Summer 2026 Short Courses
The Duke Graduate Academy offers free online short courses designed to help emerging scholars prepare for high-level research, innovative teaching, leadership, and meaningful public engagement. Learn more and register.
Registration Information
Registration for the Summer 2026 Graduate Academy opens February 16, 2026.
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Summer Term 1: May 13 – June 22
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Summer Term 2: June 29 – August 7
Registration and drop/add follow the Duke Academic Calendar for each term.
Registration deadlines:
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Summer Term 1: May 15, 2026
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Summer Term 2: July 1, 2026
Summer 2026 Course Offerings
Taught by the Duke Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
Community-Engaged and Community-Partnered Research
Summer Term 1 — GS990 Section 03
June 15–18 and June 22 (no class Friday, June 19; make-up on Monday, June 22)
MTWTHF, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT
Instructor:
Jessica Sperling, Director, Applied Research, Evaluation, and Engagement, Social Science Research Institute
Eligibility:
Open to all graduate and professional students; postdocs with instructor consent
Engaging community members and organizations in research — through community-engaged research (CER, CEnR) and research practice partnerships (RPPs) — helps ensure scholarship is grounded in real-world contexts and contributes to meaningful social change.
Yet community-engaged research can be complex, both conceptually and practically.
This course explores what community-engaged research means, why it matters for both researchers and communities, and how to navigate common ethical and logistical challenges. Participants will build a conceptual foundation, examine key steps for designing and implementing projects, and develop practical strategies for successful collaboration.
Through interactive exercises and applied activities, participants will develop a community-engaged research design they can adapt to their own work.
Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research
Summer Term 2 — GS990 Section 05
July 13, 14, 16, 20, and 21
MTTH, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT
Instructors:
Marissa Personette and Erin Haseley, Senior Research Analysts, Applied Research Evaluation and Engagement, Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
Eligibility:
Open to all graduate and professional students; postdocs with instructor consent
This course provides an introduction to qualitative research methods, with particular attention to integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed methods).
Participants will examine when qualitative methods are appropriate, the unique strengths they offer, and the challenges they may introduce. The course also explores when and how combining qualitative and quantitative data can strengthen research design and insight.
Designed for students across disciplines, the course offers a strong foundation in qualitative methodology while equipping participants to think strategically about research design.
AI for Qualitative Data Analysis
Summer Term 2 — GS990 Section 06
July 13–17
MTWTHF, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Instructors:
Lorrie Schmid, Lead, Data Analytics, Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
Adrian Brown, Assistant Director, Applied Research Evaluation and Engagement, SSRI
Eligibility:
Open to all graduate and professional students; postdocs with instructor consent
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming research workflows — including qualitative analysis.
This course introduces participants to the use of AI tools, including large language models (LLMs), for analyzing qualitative data. Students will explore the nature and process of qualitative analysis, gain an overview of relevant AI technologies, and examine practical approaches to integrating AI into existing research projects.
The course also addresses critical considerations, including benefits, limitations, ethical implications, and responsible use of AI in qualitative research.
Through lectures and active discussion, participants will develop both conceptual understanding and practical insight into the evolving relationship between AI and qualitative scholarship.
Questions?
For more information about the Duke Graduate Academy, please contact: