Experience an English course at Duke through the lens of another student.
Some of the most influential scientists of all time, including Albert Einstein, recognized the necessity of the Humanities as a counterpart for scientific inquiry. However, this opinion is not widespread. Many believe subjects within the STEM field to be more “real-world-applicable” than their Humanities counterparts– a perception reflected by the upward trend of STEM degree paths among undergraduate students. And as the interest gap between the Sciences and the Humanities widens, some academics are beginning to wonder if… read more about Bridging the Divide: The Intersection of STEM and the Humanities »
Having completed two semesters worth of college classes, I’ve encountered my fair share of professors– all with differing backgrounds, levels of experience, instruction strategies, and areas of focus. This diversity is one of Duke’s greatest strengths. But perhaps the most intriguing student-teacher dynamic that I’ve observed is one in which an instructor is able to relate to their pupils on a fundamental level. Fostering these unique relationships are none other than the 500 or so graduate students who double as professors… read more about Fostering Mentorship: Graduate-Student Taught Courses »
With First-Year registration for Fall semester quickly approaching, it can be difficult to navigate the plethora of classes offered by Duke. In my own experience, balancing the excitement of choosing from such a diverse selection of subject matter and the logical instinct to fulfill degree requirements has been no easy feat. As an English major about to begin my second year of undergraduate education, here are the top five English classes that I think incoming freshmen could benefit from adding to their shopping carts:… read more about Top 5 for 2025: English Classes for Incoming Freshman »
During the Spring '25 semester, Professor Frances Leviston, the 2024-25 Blackburn Artist-in-Residence, taught a course that combined two of her loves, "poetry" and "photography." In English 290S-4 "Poetry and Photography," Professor Leviston's students learned about the influence that these two forms can have on each other. They explored how words and photographs together can create powerful storytelling that elevates how messages are conveyed.When asked what inspired her to teach a course of this nature, Professor… read more about Poetry and Photography Taught by Professor Frances Leviston, ’24-25 Blackburn Artist-in-Residence »
One might not expect monsters, fairy tales, and psychoanalysis to have anything to do with one another, but to Professor Mert Bahadir Reisoglu, they are intimately connected. Professor Reisoglu is currently an assistant professor in the Germanic studies department. Prior to teaching at Duke, he received his B.A. at Yale in literature and philosophy and his P.h.D at NYU, where he explored German and Turkish literature. At Duke, he teaches several cross-listed courses in the German and English departments—many of which… read more about Professor Mert Bahadir Reisoglu on Fantasy, Psychoanalysis, and Cross Listing Courses »
When Nitin Luthra received the 2023-24 Rhodes Doctoral Fellowship in the Computational Humanities, he decided to use the Rhodes at Duke University to design a unique interdisciplinary course. Merging the study of English literature with computational analysis, in what is commonly referred to as the Digital Humanities, this fall Luthra premiered “Enemy at the Gates: Reading Dystopian Literature” for Duke undergraduate students. The syllabus describes the course as a combination of humanistic close reading and coding analysis… read more about “Enemy at the Gates: Reading Dystopian Literature” — The Intersection between Computational and Humanistic Disciplines »
Are you still looking for a class for the Spring 2024 Semester? Why not consider English 208S: Novels in Translation, “Lost in Translation? Contemporary and Popular Novels in Translation,” taught by Eun-hae Kim? Kim shared what their students should expect from the course: Without translation, English speakers would be deprived of the pleasures of reading classics like The Odyssey and watching international shows like… read more about Spring '25 English Courses to Consider »
Struggling to find the last classes to add your schedule among the myriad of options listed on DukeHub? Your search ends here.Here is The Chronicle’s guide to five captivating courses being offered next semester. read more about 5 Interesting Classes to Consider During Drop/Add »
I sat down for an interview with Dr. April Henry, Lecturer of German Studies and Director of the German Studies Language Program at the Duke University Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, and the most recent recipient of the Richard K. Lublin Award in the Humanities for outstanding achievement in undergraduate teaching. In addition to her scholarship in the field of German Studies, Dr. Henry has also created and taught a variety of courses in the study of literature, many of which have been cross listed as English… read more about An Interview with Dr. April Henry, Literary Scholar and Medievalist »
