Undergraduate Opportunities

Duke University is in the top ranks as both a teaching and a research institution. We give undergraduates in Computer Science a first-rate classroom experience while exposing them to the exciting research projects of our faculty.

In addition to course work, students have many avenues for involvement in the Department. Students may be employed as graders or ``undergraduate teaching assistants,'' in which they work together with faculty and graduate teaching assistants to assist with the many tasks that comprise a successful course. Duties may include assisting with laboratory courses, developing classroom demos, grading, and tutoring students.

Undergraduates are encouraged to interact one-on-one with faculty members in independent study courses. Students in such courses work on projects of their own design or on projects suggested by faculty. It is possible for such work to develop into an Honor's project leading to ``Graduation with Distinction'' and to scholarly publications.

Undergraduates in our Department often supplement their classroom experience with employment at the Computer Assist Center (Duke Computation Center), in the Department's Computing Lab, and with faculty members on research projects. Summer jobs, part-time jobs, and internships are also available in local industry through Duke's Career Development Center.

Our undergraduate majors receive accounts on state-of-the-art departmental machines and in addition have access to university-wide computing resources. Our Undergraduate Major's Laboratory offers students a place to work and relax. The lab houses workstations, telephone, a white-board, and offers access to several laser printers. The lab is centrally located near several lounge areas and a seminar room in the Levine Science Research Center.

In 1996, the Department established a new program called the Computer Science Internship Program (CSIP). This program provides undergraduate computer science majors the opportunity to acquire industrial experience for two semesters while fulfilling the requirements of a B.S. or B.A. degree. Students learn how to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to solve real problems while receiving a salary from their employer. It is possible to earn one credit after the internship experience through the independent study course CPS 195. In this course, a faculty member in the Department supervises a program of study related to the student's work experience. At this time, the student writes and submits an analytical paper on a computer science related topic. To participate in the CSIP program, a student must take CPS 104 and 108, and declare computer science as his or her first major. An application for the CSIP program should be completed at the beginning of the semester prior to the internship period to allow time for interviewing with companies. Approval for Computer Science 195 must be obtained before the internship begins, and a faculty mentor associated with this course must be designated at this time. For further information, contact the Director of the Computer Science Internship Program.