Defining Statements:
James B. Duke's founding Indenture of Duke University directed the members of the University to "provide real leadership in the educational world" by choosing individuals of "outstanding character, ability and vision" to serve as its officers, trustees and faculty; by carefully selecting students of "character, determination and application"; and by pursuing those areas of teaching and scholarship that would "most help to develop our resources, increase our wisdom, and promote human happiness."
Organizational Principles:
A variety of approaches to a liberal education is provided by Program I and II. Either program leads to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, and each requires thirty-four semester courses to satisfy the requirements for the degree.
PROGRAM I
This innovative curriculum is meant to encourage breadth as well as
depth, and provide structure as well as choice. It reflects Duke.s desire to
dedicate its unique resources to preparing its students for the challenging and
rapidly changing global environment. The curriculum provides a liberal arts
education that asks students to engage a wide variety of subjects: arts, literatures,
and performance; civilizations; natural sciences, quantitative studies; and
social sciences. It supports a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach to
knowledge and fosters the development of students. abilities to read and think
critically and in historically and ethically informed ways, to communicate
lucidly and effectively, and to undertake and evaluate independent research.
The curriculum has two components: general education and the major. Two
interrelated features combine to form the general education component: Areas of
Knowledge and Modes of Inquiry. Since a course may have several intellectual
goals and intended learning outcomes, it may potentially and simultaneously
satisfy more than one general education requirement, as well as requirements of
a major, minor, or certificate program.
PROGRAM II
Nature and Purpose.
Students who believe that their intellectual interests and talents would be
better served outside the regular curriculum options under Program I are
encouraged to explore the academic option offered through Program II. If
admitted into Program II, students follow individualized degree programs to
examine and explore a topic, question, or theme as a core area of study which
is not generally available as a course of study within Program I. As degree
candidates in Program II, students separate themselves from the requirements
and options of Program I including the requirement for a major and the options
of multiple majors and minors. Students
who seek out Program II are, typically, those who find that their intellectual
interests cross departmental boundaries or who perceive areas of learning in
clusters other than those of the current departmental units of the university.
Program II graduates have gone on to graduate and professional schools around
the country and to satisfying positions in many areas of employment. They have
won important awards, including Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, and have
received national recognition for career success. Among the many topics for Program
II have been architectural design, bioethics, dramatic literacy, the epic in
music and literature, planetary and evolutionary biology, and U.S. national
security.
Requirements for Graduation:
PROGRAM I
Designated courses (designated as to mode and area) selected to fill matrix below.
Modes of Inquiry |
|||||||
| Areas of Knowledge (minimum courses required) |
Cross-Cultural |
Science, Technology, and Society |
Ethical Inquiry |
Foreign Language |
Writing |
Research |
|
| Arts, Literature and Performance (2) |
|||||||
| Civilizations (2) |
|||||||
| Natural Sciences (2) |
|||||||
| Quantitative Studies (2) |
|||||||
| Social Sciences (2) |
TOTAL |
||||||
| Other |
(minimum) | ||||||
| Minimum Exposure Required |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 to 3 |
3 |
2 |
48 - 56 |
Small Group Learning Experiences: During the
first year: one of the following: (1) a first-year seminar (i.e., 49S),
(2) a 20-series seminar, (3) a FOCUS program seminar, or (4) any other
full course designated as a seminar. After the first year: at
least two full courses designated as seminars, tutorials, independent
study, or a thesis course.
Minimum credits required for graduation 132
36% - 42%
PROGRAM II
Unspecified as to total credits.
Phone calls to various offices at Duke failed to confirm the lack of
PE requirements, number of upper division and the number of credits
required in Program II.
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