Duke in New York-Summer
Culture, Politics, and Identity: The Nuyorican Experience
Hands-on exploration of one community's experience and its impact on a city
Apply NowAlthough, Puerto Ricans live in many different cities across the mainland United States, New York was one of the first points of entry and remains a cultural hub for the community. From 1970 to 1990, Puerto Ricans represented up to 80% of the New York City’s Latinx community, and nearly 70% of Puerto Ricans that lived in the contiguous US, lived in New York City. Although their relative numbers within the Latinx community have since declined, and there are growing communities outside of NYC, Puerto Ricans have indelibly impacted the culture, politics and community of NYC. From exploring the term “Nuyorican” and its history, to language, to politics, to music, the evolution of the unique relationship between New York City and the Puerto Rican community can only be studied effectively in the City.
Students will work with the Puerto Rican archives at Hunter College and analyze primary source materials while being immersed in this culture in New York City. They will spend time with the musicians, poets, scholars, and artists that contribute to it and will explore cultural products that represent the themes of the class which will include race/ethnicity/identity/culture/diaspora studies. Studying in NYC will be a unique experience as they will be able to see firsthand the way the Puerto Ricans have shaped the landscape of the city. We will attend concerts, visit museums, and attend the Puerto Rican Day Parade on June 9th. We will study the music, art, and architecture of the places that Puerto Ricans inhabit and explore their interactions with other Latinx people and immigrant communities such as the Irish and Italians.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: New York City, NY, USA
Term: Summer l
Dates: May 15 - June 27, 2024
Application Deadline: February 1
Academic Theme(s): African & African American Studies, Art, Art History, Cultural Anthropology, Global Health, Latin America and Caribbean Studies, Latino/a Studies in the Global South, Public Policy, VMS
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: Open to students from all majors. Non-Duke students are not eligible for this program. 3.0 GPA with exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Duke Affiliation: Duke Center for Latin America and Caribbean Studies, Duke Department of Romance Studies, Duke’s Program in Latino/a Studies in the Global South
Housing: Student Apartments
Primary Contact: Eileen Anderson
Practicum and Research
In this practicum, students will work with some of the most important Nuyorican Institutions, including Hunter College and the Museo del barrio. They will complete research projects about the Puerto Rican and Latinx communities and will work develop their research and presentation skills. Students will work in archives of Hunter to understand and analyze the relevance of the Puerto Rican contribution to New York politics and social institutions. Some students may also have the opportunity to work with visitors to the Museo del Barrio in order to help with the museum’s mission to “present and preserve the art and culture of Puerto Ricans and all Latin Americans in the United States.
The final project of the course will be public facing and will challenge the students to expand their rhetorical methods beyond the seminar class style papers common at Duke. As part of this course students will create media (print, web, physical) that articulate their research findings.
Events and Tours of the City
The course will provide one field trip per week. Examples include: The Puerto Rican Day Parade, El Museo del Barrio, and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
Beyond the course specific field trips the program will include additional trips to augment the course content by exposing students to a number of specific historic narratives and cultural productions.
Program Location
The program will be based in the borough of Manhattan in New York. This location provides central access to the entire city through the subway lines. In addition, the island of Manhattan is in itself a remarkable cultural milieu packed with museums, performance venues and innumerable historic sites.
The Staff
Enthusiastic, caring Duke professors look out for your safety and curate New York for you during the summer. We also have an energetic New York-based assistant who will help ease your way.
ACADEMICS
All students enroll in the two signature program courses for two Duke credits. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted.
- COURSES
COURSES
Latinx Voices in Duke, Durham and Beyond (Course numbers and codes pending)
Practicum Course TBD
HOUSING & MEALS
Students will live in double shared rooms with two twin beds, a closet, and two desks and chairs. The apartment includes a kitchen and an ensuite bathroom. https://www.foundstudy.com/midtowneast
Most meals will be at the student's own expense. Some group meals are included in the cost of the program.
ESTIMATED COSTS
Summer 2024
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Duke Students | |
---|---|
Tuition | $5,680 |
Program Fee | TBD |
Transcript Fee | N/A |
Other Costs | TBD |
TOTAL (Estimated) | TBD |
Costs FAQs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- 30-day unlimited subway passes for duration of program
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
The program fee does not include:
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from program site
- Meal Plan
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Immunizations
- Textbooks and class materials
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyExperientialEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $2,000-3,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Scholarships
Duke Undergraduate Research – Creative Arts Grants
The Duke Undergraduate Research Support Office lists several opportunities for awards related to the arts.
Alex Cohen Awards
The Alex Cohen Awards, funded by the Alex Cohen Endowment and the Department of Theater Studies, support students' individual or group projects that have both educational value and artistic merit.
Deans' Summer Research Fellowship
The Deans' Summer Fellowship Program supports undergraduate research and inquiry in the arts and sciences. Trinity students may receive up to $3,000 for a proposed summer research project.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships for current sophomores and juniors include stipends and allowances up to $5,250 for summer research support.
Forlines Family Theater Studies Grant
The Forlines Family Theater Studies fund supports internships for undergraduates in professional theater settings and other co-curricular experiences for theater students. The combination of academic coursework and hands-on learning is a hallmark of Duke’s approach to theater studies. Submit (1) an application form, (2) a project description and statement of goals, and (3) a letter of recommendation from theater faculty.
DATES
Summer 2024
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
- Arrival: May 14
- Departure: June 28
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
CONTACT US
The program faculty director can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the GEO representative listed.



ADMISSIONS
Deadline: February 1
This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Minimum GPA: 3.0 GPA with exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are not eligible for this program.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
Physical Requirements
Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:
- Walking approximately a mile in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
- Climbing and descending stairs
- Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
- Standing during tours and site visits
- Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
- The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning
If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Duke Office of Global Health and Safety (oghs@duke.edu)
Duke in New York Program
The Duke in New York program is a year-round academic experience offered exclusively to Duke students. The program consists of three separate tracks, each of which has a distinct theme and requires a separate application. Duke students can elect to enroll in just one track, or multiple. Currently, Duke in New York includes the following tracks:
- Fall Creative Industries
- Spring Financial Markets & Institutions
- Summer Culture, Politics, and Identity
Information specific to each track, such as housing, coursework, and cost, is on the track-specific website.
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyExperientialEd:
- Online application
- Unofficial Duke transcript. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate on this program.