D. with the Duke School of Law
- Joint Ph.D. program in German Studies, developed and offered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.S. 4+1 Degree Programs
Duke undergraduates in select programs can earn a bachelor's degree and a master of science (M.S.) degree in just five years through Duke's accelerated master’s (4+1) program. Students who are admitted as undergraduates get a head start in this accelerated program by taking graduate-level courses during their senior year.
M.S. programs offering 4+1 degree options are:
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Global Health
- Computer Science
Students apply to the 4+1 program through the Graduate School online application in the fall of their senior year for spring semester admission. The application deadline is typically October 1 or the same date as the deadline to submit Spring applications.
Completing a master's degree in the 4+1 leaves little room for error. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that courses taken during the second semester of the senior year both
- complete the requirements for the bachelor’s degree, AND
- will be credited toward the requirements for the M.S. degree.
None of the courses can "double count" for both the bachelor's and M.S. degrees.
Each department's M.S. program has specific requirements and lists of permissible and non-permissible courses, so students should consult with the director of graduate studies in the following programs to discuss degree expectations.