Types of Master’s Projects

Two types of projects are possible: a project for an actual client that involves approaches that are co-created with the client to meet their specific needs (client-based), or a research-based project that may involve a variety of methodological approaches and seek to advance the literature on a key environmental policy question or questions (research-based). Hybrids of these projects are also possible. Though not mandatory, students are encouraged to build their projects in coordination with summer internships and to deepen their policy-area expertise by taking appropriate elective courses. As a principle, MPs should be undertaken as group projects, unless the MP explicitly agrees to supervise an individual project.

Client-Based Projects

For this type of MP Students will work with a client to recommend a specific course of action to solve an environmental policy problem. As principle, Client-based projects should be undertaken as a group project, unless the Advisor agrees to supervise an individual project. Students may develop their own project or apply to work on “Faculty-client generated projects”. Projects ideally (but not necessarily) combine with summer internships or target an organization that the student(s) would like to work with in the future.

To be approved as a MP topic, the client must have a significant policy problem posed in the form of “What should the client do?”. The research topic must also be relevant to environmental policy. This project outcome must meet the MP criteria and measure up to standards of good analysis, including a clear definition of the problem and careful evaluation of the relevant evidence, identification of important trade-offs and potential indirect consequences, and the presenting of specific conclusions and recommendations.

A client project involving policy analysis or recommendations, program evaluation, or quality improvement studies that is not going to be published is not designed to contribute to a field of knowledge and does not need Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. However, if the research 1) is with human subjects and 2) will be made public in anyway, then IRB is required. If the research involves handling animal subjects, students may need the Duke Kunshan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to review and approve their protocol.

Research-Based Projects

This type of MP more closely resembles a Master’s thesis. Students may propose an original research idea to a faculty member or apply to a faculty-generated research project. Research-based projects should also be undertaken as a group project, unless the Advisor agrees to supervise an individual project. Research MPs follow the standard format for scientific research or policy analysis to introduce a new idea and problem-solving approaches and may involve original field data collection. Students interested in a doctoral degree or employment in research roles may benefit from this type of MP.

Working with the MP advisor, the student needs to follow the scientific or analytical methods in their topic area. The research topic must be relevant to environmental policy and involves rigorous quantitative and/or qualitative methodology. Research MPs should strive for publishable quality, although external publication is not required.

If the project involves working with human subjects, students may need to apply for the Duke Kunshan University Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review and approve their protocols. If the project involves handling animal subjects, students may need the Duke Kunshan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to review and approve their