House Courses

Just about any Duke Basketball fan knows to cheer for a highlight Cooper Flagg dunk or a clutch Ashlon Jackson three-point shot, but knowing how the player got open to score, for example, takes a more keen and practiced eye. For Cameron Crazies interested in expanding their basketball knowledge, with a focus on tactics and analytics, this course offers the opportunity to learn to watch basketball like a professional.

Our deep dive into the strategies that contribute to Duke's success on the basketball court is a unique opportunity for students who find themselves camping in K-ville every January or watching away games on the ACC Network instead of studying for midterms to expand their understanding of the intricacies of the game.

Instructors: Miguel Cohen Suarez & Dolce Feenaghty

Faculty Sponsor: Ross A. Widenhoefer

This course explores the interesting and intricate world of organic chemistry through representative reactions and their mechanisms. Builds heavily on Chem 201 and Chem 202. 
Intended for chemically-inclined students, Badass Organic Chemistry is a deep dive into how reactions work, opening a window to the emerging chemical landscape.

Instructor(s): Moayad Shehadeh

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Pao-Hwa Lin

Where the art of cooking meets the science of medicine, Culinary Medicine is a vital skill set for many people whether or not you are looking to work in medicine. This course will focus on practical knowledge of different food groups and how it ties to nutrition and patient's health.

No previous chemistry knowledge is required. A brief overview of chemistry, as it relates to food, will be discussed during the first class period. Emphasis will be on the nutritional and clinical correlations to food, with biochemistry as a foundation. This course will support students in developing an understanding and appreciation for chemistry in culinary applications.

Instructors: Jerry Zou 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Juliana Barr, Associate Professor of History 

In U.S. media past and present, the American West has been a symbol of romanticization and individualism. This skewed representation in film, literature, news, and popular culture shadows the American West as a network of complex and multi-lateral interaction among racial, political, economic, industrial, environmental, colonial, urban, and scientific factors. Where was - or is - the West. How much did the Louisiana Purchase actually cost? What was the real motivation when the U.S. and Mexican governments mentioned Native American communities in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo? What industries hide behind the theater stages of California's Hollywood? This course reexamines the ways well-known narratives have been taught and told in classrooms and media to peel back the sugarcoats that have engulfed the intricate past of the American West that still affects our communities today.

Instructors: Jaden Sacks & Miranda Harris 

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jehanne Gheit 

This course aims to focus on disability studies through the narratives of individuals with disabilities. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of disability justice, activism, and allyship through analyzing and discussing various writings, art pieces, performances, and films throughout the semester. This course is especially critical at Duke University, where the disability field is not supported by an academic department and no formal academic track is offered to students interested in this field. Students are encouraged to challenge the various cultural understandings of bodily differences and how they manifest in popular media and common stigmas surrounding disability. 
In an ableist society where individuals are often pathologized, we also plan to study how these social, cultural, and political structures create day-to-day struggles in the disabled lived experience. Throughout this course, we will read, discuss, and learn from disability narrative stories. The course will explore the following: 
ableism and the power of language, history of disability justice, 
accessibility, intersectionality, representation in media, and global perspectives. This course will primarily consist of interactive lectures, group discussion, guest speakers, and more. We hope that this course serves as a gateway for students to become more involved or continue their involvement in disability activism efforts on campus and to explore other forms of scholarship on campus.

Instructors: Cynthia Ding & Kareen Kaur

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Edna Andrews, Professor and Chair, LIN/SES

This course is an exploration of the neuroscience discipline from various perspectives. Topics are chosen by students with consultation with faculty. Specific attention is given to topics such as language and the brain, multilingualism, neurodiversity, neuroimaging, and aging.

