Ronald & Carrie Ludwig Duke in Silicon Valley Program
Innovation & Entrepreneurship 4-WEEK SUMMER COURSE
Learn How to Launch & Sustain a New Venture
Apply NowDuke University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and Global Education Office for Undergraduates (GEO), offer a four-week, one-course program in northern California’s Silicon Valley. Situating students in the nation’s hub for innovative enterprise, the program is designed to give them an intensive course experience in the creation of a new venture, both commercial and social.
Students will tour research facilities and company headquarters throughout the Bay Area and interact with the founders and leaders of the country’s most innovative companies. These visits give students an opportunity to observe the process of building new enterprises up close, inspiring them in their own ventures.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Mountain View, CA
Term: Summer
Dates: May 18, 2020 - June 17, 2020
Application Deadline: February 1
Academic Theme(s): Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: Cumulative GPA of 3.0. There are no prerequisites. Non-Duke students are not eligible to apply to this program.
Duke Affiliation: Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative
Housing: Apartments
GEO Advisor: Carolyn Covalt
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Site visit to Apple
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Site visit to PayPal
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In class with Dr. Clayton M. Christensen
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Site visit to TESLA
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Guest speaker from Zume Pizza
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Site visit to Google
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In San Francisco
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Hiking Windy Hill
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Site visit to Google
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Guest speaker at Apple
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Students attending a guest lecture
ACADEMICS
All students enroll in the signature program course for one Duke credit. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted.
I&E 271A* / ECON 281A / MMS
Building and Sustaining a Successful Enterprise
(SS) 1.0 Credit
In this signature program course, students will develop an understanding of the resources, skills, and planning required to launch a new product or service. Through lectures, case studies, and visiting talks, the course addresses critical factors such as: competition and competitive advantage, financing requirements, barriers to entry, corporate culture, product positioning, customer identification, and market segmentation. While the theory of new venture development will provide an underpinning, the class will focus on learning through practical examples.
Prerequisite: No prior coursework is required and program is open to all majors.
*Relation to I&E Certificate: This course satisfies either the gateway or elective course requirement for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate program.
HOUSING & MEALS
Meals
Please note that there is no meal plan for this program though occasional lunches may be provided during field trips to local companies/start-ups.
Accommodations
Student accommodations will be in furnished apartments (four students per apartment unit) offered through the Oakwood housing company in Mountain View, near major technology companies and office parks—this property's central location in the Valley provides easy access to the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Students who are not enrolled in the Duke in Silicon Valley program will not be permitted to share housing with enrolled students.
ESTIMATED COSTS
Summer 2020
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
| Duke Students | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,579 |
| Program Fee | $5,136 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A |
| Other Costs | Other Costs |
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $11,090.00 |
Non-Duke students are not eligible to participate in this program.
Costs FAQ
- Accommodations
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Internet usage
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
- Local transportation
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Visa (if needed)
- 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. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd 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 $1,500-2,000.
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.
Scholarship
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
DATES
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 18, 2020
- Departure: June 17, 2020
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.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
Program faculty director(s) 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 does not have rolling admission. Decisions will be released in three waves: Mid-to-late December (once grades for fall semester are posted), Mid-January, Mid-February. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Interview: Some applications may require an interview.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who submit all materials by the deadline and meet prerequisites. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as this is a very popular program.
Minimum GPA: Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are not eligible to apply to this program.
*Special Note for First Year Applicants: Program acceptance cannot be determined until after Dean’s Checks are completed in January.
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.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
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, please take into consideration the light physical demands required by some of this program’s activities. Activities include walking moderate distances on sometimes hilly, uneven, and/or cobbled terrain, climbing up stairs, using public transportation, and standing during tours and site visits. If you have questions or are concerned about any of these activities, please contact the faculty program director.
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 MyGlobalEd:
- Online application
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Academic letter of recommendation (one)
Interview: The program director will contact you to schedule an individual interview.
STUDENT STORIES
Every summer, the Duke in Silicon Valley blog is updated with participant bios and student blog posts about the experience. Find out why students say the program is, "challenging, thought-provoking, exhausting, invigorating, incredibly valuable, and everything in between."
"Everyone who I have been able to meet, with many thanks to generous Duke alumni plus so many more, has eagerly welcomed our group of 25 students into their workspaces and openly shared their experiences, mistakes, values, and goals."
Camaren Dayton '21
Mechanical Engineering, Visual Arts, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship
"Since I am going into the finance industry, I came into this program with the desire to learn more about the innovative technological side to finance as well as the strategic funding component of scaling a startup."
Pansy Tseng '20
Economics, Finance, and Visual & Media Studies
"I have come to realize the importance of being a self-starter that constantly creates her own path, practicing reflection frequently to help with knowing your story, and constantly being aware of problems around you and thinking of creative ways to solve them, even if they seem far-fetched."
Ehime Ohue '20
Public Policy Studies, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
"Prof. Azhar put us on the spot and made us think unconventionally – all part of his goal to simulate what it’s like to be a part of a startup. I think that we were all a bit anxious at first, but by the end of the class, we were all sold by his teaching style and excited to draw from his entrepreneurial experience moving forward with the summer."
Bryant Huang ’21
Economics, Computer Science, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
“This gift represents the first endowment of an undergraduate study-away program in the history of Duke’s Global Education Office and introduces a new model for sustaining experiential academic programming in Duke’s partner sites around the world,” said Amanda Kelso, executive director of the Duke Global Education Office.
"We have the unparalleled opportunity to have face time with Duke alumni and corporate partners, and I will definitely be taking advantage of it."
–Pansy Tseng '20
Meet with a GEO advisor
Not sure where to start? Prefer to talk to someone? Schedule an appointment with a GEO advisor to get personalized recommendations and answers to your questions.