Before diving into the MIDS curriculum, all new students kick off their journey with a three-week, on-campus Bootcamp designed to build essential programming skills.
Led by two Duke professors (Drew Hilton and Genevieve Lipp), Bootcamp is an immersive, hands-on introduction to the core technical tools you’ll use throughout the program. You’ll learn how to:
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Design and analyze algorithms
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Use professional-grade development tools
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Write, test, and debug basic Python code
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Work with data structures and object-oriented programming in Python
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Apply Monte Carlo simulation techniques
No grades. Just growth.
Bootcamp is all about learning—no exams or grades, just the opportunity to build confidence in coding skills before classes begin. Whether students are new to programming or brushing up, they’ll leave better prepared for the road ahead in data science.
It’s not all about the classroom. The MIDS team also hosts orientation sessions and social events to help our students get to know their cohort and settle into the Duke community.
Your Programming Foundation Starts Here. Welcome!