Doctoral students enrolled at Duke University can pursue one master’s degree en route to the PhD, without paying for an additional 30 units of graduate credit. This includes master’s degrees in the same department as the PhD, or in a different department, as long as that department offers an admitting master's degree. Note that PhD students who wish to receive a second master's degree en route to the PhD will be charged tuition for the additional 30 course credits required. For those interested in pursuing a concurrent master’s in another discipline en route to the PhD, such degrees will only be awarded after their final doctoral term. Note that students who fail to complete their PhDs, but wish to receive the concurrent master’s in another discipline nonetheless, will be charged tuition for the master’s degree. There is a two-part application process.
Concurrent Master’s Application, Part 1:
- After successful completion of the preliminary examination, but prior to the start of the student's final PhD term, students download and complete the Graduate School’s fillable Intent to pursue a Concurrent Master’s Degree in another Discipline en route to PhD Form.
- This application of intent includes a rationale for the intellectual relationship between the two programs and two letters of recommendation from Duke faculty, one from each department supporting the relationship between the Doctoral and Master’s program for which the applicant is applying.
- The printed completed form, with the required, original approval signatures and all supporting documentation, must be submitted to The Graduate School for review by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
- Students will receive notification of the review outcome from The Graduate School, and, if approved, the application of intent will be saved in the official student record for final review when students submit part two of the application in their graduating semester.
Concurrent Master’s Application, Part 2:
- In the semester in which students expect to graduate from the PhD program, they download and complete the Graduate School’s PDF fillable Concurrent Master’s Degree in another Discipline Application Form.
- A copy of a transcript highlighting the courses to be counted towards the master’s that equal to 30 credits must accompany the form.
- The printed completed form, with the required, original approval signatures and all supporting documentation, must be submitted to The Graduate School – Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for final review at least 30 days before the graduation deadline dates.
- Students will receive notification by email of final approval, and they must apply to graduate as master’s students as well as PhD students in their respective programs through the Apply to Graduate portal in Duke Hub.