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Inspiring Engineers
What does tomorrow’s engineer need to know? What strengths will shape the future? At Duke Engineering, we’re thinking hard about these questions, and preparing creative engineers who are inspired & equipped to solve complex societal problems.
From the Dean
At Duke Engineering, we are embarking on an ambitious initiative to transform our undergraduate curriculum.
We are crafting a signature educational experience that immerses students in hands-on design, data science, computing, research and entrepreneurship from the very beginning—and engages them in teamwork on real projects with real clients throughout their engineering education.
Engineering is exciting—and we believe giving students the experience of how engineers can make a difference will not only give them a sense of purpose and motivation to pursue this challenging path, but ultimately help them gain:
- Ability to generate creative solutions to complex, open-ended problems
- Rigorous research, analytical, quantitative and critical-thinking skills
- Comfort with design, data and computational tools
- Experience working in diverse teams
- Excellent communication skills
- Entrepreneurial confidence
We see these qualities as the hallmarks of a Duke Engineer—complementing the strong interdisciplinary research engagement and educational breadth that Duke University is known for, and preparing our students for high-potential paths in industry, academia, entrepreneurship and public service. I invite you to learn more about our vision for “Inspiring Engineers” in the stories below.
Ravi V. Bellamkonda
Vinik Dean of Engineering
Duke University
Foundational Experiences
Real-World Design
An innovative course gives first-year students early engineering experience as they work in teams to design, prototype and deliver solutions to meet real community needs
Data & Decision Sciences
By teaching students to leverage statistical analysis to glean useful insights from complex, real-world datasets, a new course aims to make data competency a signature strength of every Duke Engineering undergraduate
Computational Thinking
By weaving in real-world projects, Duke Engineering is piloting a new approach to introductory computing that seeks to give students not only a strong foundation in programming skills, but a vision of coding as a creative tool
Mentored Research
Duke Engineering offers students unparalleled opportunities to conduct original research with faculty advisors. Almost 70 percent of our undergraduates engage in intensive research, with one in five either publishing or presenting a paper off campus before graduating.
Entrepreneurial Confidence
From a “Founder’s Workshop” course to a $20,000 Innovation Grant competition, Duke Engineering is investing in new initiatives to help undergraduates turn their ideas into impactful solutions