Academics: Majors & Minors: Pratt School of Engineering

A Pratt undergraduate education is built on a partnership in which students and faculty share a commitment to excel. We personalize the learning experience for each student while we help our students understand the broader cultural and socioeconomic context of technology.

The first-year experience at Pratt is an exploration of engineering fields and career tracks, throughout which our faculty provide a supportive environment and access to extensive resources. Through study abroad, internship, and research opportunities, engineering students gain hands-on research experience that helps them form their career goals.

Many engineering students complete double majors. Some choose to focus on two engineering disciplines, while others combine engineering with an arts and sciences discipline.

Pratt awards Bachelor of Science degrees in accredited programs through the School's four departments:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences

First Year at Pratt

The first year of study in the Pratt School of Engineering is largely common to all engineers, with seven of the eight first-year courses transferable among the five accredited engineering programs. The first-year curriculum includes:

• a general education in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics, and chemistry, on which the science and practice of engineering are based;
• instruction in modern engineering problem-solving skills, including the use of digital technology for both computational and laboratory applications;
• an exposure to the range of career opportunities in engineering; and
• the opportunity to explore intellectual opportunities in Trinity College through satisfaction of the University writing requirement and selection of a humanities and social sciences elective.

For graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, a student must complete successfully a minimum of 34 semester courses.

The Latest Engineering News at Duke

• Thu, 31 Jul 2008

Microbe Diet Key to Carbon Dioxide Releases
Balanced diet means more carbon sequestration in forest soils

• Thu, 17 Jul 2008

Trees Can Inspire Smart Materials
Nature's branching patterns are most efficient way to flow

• Tue, 15 Jul 2008

Rob Clark Named University of Rochester Engineering Dean

• Mon, 30 Jun 2008

Gold, DNA Combination May Lead To Nano-Sensor

• Thu, 19 Jun 2008

Experimental Phone Network Uses Virtual Sticky Notes
A Merger of GPS, Mobile Phones and Social Networking

• Wed, 18 Jun 2008

Movement = Sound
Duke soundSpace project is installed at Durham's Museum of Life & Science

• Wed, 11 Jun 2008

A More Tempting Science
Listening to students, Duke revamps physics for a better fit within engineering

• Thu, 08 May 2008

A Passion for Public Health
Junior Jamie Bell's work combines academic study with community service

• Thu, 08 May 2008

Gift to Drive Better Understanding of Uncertainty Analysis
New undergraduate curriculum will encourage students to think critically about problems that lack obvious solutions.

• Wed, 07 May 2008

First Steps Toward Autonomous Robot Surgeries
Duke engineers used a novel 3-D ultrasound technology to guide the actions of a rudimentary tabletop robot

• Tue, 29 Apr 2008

Duke Honors Distinguished Professors
The university has awarded distinguished professorships to 28 faculty members.

• Thu, 24 Apr 2008

3-D Ultrasound Could Improve Stroke Diagnosis and Care
System sees blood vessels in brain in real time

• Thu, 17 Apr 2008

Bacteria in Dish Recreate Predator-Prey Interactions
Like an African Savanna in a Petri Dish

• Mon, 07 Apr 2008

Meet the New Faculty: Matt Reynolds
Making home technology to meet needs

• Sat, 05 Apr 2008

Duke Establishes Fellowship in Memory of Slain Graduate Student
The Abhijit Mahato Memorial Fellowship will provide financial support to a Duke international graduate student who is studying engineering.

• Wed, 02 Apr 2008

Three Duke Students Awarded Goldwater Scholarships
Mark Hallen, Nicholas Patrick and Daniel Roberts were chosen on the basis of academic merit from a field of mathematics, science and engineering students nationwide.

• Wed, 19 Mar 2008

Findings Could Improve Fuel Cell Efficiency
Researchers at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering have developed a membrane that allows fuel cells to operate at low humidity and theoretically at higher temperatures.

• Thu, 06 Mar 2008

Katsouleas Named Dean at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering
Katsouleas is professor of electrical engineering and electrophysics at the University of Southern California and the school's former vice provost for information services.

• Fri, 29 Feb 2008

Trustees Approve New Ph.D. Program in Marine Science
Board also give its approval to several building projects.

• Fri, 22 Feb 2008

In Search of the Perfect Parabola
Behind David Needham's thrilling dart victory, there's a research question