Digital humanities scholar Victoria Szabo talks about some of the latest digital arts and history projects at Duke that are allowing students to learn in new ways read more about Digital Humanities on the Rise »
2022-23 Reuben-Cooke Fellows at Duke, Faulkner Fox, Lecturing Fellow of English, “Plays that Change the World” Fox led a project highlighting the work of Black playwrights and theater professionals across North Carolina. The grant allowed Fox to take her Spring 2023 students to plays featuring Black artists and playwrights across the state, and to bring theater professionals to her class for related discussions. She also hired theater studies major Anastacia Pogodina as a teaching assistant. read more about Reuben-Cook Fellows Honor Legacy of Groundbreaking Alum »
We are pleased to announce that Effie Harrington is the 2024 recipient of the Stephen Horne Award for Excellence in Teaching. Harrington was nominated by five students in her Spring ’24 “Inventing Childhood” course. One of the students stated in their nomination: "Effie Harrington is an outstanding teacher and inspiring mentor. I looked forward to her creative, engaging lectures and the detailed feedback she provided on writing assignments, which helped me refine my ideas and become a better writer. Her… read more about Effie Harrington, Ph.D. Candidate, Receives 2024 Stephen Horne Excellence in Teaching Award »
Duke English would like to share a review of our 2023-24 Academic Year with you. Please click here to access our annual e-newsletter. read more about 2024 Duke English e-Newsletter »
Professor Chris Ouma, who joined the Duke English faculty this academic year, and Professor Khwezi Mkhize, Duke African & African American Studies, collaborated in Spring ’24 to co-teach English 590S, cross-listed as AAAS 590S, “Black Archival Imagination.” The central theme of this course addressed two questions: What do we mean when we invoke the idea of a Black Archive? What are the conditions, genres, and modes of expression through which Black life, imagination, and desire become legible? Professors Ouma and… read more about Spring 2024 Black Archival Imagination Seminar Series »
This Spring, "poetry" has been the central theme for Duke English and the featured genre for events and courses. The department's course offerings included poetry-centric classes ranging from the traditional "Milton" course taught by Professor David Aers to "Poetry Beyond the Pages" taught by Blackburn Distinguished Artist in Residence, poet Toby Martinez de las Rivas. Throughout the semester, I had the opportunity to observe poetry-centric classes taught in the department which allowed me to experience what students are… read more about Spring 2024 Poetry-Centric Duke English Courses »
To conclude the Spring ’24 semester, Professors Mesha Maren and Toby Martinez de las Rivas hosted a creative writing reading entitled “A Garden of Literary Delight” in Duke Gardens. They invited undergraduate students to read some of their creative writing pieces, written for a class or as part of their passion for writing. Many of Prof. Martinez’s students attended and shared poetry they wrote for his “Intro to Poetry” class. Most read at least one Haiku they wrote, and some shared other poetry originally written… read more about Reading: “A Garden of Literary Delights” - Creative Writing Students »
On March 25th, several Duke English faculty and more than 20 undergraduates met to discuss “Sex, Money, Death (and PIZZA): Why you should be a Creative Writing Minor.” Each semester, the Duke English Department hosts an Open House for students to learn about the craft of creative writing from faculty members whose areas of expertise include poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Faculty share their writing experiences, what attracted them to a particular genre, how they approach writing, what courses they teach, and a… read more about Spring ’24 Creative Writing Open House »
Students in Professor JP Gritton's Fall '23 "Intro to Creative Writing: Writing as Practice" class veered from the traditional classroom setting and enjoyed several inspirational creative writing excursions. These trips, along with a guest lecture on utilizing archives in writing, provided students with physical, mental, and sensory stimulation for their writing assignments. "My idea (for this course) grows out of a powerful sense that all art forms—music, dance, visual art, theater, writing, even cuisine—inform and… read more about In Search of Inspiration – Fall '23 English 110S "Intro to Creative Writing: Writing as Practice" »
Has your class discussed "Like a Prayer" by Madonna this semester? If not, you have missed out and are not enrolled in Professor Tom Ferraro's "Madonna Trouble.” Last year, during one of his graduate-level lectures, Ferraro mentioned that he taught a "Madonna unit" in his Italian-American arts and multimedia courses, and his students responded with, "You gotta teach a course on Madonna!" "Truth is, I can't imagine education in the 20th Century transnational U.S. expressive culture without Madonna (as I can't imagine… read more about “Madonna Trouble” Taught by Professor Tom Ferraro »