Instructors: Citalli Alaniz, Austin Rios, & Kaitlyn Williams

Faculty Supervisor: Greg Victory, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Fannie Mitchell Executive Director, Duke Career Center 

FROSH101 is a newly designed House Course to help first-semester freshmen navigate the start to their Duke experience while building meaningful community. An extension of Experiential Orientation, this low-stress course will expose students to the wide variety of resources Duke has to offer with the guidance of upperclassmen instructors and faculty. FROSH101 aims to give students the opportunity to reflect on their new experiences at college, ask for advice, and develop meaningful relationships with their peers. 
FROSH101 also has an experiential learning component, with complementary class trips around the Durham area. Students will FROSH101 is modeled off of Stanford’s successful Frosh & Transfer 101.

Instructors: Caroline Metz

Faculty Sponsor: Nathan Boucher

A house course dedicated to developing an in-depth understanding of the management of medical emergencies. Taught by members of Duke University EMS, students will gain an introduction to emergency medicine with applications to real world situations, particularly within the Duke and Durham community. Covered topics include how to react if someone goes into cardiac arrest, how to help choking victims, how to care for burns, how to bandage wounds, how to splint injuries, and much more. Beyond that, the course will delve into modern advancements in emergency medicine, as well as many of the issues which medics and emergency department physicians still face today.  No prior medical experience is necessary, but the course aims to provide valuable medical knowledge. Skills will be taught, but a large emphasis will be placed on the importance of emergency interventions and how improvements can/have been made to emergency medical systems. Students will also be introduced to more ways they can become involved with emergency medicine in the Duke and Durham community if they choose to pursue them.

Instructor: Krystal Liu

Faculty Sponsor: Carlos Rojas, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

The emergence of Western capitalism began in the 14th–16th centuries, marked by the opening of new trade routes, early colonial expansion, the Renaissance, and Religious Reformation, which laid foundations for cultural, institutional, and economic modernization. During the same period, the Ming Dynasty demonstrated remarkable achievements in maritime technology (such as Zheng He’s voyages), the development of Jiangnan’s handicraft industry, and scientific advancements. However, it did not follow the same path toward modern industrialization as the West.

This course follows the historical timeline from the establishment of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 to its fall in 1644, examining the political institutions, socio-economic structures, intellectual and cultural developments, and foreign relations of Ming China. Adopting the perspective of “tradition and transformation” and integrating approaches from institutional history, social history, and global history, the course analyzes the Ming Dynasty’s transitional role in the late imperial period and its unique position in the early modernization process in a global context.

lnstructor(s): Tejus Agrawal, Matthew Koh & Tyler Ratcliffe

Faculty Sponsor: Chris Wedding, Fuqua School of Business

Intro to Energy and Climate Entrepreneurship provides students with a unique lens on innovation and entrepreneurship within energy transition and climate tech, primarily from the perspective of founders and entrepreneurs. The course focuses on early stage start-ups, but will also include perspectives from more mature companies, as well as from alumni no longer serving in founder roles and from investor/advisors. Students will learn the basics of entrepreneurship and company-building, dive into the specific challenges of innovation within energy and climate, and apply their knowledge through a practical final project evaluated by real entrepreneurs and investors. "Intro to Energy and Climate Entrepreneurship" has been developed in close collaboration with Daniel Ketyer '16, founder of the Duke Energy and Climate Club, with generous assistance from Brian Murray and Bryan Koen from the Nicholas Institute, as well as support from the Energy and Climate Club. The course will center around a series of guest lectures delivered by speakers with relevant backgrounds.

lnstructor(s): Pia Visaria & Senou Kounouho

Faculty Sponsor: Brian C Murray, Nicholas Institute of Energy and 
Environment 

Intro to Energy and Climate Venture Investing provides students with a high-level introduction to investing in energy transition and climate solutions, primarily from the perspective of the investor. The course centers on venture capital, but will also incorporate perspectives from further up the capital stack, as well as from founders. Students will explore the history and purpose of energy and climate investing, learn about the key questions that investors ask, and apply their knowledge through a practical final project evaluated by real investors.

