Katsouleas NAE Grand Challenges Scholars

The program is an intentional series of courses, independent study and engaging experiences related to your Grand Challenges focus.

The experiences are organized into five competencies. The program is capped by a senior thesis.

Competencies

• Research
• Interdisciplinary
• Entrepreneurship
• Global
• Service Learning

E-Portfolio

As a scholar, you will create an online, public e-portfolio that describes and documents your GCS experiences. You’ll select the digital platform you prefer.

Experience Depth

Research and interdisciplinary competencies are considered in-depth experiences, while Entrepreneurship, Global, and Service Learning can be medium- or minimum-depth experiences.

Either (but not both) of the in-depth experiences in Research and Interdisciplinary may directly incorporate the Entrepreneurial, Global or  Service-Learning components, and thus can be “double-counted” as an additional component depending on the GC focus, the engineering and non-engineering courses taken, the nature of the research/project/curriculum and the extent of engagement.

Research

• Three (3) independent study classes or equivalent experiences related to the student’s GC focus
• In-Depth Experiences = 400-plus total hours

Example Experiences at Duke

• Pratt Research Fellowship work
• Bass Connections project or research
• Duke Smart Home Fellows research
• Independent study research courses
• Senior capstone design project
• Research for Graduation with Departmental Distinction
• International Honors Program
• A Duke research lab or project experience
• Other similar research experiences

Note: Your GC Research experiences may also count toward Global, Entrepreneurial, or Service-Learning minimum-depth experiences. See restrictions below.

Interdisciplinary

• Three (3) non-engineering and non-research classes, or equivalent experiences, related to the GC focus
• In-Depth Experiences = 400-plus total hours

Example Experiences at Duke

• Non-engineering courses, such as in the social sciences or humanities (Note: biology and natural science courses generally do not count.)
• Bass Connections project
• Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship courses
• Other interdisciplinary experiences or courses

Note: GC interdisciplinary experiences may also count as minimum-depth experiences in Global, Entrepreneurial, or Service-Learning areas. See restrictions below.

For the remaining three competencies–Entrepreneurship, Global and Service Learning–one (1) must be at medium-depth level (or higher) and related to your GC focus.

The remaining two (2) components may be minimum-depth (or higher) and related to any of the 14 Grand Challenges.

Medium Depth is defined as a practicum, immersion experience or research activity that spans an eight-week summer or a regular semester, or one (1) regular semester class or independent study

Minimum Depth is defined as a semester or less extra-curricular experience such as a volunteer activity, short course, workshop, seminar series or conference

Entrepreneurship

An entrepreneurship experience outside the classroom or lab.

Example Experiences at Duke

• Duke Startup challenge
• Participation in a hackathon
• Bass Connection projects
• An internship through Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Duke in Silicon Valley program

Global

A cross-cultural experience outside the classroom or lab. For students from the United States, the experience should be outside North America. For international students, the experience should be outside the United States. See guidelines and restrictions above.

Example Experiences at Duke

• DukeEngage
• Study abroad
• Duke Engineers for International Development (DEID)
• Engineering World Health
• International conferences or travel experiences

Service-Learning

A service-learning experience outside of the classroom that deepens social awareness and heightens motivation to develop practical solutions for society’s problems.

Example Experiences

• Student organizations and clubs
• Engineering World Health
• Duke Engineers for International Development
• Volunteer work
• Nonprofit organizations

To complete the program, students submit a thesis that describes their experiences and how these experiences were related to each other and their GC focus.

The thesis should include a reflection of how the GCS program added to their education and provided a wide range of experiences that shaped their understanding of the world and their future.

The thesis is due before the end of the last day of classes of your final semester at Duke.

Before submitting your application, you’re encouraged to contact the program coordinator. Discuss your expectations and the application process.

Apply before the end of sophomore year. As you prepare your application, you’ll choose one of the Grand Challenges for Engineering and write a 300-word essay.