About Us

Duke University’s Computer Science graduate program is ranked #20 in the country, according to US News & World Report. The department is also committed to working seamlessly with other disciplines in the arts and sciences to positively impact every aspect of society.

We celebrated our 50th year in 2023. Learn more about the department's journey from side project to Duke's largest major: Pushing Boundaries and Creating History: 50 years of Computer Science at Duke.

Our award-winning faculty and their graduate students conduct research that fights drug-resistant diseases, builds cancer-finding circuits made of DNA, trains AI to detect propaganda, and more. Undergraduate students can choose between two different computer science majors and two different minors, double major with another field, join innovative interdisciplinary programs, or plan an individualized course of study. Unparalleled hands-on research opportunities and our relationships with industry, even for undergraduates, open even more pathways.

Our faculty are committed teachers, dedicated to educating an increasingly diverse student body about computer science, no matter their background or career aspirations. The result is an engaging, collaborative community that is continuing to push the boundaries of the field.

View the Infographics Report (pdf - 5.6 MB) to learn about Duke Computer Science faculty and research, education programs, enrollment, demographics, and more.

Combining Education & Research

The department is arguably unique in the symbiosis that exists between the education group and the research faculty. The synergy between them has been a key to the success in continually reforming the curriculum and integrating research and education. The department is using a dual approach to combine research and education. Bringing research into the curriculum is the best way to train students about the most advanced technology and to disseminate the latest developments of computing technology in society.

We encourage undergraduate students to get involved with ongoing major research projects through undergraduate theses, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) support, independent studies, etc. Some of our exceptional first majors graduate with distinction, which involves a significant research component, and in many cases the research has resulted in publications in leading conferences.

The eminence of our research and teaching faculty is the biggest strength of the department. Many faculty members have been recognized both at university and national levels for their excellence in research, education, and service. Highly visible, multidisciplinary projects are being conducted, sponsored by various funding agencies.

The department provides an extremely stimulating, productive, and friendly environment in the form of classroom, office, and lab space; computing infrastructure; teaching support; and graduate fellowships and assistantships. It enables faculty and students to accomplish their full potential. The department is constructed to encourage innovative collaborations among the sciences, engineering, environmental studies, and medicine.