Academic Policies

Academic & Financial Obligations

Students are expected to meet academic requirements and financial obligations, as specified in the school bulletin, to remain in good standing. Failure to meet these requirements and to abide by the rules and regulations of Duke University may result in summary dismissal.

Degrees and Academic Credit

Duke University offers in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of science, and in Pratt School of Engineering the degree of bachelor of science in engineering. Within the curriculum of each college or school, students have the major responsibility for designing and maintaining a course program appropriate to their background and goals. They are assisted by faculty advisors, departmental directors of undergraduate studies, and academic deans. Students must accept personal responsibility for understanding and meeting the requirements of the curriculum. Credit toward a degree is earned in units called course credits, which ordinarily consist of three to four hours of instruction each week of the fall or spring semester or the equivalent total number of course credits in a summer term. Double (2.0) course credits, half (.5) course credits, and quarter (.25) course credits are also recognized.

Course Numbering

Introductory-level courses are numbered 100 to 199; mid- to advanced-level courses are numbered 200 and above; courses numbered from 400 to 499 are primarily for seniors; courses numbered from 500 to 699 are graduate-level courses open to advanced undergraduate students. Special Topics courses may be repeated (if the subtitles of the courses are different), subject to any limitation set forth in the course description in this bulletin.