Welcome,
Freshmen!
First-Year Resources
First Year Engineer Landing Page
Learn more about your Academic Path:
Extracurriculars/Outside the Classroom:
Freshmen FAQ
We gathered some questions fellow engineers have had as a freshmen! Fill out the form below to add any of yours.
Planning for Classes
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! It’s completely normal to feel unsure about what you want to major in at the beginning. Exploring is your best bet in navigating this uncertainty. Try using your time in Engineering 101 to explore the different disciplines, joining clubs across various fields, and don’t be afraid to ask upperclassmen about their experiences in the majors.
Mentorship Programs:
FOCUS is a great way to immerse yourself in a multidisciplinary standpoint and view an area of interest in a new light. It’s a great way to build friendships with other people in your cluster as you will be living in the same dorm building as them. While FOCUS includes taking two small seminars in your fall semester out of your 4 classes, if the topic strongly interests you, many engineers that take FOCUS don’t fall behind and end up making up those college credits in the future. If you're excited about a topic and curious to learn beyond the traditional engineering scope, FOCUS can be a really rewarding experience!
Semester 1:
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Writing 101/EGR 105
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Math 111/122/218
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Engineering 101
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Chemistry 101/110
Semester 2:
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Writing 101/EGR 105
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Math 112/218/219
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Physics 151
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AP, IB, and college credits are widely accepted at Duke and can give you a great head start. Many Pratt students use them to place into higher-level math, chemistry, or physics courses, and they can also count toward social science and humanities requirements (see our other FAQ for more on that!). Make sure to send in your scores before first-year class registration and talk to your advisor to see how your credits can fit into your academic plan. For details on specific course equivalencies, check out Duke’s AP credit policy website.
Start by following the typical course flow for your major. You can find a general idea in your major handbook linked below. The handbook will provide a better idea on when to take core classes, but you should customize it to what works best for you! Talk to your advisor to ensure you’re on track to meet your academic goals. Try to chat with upperclassmen about which concentration electives or core classes they may recommend tackling first!
Many students do go abroad, especially in the fall of their junior year. If you’re interested, make sure to start planning early by talking to your advisor at least 2-3 semesters in advance. That way, you can make sure that you’re on track on your academic goals while fitting in a study abroad experience. Upperclassmen are also great resources and can share their experiences on which programs worked best for their major. Make sure to follow all the right steps for the approval process ahead of time!
View specific Duke study abroad programs here
Pratt will send out an email over the summer after your freshman year asking to declare your major. If you’re still undecided, that’s completely okay. It’s common for students to change their minds and Pratt makes it easy to switch your major within engineering. Follow the instructions here if you want to change your major after declaring it
The Social Science and Humanities requirement states that Pratt students must complete 5 course credits that have at least one class code of SS, ALP, CZ, or FL.
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At least one of the five courses must have an SS code
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Two out of the five courses must have two of the other areas of knowledge (ALP, CZ, or FL).
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Two courses must be taken with the same department subject code (AMES, ART, etc.) with at least one course at a 200 level or above.
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Outside the Classroom
DukeGroups hosts a big club fair on East campus every fall semester, so be on the lookout! Some clubs, especially more selective ones, may have application timelines you may need to keep an eye out for. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to reach out to clubs and ask when they meet. Some clubs have open general body meetings that anyone is able to attend and join. Visit the club page on our website for more information on clubs.
Duke fosters a strong research culture among students. One great starting point is Muser, a platform that provides a connection between research labs and students by posting lab availability. Each requires an application process, so make sure to apply by the deadline! Bass Connections is another method for students to get involved in research by providing opportunities to work on interdisciplinary, semester-long research projects. You can also take initiative by talking to professors or cold-email labs you may be interested in!
Duke offers several amazing summer opportunities! Programs like DukeEngage allows students to volunteer in their desired fields across the U.S. and around the world. The Plus programs (like Data+, Code+, Docu+) offer hands-on experience working in fields ranging from technology to ethics. Over the summer, some engineering students also explore internships, which tend to recruit in the fall but can depend on the company or industry you are applying for. Several students also partake in research labs over the summer or take summer courses to get ahead academically.
Join student engineering organizations! There are tons of engineering-focused groups that host bonding events, career workshops, and even take students to conferences. You can also get involved through Duke Engineering Student Government which plays a great role in shaping the Pratt community! We assist in all realms from academic affairs to campus outreach to help foster a strong network of Duke engineers!
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American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
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American Society of Civil Engineers
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American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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Biomedical Engineering Society
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Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
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Materials Research Society
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National Society of Black Engineers
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Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
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Society of Women Engineers
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