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The First Year
Welcome to your first year as a Duke Engineer!
This will be an exciting year—
In the classroom and lab, you will be immersed in real-world, hands-on design. And, you'll begin your training in computing and data science, chemistry, mathematics and physics. You will grow critical-thinking skills and develop important communication skills.
Just as important, we'll start a sustained conversation about your sense of purpose.
Plus, we've designed experiences and provided support that will help build your motivation to become an engineer who makes a difference in the world.
- All about Duke's First-Year Design Experience
- More about your First Year at Duke
- Explore the First Year curriculum
- Meet the Academic Deans
Components of the First Year
- Duke Engineering's signature First-Year Curriculum
- The First-Year Design Experience
- 360 Advising
- Coaching Fellows and Peer Advisors
- Opportunities to explore and engage topics important to you
The First-Year Curriculum
This table assumes no AP or IPC credit Note 1
Important Notes
1. If You Have AP or IPC Credit
Students with credit for:
- AP Math should consult the AP table and Department of Mathematics placement guidelines to determine appropriate math course placement
- AP Computer Science should take CS 201 Data Structures and Algorithms to satisfy the engineering Digital Computation requirement.
Students without AP Computer science credit should take EGR 103L Computational Methods.
Email pratt-advising@duke.edu for assistance interpreting such credit as it pertains to course selection.
2. Chemistry Placement
- Students without AP Chemistry credit should enroll in CHEM 101DL
- Students who plan to major in Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Environmental Engineering (EnvE) or Mechanical Engineering (ME) have satisfied the chemistry requirement with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam
- Students who plan to major in Biomedical Engineering (BME), and received an AP Chemistry exam:
- Score of 5—Should enroll in CHEM 201DL
- Score of 4—Should enroll in CHEM 101DL or CHEM 110DL
See chemistry placement guidelines »
Contact pratt-advising@duke.edu for guidance on appropriate chemistry placement.
3. All First-Year students take Design and Digital Computation Courses
All first-year Duke Engineering students take:
- First-Year Design (EGR 101L Engineering Design and Communication) in the fall or spring semester
- A Digital Computation course. See Note 1 for information about which course to select to satisfy this requirement
4. Writing 101
- Students assigned to Writing 101 in the Fall should enroll in a writing section
- Students not assigned to Writing 101 in the Fall should enroll in a Digital Computation course
5. Suggested First Technical Courses
The technical course in your first spring semester should be selected according to your intended major, if known:
- Undecided—Biology 201L or one of the classes listed below
- Biomedical Engineering—Biology 201L
- Civil Engineering—CEE 132L
- Electrical & Computer Engineering—ECE 110L
- Environmental Engineering—CEE 132L
- Mechanical Engineering—EGR 121L
Academic Deans
For the Class of 2026, deans are assigned alphabetically by student's last name
A-Hep |
Ho-O |
P-Z |
|
Dean Ben Cooke |
Dean Carmen Rawls |
Dean Lupita |
 |
 |
 |
| benjamin.cooke@duke.edu | carmen.rawls@duke.edu | lupita.mcmillian@duke.edu |