Exploring Majors and Certificates

Welcome to the Exploring Majors and Certificates pages. You'll find videos, links to major requirements, information about advising, and more.

Take advantage of these resources to help you choose the academic path that is right for you:

  • Watch this video to see how Greg Victory, Director of the Career Center, answers the question, "Does My Major Really Matter?" and learn about the connections between your major and career.
  • Learn about different majors, minors and certificates using the links below. Check out the videos from faculty and students discussing the major.
  • Talk to  Peer Success Leaders who are majoring in areas you're interested in.
  • Reach out to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), or Certificate Program Director, to learn more about their major or program.
  • Meet with a disciplinary DAE. There is a DAE for each academic division who can help you decide between different majors of interest.
     

Broadly conceived, the humanities disciplines use historical, philosophical, and artistic approaches to study the human condition in all its facets. Humanistic and artist knowledge plays a crucial part in the education of the individual; the pursuit, creation, and theorization of meaning; and qualitative analyses of social systems and cultural practices. The Disciplinary DAE for the Arts & Humanities is Dr. Jules Odendahl-James, both a scholar and a practitioner (theater director, dramaturg). She can discuss your interests in the fields listed below at both theoretical and applied levels. Whether you are searching for how to integrate your interests across fields, maximize opportunities in separate and time-intensive interests, find research mentors, develop your own portfolios, or strategize about how best to represent your unique Duke journey, an appointment with Dr. OJ can provide clarity, spur more productive questions, and leave you with a specific to-do list that makes next steps more tangible.

Departments and Majors Videos and Links  

Art, Art History & Visual Studies

Art History
Art History: Architecture
Art History: Museum Theory & Practice
Art History & Visual Arts
Visual Arts
Visual &Media Studies
Visual & Media Studies: Cinematic Arts
IDM: Computational Media

Video - Art, Art History & Visual Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising Info

Questions? Contact Shambhavi Kaul or Shelia Dillon.

Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES)

Video - Arabic Language Program

Video - Chinese Language Program

Video - Hebrew Language Program

Video - Hindi Language Program

Video - Japanese Language Program

Video - Korean Language Program

Video - Persian Language Program

Video - Turkish Language Program

Video - Dr. Bardawil

Advising Info

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

 

Classical Studies

Classical Civilization: Ancient History, Archaeology, Lit and Culture
Classical Languages: Greek and Latin
IDM: Ancient Religions & Society

Video - Classical Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Misc Info/ Resources

Questions? Contact the DUS
Dance Program

Video - Welcome to the Dance Program

Video - Why I Major in Dance

Video - Professor Sarah Wilbur

Video - Professor Thomas DeFrantz

Misc Info/ Resources

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact Iyun Harrison

 
English

Video - English Major and Minors

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS or Michelle Dove

Student Ambassadors

Misc Info/ Resources
German Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact Kata Gellen

Why Study German?

Interdepartmental Major (IDM)

Self created IDMs

Department Created IDMs:
Ancient Religions & Society
Computational Media

Video - IDMs

Learn about the Process

  
Literature Program/Global Cultural Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

How GSC is Different
Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

What Can You do With a MedRen Major?

Questions? Contact the DUS
Music

Video - The Music Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising Info

Questions? Contact the DUS

Philosophy

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

Why Philosophy?
Program II

Video - Hear from a Student

Program Requirements

FAQ

Questions? Contact Tyrice Rogers

Religious Studies

Ancient Religions & Society

Major , minor, and IDM Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

Advising Info

Romance Studies

Brazilian and Global Portuguese Studies
French and Francophone Studies
Italian Studies
Spanish, Latin American, and Latino/a Studies
Romance Studies

Video - Romance Studies Majors (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese)

Major Requirements

Misc Info/ Resources

Questions? Contact the DUSs

Slavic & Eurasian Studies

Russian
Slavic and Eurasian Studies (SES)

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

Advising Info
Theater Studies

Video - Why Theater Studies at Duke?

Major and Minor Reqs

Academics/ General Info

Questions? Contact Darren Gobert

Natural Sciences are the branches of study that explore natural phenomena using data and other evidence from observations and experiments to understand the world, and it includes both life and physical sciences. In order the understand the natural science field (and many others), quantitative approaches using statistical, computational, or mathematical methods are often utilized. The DAE for Natural and Quantitative Sciences (NQS) is Dr. Jessica Harrell, a cell and developmental biologist by training. She can help students with interests in the various NQS disciplines to plan majors, minors, and certificates and develop four-year plans of study. Dr. Harrell can also help you explore research and other co-curricular opportunities and can coach you through finding and approaching faculty to obtain a research position that fits your interests. Dr. Harrell offers NQS advising appointments to students of any class year, at any time of the year, at this link.