A group of students recently joined the Duke English Creative Writing faculty for an Open House. The Open House allowed students to chat with faculty informally about creative writing from all facets, ranging from course offerings to advice on how creative writing can continue beyond the classroom. Among the students in attendance was a local high school senior who has applied to Duke and is interested in majoring in English and minoring in Creative Writing. “I thought it was a super great opportunity to meet creative… read more about Fall ’23 Creative Writing Open House »
A packed crowd joined Duke English for a reading and an opportunity to meet and chat with poet Toby Martinez de las Rivas, the 2023-24 Blackburn Distinguished Artist in Residence. Martinez de las Rivas joined the department for the 2023-24 academic year and is teaching two sections of an “Introduction to Creative Writing” this semester, a multi-genre course designed to allow students to experience imaginative literary texts. The "Read & Greet" allowed the Duke community to hear Professor Martinez de las Rivas… read more about "Read & Greet" With Poet Toby Martinez de las Rivas, Blackburn Distinguished Artist in Residence »
Poet Toby Martinez de las Rivas will join the Duke English Department this Fall as the 2023-24 Blackburn Artist in Residence. He recently joined sophomore English major Trisha Santanam via Zoom to discuss the course he is teaching this Fall, English 290S.4.01: "Word & Image." English major Trisha Santanam interviews Poet Toby Martinez de las Riva, 2023-24 Blackburn Artist in Residence read more about Meet Poet Toby Martinez de las Rivas, Blackburn Artist in Residence »
In the Fall of 2023, Professor Chris Ouma will join the Duke English faculty. Recently Prof. Ouma sat down, via Zoom, with sophomore English major Trisha Santanam to discuss the course he will be teaching this Fall, "Small Magazines & African Literary Modernity." His course is one of English's 101S - "Art of Reading" gateway courses taught this Fall. English major Trisha Santanam interviews Professor Chris Ouma read more about Meet Professor Chris Ouma »
Duke English would like to share a review of our 2022-23 Academic Year with you. Please click here to access our annual e-newsletter. read more about 2023 Duke English e-Newsletter »
While fall registration has passed, there is still a need for an honored Recess tradition: the Arts, Literature and Performance (ALP) Class List which includes ENGLISH 286/GERMAN 275/MEDREN 315: The Legend of King Arthur in Literature and Film (CCI, ALP) and ENGLISH 386/ARTHIST 238: Science Fiction Film (CCI, EI, STS, ALP). read more about Six ALP Classes To Help Fill Your Fall 2023 Schedule »
Congratulations to Amber Manning, the winner of the 2023 Stephen Horne Award for Excellence in Teaching. The English Department at Duke University is excited to award Manning with this well-deserved honor. She was nominated by six students in her Fall 2022 English 208S.01 course, "Criticism and the Arts: No End in Sight." One student wrote in their nomination: Amber Manning is one of the best professors I've had at Duke. Her class was extremely engaging, and she cared so deeply for her students.… read more about Amber Manning, Ph.D. Candidate, 2023 Stephen Horne Excellence in Teaching Award Winner »
Recording of Duke Arts 2023 Student Awards Ceremony Watch here read more about Duke Arts 2023 Student Awards Ceremony »
Most semesters, Duke English offers single-author courses that provide students with the opportunity to study a featured author in depth. During the Spring ’23 semester, “Zora Neale Hurston: Race, Gender, Region, Diaspora,” taught by Professor Jarvis McInnis, was one of these offerings. This course examines the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston, one of the preeminent writers of twentieth-century African American literature. Though best known as a novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston was also a formally trained… read more about Professor McInnis’ “Zora Neale Hurston” Course »
Author, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit, known for helping to make the term "mansplaining" popular, visited Duke on April 19. Her visit began with a workshop with Duke English creative writing students. It concluded with an evening reading and Q&A in the Rubenstein Library. During her visit, Solnit dropped pearls of wisdom that encouraged those who love writing and shared her passion for the fight against climate change. Students in my advanced workshop encountered Solnit's work at a few different stages in… read more about Rebecca Solnit Visits Duke English »
On Tuesday, April 25th, Duke English hosted “The Future of Fiction” in Duke Gardens, which featured intro, intermediate, and advance fiction students reading from their works amongst the Spring backdrop of the gardens. Photos of students reading during ’23 “The Future of Fiction… read more about Photos from 2023 “The Future of Fiction" »