What is Program II?
Program II was conceived in 1968 to offer students in Trinity College the option to design their own degree program. It complements the majors offered under Program I, serving the needs of students whose intellectual interests cross departmental boundaries or who perceive areas of learning in clusters other than those already offered in Program I.
If you're curious about Program II or want to find out if it's right for you, please attend one of the four information sessions we offer each year. You should also familiarize yourself with Program II's Curricular Requirements, as well as opportunities for majors such as Graduation with Distinction and the Program II Majors' Union.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions for updated information on policies and procedures.
On this website, you'll find more information about Applying to Program II, including information about the application's components and advice for getting started. The two Sample Applications we’ve posted will give you a sense of how other students have prepared successful applications. Be aware that these are finished proposals -- you can use them as a starting point, keeping in mind that your first attempt may not be as polished. Our faculty committee frequently recommends revisions, and you'll work with your faculty advisor to implement those as part of the application process.
Our list of Past Program II Titles shows the range of topics that Program II students have explored.
You can also contact Current Program II Students and our Trinity Ambassadors to learn more about their experience.
Finally, most successful Program II proposals include courses from 4-6 different academic departments. If you're interested in Program II but your interests are primarily concentrated in two departments, you might instead consider an Interdepartmental Major (IDM).
Contact Us
For any further specific questions regarding Program II or any other assistance please contact Heather Settle, Director of Program II at heather.settle@duke.edu. You can also schedule a Calendly meeting with Dean Settle to learn more about Program II through the following link: https://calendly.com/heather-settle.
Follow Program II on Instagram (@dukeprogramii), where we post about application deadlines, recent news, Program II Major's Union, and more.