Call for Applications: Pursuing Purpose

Pursuing Purpose is a fellowship program that allows Duke undergraduate students to develop their purpose through a seminar taken in the spring semester that connects to an internship or substantial work experience over the summer. Students who are interested in exploring a curricular pivot or a kind of work they have not yet had an opportunity to try are particularly encouraged to apply for this fellowship.

Please note that the deadline to apply for priority consideration is October 24, 11:59 p.m.

Pursuing Purpose is a part of The Purpose Project at Duke.

PROGRAM

Pursuing Purpose Fellows take “Pursuit of Purpose” (Ethics 253S, EI, SS, S), a one-credit seminar course that is designed to help students develop their sense of purpose, consider ways to channel that sense of purpose within the contemporary world of work, and take practical steps towards professional development in this area.

To that end, this course helps the student to choose and secure a summer internship. Fellows receive a $5000 stipend. Upon returning to campus in the fall, fellows organize and participate in a Purpose Symposium, in which they’ll integrate and share their insights from the program.

COMMITMENT

The commitment for this fellowship runs from the spring semester through to the fall.

Spring — Fellows must enroll in “Pursuit of Purpose” (Ethics 253S, EI, SS, S) during the spring semester. This course runs Tuesdays from 10:05AM-12:45PM and is required for all fellows. Please make sure that you are available during this time slot before submitting your application.

Summer — Fellows complete the summer internship (300 hours/8 weeks) that they choose and secure during “Pursuit of Purpose.” (If Fellows are pursuing an Ethics & Society Certificate, this internship may count as the Field Experience for the certificate’s experiential track.)

Fall — Fellows design and participate in a Purpose Symposium to help them integrate and share their insights from the fellowship.

ELIGIBILITY

All Duke second- and third-year students are eligible to apply for this fellowship. Contact Christian Ferney with any eligibility questions.

AWARD

Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend.

APPLY

If you would like to become a Pursuing Purpose Fellow, please fill out an application at the link below.

The deadline for priority consideration is October 24, and rolling applications open on October 29. Decisions for priority consideration come out on October 29.

APPLY HERE

CONTACT

If you have any questions about this program, please contact the director of this program, Christian Ferney, at christian.ferney@duke.edu.