Departments and Majors Videos and Links  
Biology

Video - The Biology Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Guide for First Years

FAQs

Career Info

Majors Union

Questions? Contact Eric Spana or Ron Grunwald
Chemistry

Video - Chemistry Program

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Misc Info/ Resources

Undergraduate Handbook

Questions? Contact the DUS

Computer Science

IDM: Data Science - Computer Science and Statistics
IDM: Data Science - Computer Science and Math
IDM: Lingustics and Computer Science
IDM: Computational Media

Video - Dr. Susan Rodger, DUS

Video - Why Comp Sci? Hear from an alumna

Video - The Data Science IDM

Video - Hear from faculty and students

Misc Info/ Resources

Advising and Registration

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact the DUS

Earth & Climate Sciences  (Nicholas School)

Video - The ECS Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Career Paths

Questions? Contact the DUS
Environmental Sciences & Policy  (Nicholas School)

Video - The Env Sci & Policy Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Career Paths

Questions? Contact Bill Pan

Evolutionary Anthropology

Video - Evolutionary Anthropology Major Overview

Video - Dr. Jenny Tung on human evolution and genetics

Video - Dr. Herman Pontzer on fossils and human evolution

Video - Dr. Brian Hare on the genius of dogs

Video - Dr. Steven Churchill on fossil finds from South Africa

Why Study Evolutionary Anthropology?

Major and Minor Reqs

Majors Handbook

Careers in Ev Anth

Questions? Contact the DUS
Global Health Co-Major

Video - DUS of Global Health

Video - About the Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Career Paths

Why Study Global Health?

 

Questions? Email us

Interdepartmental Majors (IDM)

Self created IDMs

Department Created IDMs:

Data Science - Computer Science and Statistics
Data Science - Computer Science and Math
Lingustics and Computer Science
Computational Media

Video - IDMs

Learn about the Process

 

Video - The Data Science IDM

 

 
Marine Lab Programs

Video - The Marine Lab

Academic Programs

Courses

Why the Marine Lab?

FAQs

Questions? Email Katie Wood

Mathematics

IDM: Data Science - Computer Science and Math

Video - Welcome to Math

Video - Program Coordinator Kristen Gerondelis on the Math Community

Video - Dr. Robert Bryant

Video - The Data Science IDM

Major and Minor Reqs

Why Study Math?

Careers in Math

Advising

 

Questions? Contact the DUS
Neuroscience

Video - The Neuroscience Program

Major and Minor Reqs

 

Advising

Student Orgs and Majors Union

Why Major in Psych or Neuro?

Career Paths

 

Research

Questions? Contact the Neuro DUS or Tyler Lee

Physics

Biophysics

Video - The Physics Major

Video - The Biophysics Major

Major and Minor Reqs

 

Why Physics?

Careers in Physics

Questions about Physics Major? Contact the DUS

Questions about Biophysics? Contact John Mercer

 
Program II

Video - Hear from a Student

Program Requirements

FAQ

Questions? Contact Tyrice Rogers

Statistical Science

IDM: Data Science - Computer Science and Statistics

Video - The Stat Sci Major

Video - The Data Science IDM

Major, Minor and IDM Reqs

Misc Info/ Resources

FAQs including Advising Info

Why Statistics?

Careers in Statistics

Majors Union

Virtual Advising Course Advice

Questions? Contact the DUS

Social science disciplines typically combine quantitative and qualitative methods to study dimensions of human behavior and experience. The DAE for the Social Sciences is currently shifting to a new position but you can find many resources on this page, and appointments will be available again soon.

Departments and Majors Videos and Links  
African & African American Studies

Video - Intro to the Major

Video - Meet the Professors

Major and Minor Reqs

Questions? Contact Charmaine Royal
Cultural Anthropology

Video - What Cultural Anthropology Means to Me

Video - What I Learned as a Cul Anth Major

Major, Minor and IDM Reqs

Advising

What Is Cultural Anthropology?

Career Info

Questions? Contact Harris Solomon
Economics

Video - The Economics Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Why Major in Economics?

Questions? Contact the DUS or Asst DUS

Education, Program in Education

 

Service Learning

Minor and Teachers Prep Reqs

Video - What is Service Learning?

Questions about the Education Program? Contact Amy Anderson

Questions about Service Learning? Contact the Program

Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

IDM: Global Gender Studies - ICS and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

Video - Global Gender Studies

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Why Major in GSF?

