Graduate training is administered jointly by the Duke University Program in Genetics and the Genetics Department . An unusual degree of flexibility is provided to students for designing their Ph.D. program. Students are admitted directly to the Program and for the first year are not committed to any department or degree track. First-year students rotate through three different laboratories to gain research experience and to explore their interests before selecting a faculty research advisor. The rotations also provide varied research experiences for the student and help to broaden both scientific and personal contacts in the University.
Students are free to choose any participating faculty member as an advisor.
Once a research advisor is selected, the student has the choice of two types of degree program. The student may earn a Ph.D. in Genetics through either the Department of Genetics or the University Program in Genetics. In this case, the curriculum includes a set of courses that combines training in genetics with basic training in the chosen discipline. Admission to the Genetics Program ensures admission to all graduate departments participating in the program so that students are free to choose this option without any further review.