Instructors: Raiyan Choudhury

Faculty Sponsor: Ben Thomason

In a world dominated by a desire for growth, sustainable and empowering impact has become inextricably tied with financial well-being, ranging from proper external investment strategy to appropriate internal allocation policies. To successfully innovate in the contemporary world, there will always be a requirement to understand the fascinating flows of money, the increasingly interconnected webs of wealth, not only to fund ideas but also to establish impact.

This course aims to bring attention to Impact Investing, a multifaceted field with roots in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, development economics, and financial services. We will explore impact investing at the intersection of these usually distinct industries. By the end of this course, we will not only understand why impact investing is widely regarded as the most applicable pathway to social impact at scale, but also have developed the skill set necessary to implement and manage impact investment funds.

Instructors: Ana Ramirez & Aaron Lam

Faculty Sponsor: Dirk Philipsen, Sanford School of Public Policy

Creating something new with the tools of the old does not work. We cannot build communities focused on wellbeing, reciprocity, safety, and justice within an economic system geared almost exclusively toward profit and growth.

This course is for students who sense that something fundamental is wrong about the system in which we live-and that we study to become part of. Too often, we sit in the comfort of our classrooms and identify challenges without proactively discussing solutions. This course confronts the premises we so often take for granted, and empowers students to think beyond neoliberal economics and envision something better. If yet another racial equity workshop or task force is not the answer to structural racism, then what is? If replacing fossil-powered cars with electric vehicles is not the solution to climate collapse, what is? If escalating work hours and screen-time are not the means to a meaningful life, what is? If new regulatory guidelines, triple bottom lines, and corporate social responsibility commitments barely make a dent in our pillaging of the planet, what would? In this course, students will break down the fundamental dynamics that make capitalism so destructive. Students will learn about alternative ways an economic system can be designed for the benefit of the people and the planet, and analyze examples of these new systems in action across the globe. Action-oriented, this house course hopes to help you identify the ways (small and large) you can plug into campaigns moving towards structural change.

Instructor: Chinelo Agwuegbo & Miguel Cohen Suarez

Faculty Sponsor: Charlie Cox

Chemical interactions can be found everywhere around us, and pharmaceuticals are no exception. Chemistry plays a critical role in many pharmaceutical processes, from the mechanism of action to the research and optimization of modern pharmaceuticals. This course aims to elucidate the mechanisms of these drugs from a basic scientific viewpoint and review the history of the many seminal developments that have occurred in medicinal chemistry.  No prior chemistry or biochemistry knowledge is necessary. Emphasis will be placed on developing insight into the creative applications of simple principles to achieve desired goals. This course will support students in developing an understanding and appreciation for chemistry in medicine.

Instructors: Eddie Huang

Faculty Sponsor: Saskia Cornes, DCF Director/Franklin Humanities 
Institute

Have you ever eaten food? This course aims to provide an overview of sustainable food systems and farming using initiatives at the Duke Campus Farm as a starting point, to ground our approach theory in a particular context and place. Students will explore crucial questions about food systems, equity, agroecology, and justice through critical analysis of assigned texts, interactions with guest speakers, and experiential learning on the farm. The course places an emphasis on how the North Carolina Piedmont fits into the American South in the context of climate change and community resilience. This course is open and welcome to any level of experience (or no experience!) with food systems work. No affiliation with the Duke Campus Farm is required.

Instructor: Hanna Elks Smith

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Gabe Whitbread

From debates about moon landings to discussions on deep-state influence, conspiracy theories have long shaped public discourse. But why do people believe in them, and what role do they play in society? This discussion-based seminar will explore the psychology, history, and political impact of various conspiracy theories, examining how they form, spread, and influence both individuals and institutions. Specific topics will be the moon landing, chemtrails, and the HAARP system, the Titanic, old civilizations, the CIA, and conspiracy theories abroad. Additionally, we will look into the appeal of secret knowledge, the role of the internet in fueling modem conspiracy culture, historical conspiracy narratives, government secrecy and distrust, the intersection of conspiracy theories and populism, media manipulation, and the blurred lines between skepticism and paranoia. Some of the topics we discuss in this class will be challenging and, at times, controversial. Our goal will be to foster critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and an open-minded exploration of why people believe what they believe while building a community of trust amid differing perspectives.

