Graduate education at Duke had humble beginnings, with a limited program of Master of Arts degrees granted by Trinity College to just over 50 students from 1916 to 1923. After Duke University’s founding, The Duke Graduate School came soon after: established in 1926 as The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. What began with a Ph.D. class of 2 has become a center of innovation, discovery, and excellence on the global stage.
Join The Graduate School in 2026 for a celebration of 100 years of innovation and impact, recognizing this moment in time as a bridge between reflecting on the past and constructing the next 100 years of graduate education at Duke.
The centennial is both a moment of reflection and bridge to the future, where our curiosity will shape discoveries we can scarcely imagine today.
Dean Suzanne Barbour
Duke GradCast:
Stories from The Graduate School
Discover stories from members and friends of Duke Graduate School, past and present. New episodes of the podcast published monthly.
Our Stories
Learn more about The Graduate School's past and present through feature stories, spotlights, news, and more.