teaching

Student Engagement

The Center is committed to providing educational opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students through a variety of activities including independent studies, participation at Center events, and research assistance. In doing so, students learn from and work with highly-regarded experts in multiple disciplines who are working in research, policy, and practice realms to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

Undergraduate Students
Small classes, accessible faculty, and individualized research projects help engage students in the learning process. The Center invites undergraduate students of any major to consider taking a class or developing an independent study or honors thesis on a topic related to children and families under the mentorship of a faculty member or research scientist.  The Children in Contemporary Society (CCS) certificate program allows undergraduates to pursue a cohesive set of interdisciplinary courses that increases their knowledge of child and family issues while simultaneously stimulating their intellectual and academic development. Additional undergraduate initiatives include fellowships and work-study positions. See right column for more information.

Graduate Students
We strive to improve the quality of student learning for graduate students focusing on issues of child and family policy. Collaborative learning, high level of academic challenge, and student-faculty interaction all contribute to the success of our grad students. Our graduate initiatives include graduate courses, fellowships, and research assistantships. See right column for more information.

Opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral students
Pursuing a doctoral degree with a focus on one or more aspects of child and family policy is a significant undertaking. It is time consuming, challenging and costly – but tremendously valuable as well. Duke has a number of excellent doctoral programs in the social and biological sciences which have important links to social policy. The CCFP provides multiple opportunities for these links to be realized through formal instruction, mentored research and special fellowships.

Subsequent to attaining a doctorate, some students choose to pursue specialized opportunities to gain experience in policy-relevant research and its application through programs of the Center for Child and Family Policy. For more information, contact the NIDA Transdisciplinary Prevention Research Center.