Documentary Studies

About the Certificate
The Certificate in Documentary Studies at Duke University is a program of undergraduate study at the Center for Documentary Studies involving community-based research and fieldwork. Working in one or more documentary mediums—photography, filmmaking, writing, audio, performance, among others—students explore a particular issue, community, family, or individual. Completion of a minimum of six courses and a documentary project that each student exhibits, presents, publishes, or otherwise disseminates to the public is required.
The program includes introductory courses in documentary mediums, special topics courses, and cross-listed courses in other departments. All coursework is intended to guide students toward completion of their final documentary projects.

Center for Documentary Studies
The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University teaches, engages in, and presents documentary work grounded in collaborative partnerships and extended fieldwork that uses photography, film/video, audio, narrative writing, and experimental and new media to capture and convey contemporary memory, life, and culture.