Professional Development

Doctoral training is designed to prepare students to become independent thinkers and researchers. Faculty advisors provide critical academic training during the student's graduate career; however, students may or may not be interested in following in the footsteps of their advisors. Today's doctoral students have nearly unlimited employment opportunities, from faculty member at a college or university, industry researcher, administrator, writer, government adviser, filmmaker, entrepreneur, to high school teacher. Half of Duke's Ph.D.s pursue careers in academe and half choose careers outside the academy.

Professional development should be at the forefront of students' minds at every stage of the graduate career. Students must seek out professional development opportunities that complement their research training and augment their skill sets to help them identify careers in which they will thrive. The broad skill set that comes with carefully planned professional development activities also offers students greater flexibility as they enter the job market. The Graduate School offers a variety of courses, workshops, and services to help students achieve their career goals. Training in the ** Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is a formal requirement of the Ph.D. degree. The Graduate School also works closely with many other units within and beyond the university to provide the best of professional development resources to its students. Please explore the programs and resources given below.