On-Campus Courses

Experience learning at Duke. During Pre-College on-campus programs, students enjoy an unforgettable academic experience. They study and learn in Duke academic buildings, eat in world-class dining facilities, and visit significant locations throughout campus and the surrounding area. All while they build connections with peers from around the world and learn from Duke faculty and PhD students as well as industry experts.

One-week programs

Grades: 6-11
- Middle school: Current 6-8 grade
- High school: Current 9-11 grade
Dates: July 20-25
Program fees:
- Commuter: $1,830
- Residential: $2,580.00

Two-week programs

Grades: 6-11
- Middle school: Current 6-8 grade
- High school: Current 9-11 grade
Dates: June 22-July 4, July 6-July 18
Program fees:
- Commuter: $3,660
- Residential: $5,640

What's Included

All housing and meals during the program; airport transportation; Classes 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day with professional, seasoned instructors and teaching associates; all books and supplies; guest speakers; entrance charges and transportation to tours; College Connections seminars and other club activities; evening and weekend social events; guided visits to main campus and sporting facilities.

_{Third Party Disclaimer}
_{As part of our commitment to excellence, Duke University may partner with a third-party organization to support administrative and residential components of our Summer 2025 Pre-College programs that take place on Duke University’s Durham campus. Duke University will retain full control over all academic elements of the Summer 2025 Pre-College programs that take place on Duke University’s Durham campus, including academic curriculum, instructor selection, and course content.}

_{It is currently not contemplated that Duke University will engage a third-party organization to support components of the 2025 Pre-College programs that take place at the Duke University Marine Lab or online.}

Course	Time	Location	Course Fees	Status
Animal Cognition - Session 1Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking? Or how dolphins learn to work together to catch fish? Or whether a chimpanzee could learn sign language? Welcome to the field of animal cognition: the study of animal minds,… Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 4, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	available
Cryptography - Session 1We use numbers for everything, but how did these number systems come to be? How can some of these systems have only a finite amount of numbers? How are algorithms created to protect our most sensitive data? Cryptography is used by… Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 4, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	waitlist_available
Cryptography - Session 2We use numbers for everything, but how did these number systems come to be? How can some of these systems have only a finite amount of numbers? How are algorithms created to protect our most sensitive data? Cryptography is used by… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	available
Leadership DevelopmentWhat makes a great leader? Are there specific ethical commitments good leaders must have? How can texts such as stories and paintings teach us about the qualities of leadership? Discover your potential as a leader through the study… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	waitlist_available
Primate Conservation - Session 3Curious about lemurs and conservation? Want to learn more about prosimians and human-wildlife interactions? Discover the world of primates and examine complex conservation issues affecting primate biodiversity. Learn about lemurs… Jul 20, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 1830.00 Residential: 2580.00	available
Smart Cities - Session 2What will the future of urban living look like? How can innovative technologies and creative engineering solutions be used to design and optimize cities? Explore the benefits and science behind smart cities through hands-on… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	waitlist_available
Writers' Studio: Scene Writing - Session 1Lights, camera, action! How do you take the chaotic flow of life and craft it into meaningful narratives? What details pull readers in, and how do you generate the electricity that propels your story and keeps your audience engaged… Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 4, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	available

Course	Time	Location	Course Fees	Status
Academic Writing - Session 2Are you eager to improve your academic writing abilities? Not sure where to begin with your college essay? Writing is hard work! Contrary to the widespread assumption that some people are born with a “gift” for writing and others… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	waitlist_available
Creative Writing - Session 1Are you passionate about storytelling and looking to hone your writing skills for college and beyond? This Creative Writing Intensive is designed for high-achieving high school students who are ready to dive deep into the craft of… Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 4, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	available
Powerful Narrative - Session 2Creating powerful narration out of personal experiences is the fundamental challenge of all writing. Whether we are listening to a friend, watching a Netflix show, or reading a short story, we often wonder: did things really happen… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	available
Race & Politics in American History - Session 3What is race and what role does it play in American politics? What does it mean to say that a policy is discriminatory? How do Americans think about race and ethnicity and how does this impact issues such as voting? What are the… Jul 20, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 1830.00 Residential: 2580.00	waitlist_available
Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in Post-Conflict Societies - Session 2Demands for recognition of “historical wrongs” and the redress of grievances have abounded in the post-World War II era, especially in countries emerging from authoritarian rule and conflicts that escalated to mass atrocity—genocide… Jul 6, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00AM - 4:00PM	Durham - Duke University	Commuter: 3660.00 Residential: 5640.00	waitlist_available