Instructor: Chloe Young

Faculty Sponsor: Cary Moskovitz

Is there any 21st-century skill more important than being able to sustain confident, meaningful conversation? From professional networking to flirting to chatting on the Cl, conversation is not only powerful, but required. This course will give you the tools you need to be a better interviewer, storyteller, friend, and overall communicator. Interact with guest speakers including journalists, conflict mediators, relationship specialists, entrepreneurs, and other expert conversationalists. We will explore the value of questions, how to share humanity with any person you meet, the skill of active listening, and the service of silence. Aren't you tired of having the same stale conversations?

Instructors: Julian Diaz-Ayala & Amanda Li

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ralph Snyderman, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine Chancellor Emeritus of Duke University, Director of the Center for Personalized Health Care at Duke University

The US healthcare system is the most expensive in the world, yet lags behind those of other high-income countries on benchmarks of quality and access. Increasingly, American healthcare systems and governments are moving towards more personalized, preventive, and predictive delivery models while looking for solutions to address the rising cost of care. Factors like technology, biomedical innovation, and payment reform are shaping major paradigm shifts in healthcare delivery today.

This course will be a broad survey of some of the most pressing and relevant movements happening in healthcare delivery reform. We begin the semester with an overview of the US healthcare system and then delve deeply into issues like chronic disease burden, the intersection of Big Pharma and medicine in its relation to drug development and pricing, and misaligned financial incentives for providers and payers. At the end of the semester, we will analyze the healthcare industry through a policy lens, mapping out the political landscape of healthcare and understanding how ideas become legal realities.

Instructors: Tate Kahalas & Nathan Hertzberg

Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Edward Balleisen, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies, Professor of History, and Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy

This course engages with urban studies in two distinct contexts: academic and creative. The former exposes students to the variety of subject areas that constitute urban studies, and encourages them to consider their role in an urban world. This is subsequently used to introduce students to the latter, asking (and attempting to answer!) the question: How can we design and build spaces that are fundamentally good for our health and well-being, economy, safety, and social structure?

Course readings introduce students to the multiple subject areas that make up the field of urban studies, namely urban humanities (sociology, cultural anthropology, history, etc), economics, policy, science, design and engineering, arts, and ethics. Urban design, innovation, and planning principles are embedded within these readings to present the practical, optimistic vision of creating high-quality urban environments. Each class is intentionally designed to expose you to a diverse array of global cities, and engage with interdisciplinary themes that are complementary to existing academic programs at Duke. Pre-class readings prepare students for in-class discussions on a number of topics.

The course is organized around pre-class readings and in-class discussion, and in the second half of the course, students will conduct a case study on a particular urban-centered subject area that intrigues them. Course instructors will meet with students working individually or in teams to discuss potential resources and project expectations. End products are deliberately left to student creativity; they could range from a  photo ethnography of a Bangkok wet market to an op-ed supporting the GoTriangle Light Rail proposal.

This course syllabus is reflective of a living, iterative educational process that seeks to deliver the most accurate and up-to-date knowledge on cities around the world. Pre-course materials and assignments are subject to change as new information and feedback are taken into consideration-we welcome your input on the course throughout the semester, and will have several opportunities for formal and informal feedback collection to better support the co-creation of knowledge.

Instructor: Marko Jakovljevic & Mandy Lin

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Gillespie

Since Plato, thinkers have grappled with political philosophy and ethical dilemmas. Taking inspiration from philosophical dialogues, both ancient and modem, this course invites students into a discourse on liberty, justice, power, and morality. We will explore a number of fundamental questions: Does freedom have limits? Are tyrants really happy? What is justice?And so on. Through open and active discussion, we welcome diverse perspectives, challenging assumptions and refining our own understandings. We may not come to definitive answers, but we will be prepared to think more critically and engage meaningfully with these enduring debates.