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Physics
The Physics Major at Duke University provides a strong background in both classical and modern physics. While the introductory courses typically draw hundreds of students, most students at Duke University take physics courses as requiremnts for other majors, such as Mathematics, Engineering, or pre-med studies. The number of students actually pursuing a major in Physics is quite small, typically ranging from 8-12 graduates per year. Because of this, the Physics department boasts one of the best Student:Faculty ratios at Duke University, with 62 professors and lecturers. (over 5 faculty per major candidate). This makes it very easy for students to network within the department, develop lasting relationships with their professors, and it is comparatively very easy to find research opportunities within the department. The physics major is regarded as one of the more difficult at Duke, in terms of coursework. It requires the typical ten courses in the major, two of which must be at the 200-level (for a Bachelor of Science), and also five courses in mathematics as prerequisite courses (barring advanced placement). Nearly all Physics courses are housed within the Physics Building, at the end of Science Drive.
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Programs
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University Writing Program
The Duke University Writing Program provides a unique experience to first-year students in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. Every freshman is required to enroll in one section of Writing 20: Academic Writing, a writing-intensive course designed to prepare students for writing in a collegiate and professional setting. Unlike typical writing courses, however, which focus greatly on mechanics, plagarism, and writing style, the writing courses at Duke University also focus on the development of ideas, synthesis of new ideas, working with other researchers, and behaving in an academic community. This is facilitated by a vast range of focused topics, each a twelve-student section in the course. Topics have ranged from; the politics of scientific discovery, rewriting the past, the problem of textbooks, coral reefs, postcards, utopia, and countless others, spanning all disciplines. Fifteen to twenty different topics are typically offered per semester. The small class sizes encourage fruitful discussion and considerable peer work, fostering the attitude of the academic world, in which members work together, yet are competing at the same time.
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Religion 48: Japanese Religions, most recently taught by Dr. Richard Jaffe in Spring 2006, is a survey into the history, development, and plurality of religious life in Japan. The course spans from the first introduction of religious behavior in Japan, to the newest religions in the modern world. A large portion of the course focuses on Buddhism; its influx from China, Korea, and India, the development of various sects and practices, and its impact on the history and mindset of the country. Also discussed are the practices of Kami Worship, Shinto, Daoism, Confuscionism, Christianity and the new religions. The course requires a significant amount of reading, typically 150-200 pages per week, from textbook and primary sources. Particularly appealing is the chance to read the actual religious texts and see actual practices through slideshows and videos. The course provides a thorough understanding of the development and nature of Japanese religion.
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Research
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