Questions? Contact the DUS
Global Health Co-Major

Video - DUS of Global Health

Video - About the Major

Major and Minor Reqs

Career Paths

Why Study Global Health?

Advising

Questions? Email us
History

Video - The History Major

Major and Minor Reqs

 

Career Paths

FAQs

Questions? Contact John French or Simon Partner

Interdepartmental Major (IDM)

Self created IDMs

Department Created IDMs:

IDM: Global Gender Studies - ICS and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

 

Lingustics and Computer Science

Video - IDMs

Learn about the IDM Process

 

 

Video - Global Gender Studies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions? Contact the DUS

 

International Comparative Studies

IDM: Global Gender Studies - ICS and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies

Video - How I Decided to Major in ICS

Video - Global Gender Studies IDM

Major and IDM Reqs

FAQs

Career Paths

Questions? Contact Adam Rosenblatt

Linguistics

IDM: Lingustics and Computer Science

Major and Minor and IDM Reqs

 Questions? Contact the DUS
Philosophy

Major, Minor and Certificate Reqs

 

Why major in Philosophy?

Questions? Contact Andrew Janiak
Political Science

Video - Why Major in Political Science?

Major, Minor and Certificate Reqs
Advising

FAQs

Misc Info/ Resources

Questions? Contact the DUS or Tosha Marshall
Program II

Video - Hear from a Student

Program Requirements

Questions? Contact Tyrice Rogers

 
Public Policy (Sanford School)

Video - Hear from Current Students

Video - Pub Pol Majors Union

Major Reqs

FAQs

Advising

Student Handbook

Is Pub Pol Right for You?

Majors Brochure

Questions? Contact the DUS, or Suzanne Pierce
Psychology

Video - The Psychology Program

Major and Minor Reqs

Advising

Student Orgs and Majors Union

Why Major in Psych or Neuro?

Career Paths

 

Research

Questions? Contact the DUS

Sociology

Video - The Sociology Major

Advising

Major , Minor and Certificate Reqs

Career Paths

Questions? Contact the DUS

Certificate programs offer students an opportunity to pursue a subject they are passionate about and gain skills and training. Students take six courses to earn a certificate and the courses often span multiple disciplines or departments.
 
Programs Videos and Links Contact Info
Child Policy Research Certificate

Video - Child Policy Research Certificate

FAQs

Questions? Contact Leslie Babinski

 
Civic Engagement & Social Change Certificate

Video - Ethics Certificates

Certificate Info and Requirements

FAQs

 Questions? Contact Eric Mlyn

Decision Science Certificate Program

FAQS and Reqs

 Questions? Contact Scott De Marchi

Documentary Studies

Video - Doc Studies

Video - The Certificate

 Questions? Contact Opeyemi Olanrewaju
East Asian Studies   Questions? Contact the Program
Energy & Environment

Video - Learn about our Certificate

Video - Why Study Energy?

Questions? Contact Emily Klein, Josiah Knight, or Bryan Koen
Ethics & Society Certificate

Video - Ethics CertificatesFAQs

Questions? Contact David Toole
Human Rights Certificate

Video - The Human Rights Center

FAQs

 Questions? Contact Emily Stewart
Information Science + Studies

Example Pathways

 Questions? Contact the DUS

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Video - The I & E Certificate

Video - DukeEngage Detroit

Video - Duke in Silicon Valley

FAQs

Overview and Reqs

 Questions? Contact the Program

Islamic Studies

   Questions? Contact Ellen McLarney
Jewish Studies

Video - Jewish Studies Certificate

Video - Hear from a program alumni

 Questions? Contact the DUS
Latin American Studies

Video - The CLACS Certificate

 Questions? Contact Patrick Duddy
Latino/a Studies in the Global South Certificate Reqs Questions? Contact Claudia Milian
Marine Science and Conservation Leadership

Video - The Marine Lab

Certificate Reqs

 Questions? Contact Brian Silliman or Katie Wood

Markets & Management Studies

Video - Learn More about MMS

Certificate Reqs

FAQs

 Questions? Contact Martha Reeves or Deb Reisinger
Materials Science & Engineering

Certificate Reqs

Learn more

 Questions? Contact the Director
Philosophy, Politics & Economics

Courses

 Questions? Contact the Director

Policy Journalism & Media Studies

Video - The PJMS Certificate

Courses

 Questions? Contact the DUS or Shelley Stonecipher
Science & Society

Science and the Public Track

Digital Intelligence Track

Video - Dr. Misha Angrist

Science and Public track questions? Contact the Director

DI Track questions? Contact the Director
Sustainability Engagement

Video - The Certificate in Sustainability

FAQs

Pathways

 Questions? Contact the Program