Presented by Duke University’s Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) program
Imagine uncovering stories hidden in plain sight — the voices, places, and events that escape our view but shape our lives. That’s exactly what students in Duke University’s Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS) program are doing with projects like Hidden Histories, a student-driven digital and explorative initiative that blends site visits, maps, photos, and storytelling to bring overlooked narratives to life.
Supported by an endowment from the late Lottie Applewhite, a GLS alumna, Hidden Histories grew from student curiosity about the landscapes and places they were studying in a Liberal Studies course on southern environmental history. Student organizers invited their program colleagues (whether in the class or not) to join them and two faculty members in exploring places in eastern North Carolina and Virginia where history has left its mark on the land. Combining onsite experiences with research, technology, reflection, and creative storytelling, the students then shared their learning with the wider community. It is just one example of the kind of work GLS students can build as they grow together.
Hidden Histories is a perfect illustration of the program’s core philosophy: that learning is most powerful when it springs from one’s own need to know, draws on multiple fields of knowledge, connects to real-world contexts, and happens in authentic and open conversations with others.
At its heart, GLS is designed for curious minds who want a flexible, meaningful, and interdisciplinary graduate experience tailored to their own interest and life circumstances. Duke’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies lets students design their own curriculum, selecting courses from across Duke’s graduate programs to explore diverse subjects and build a program suited to their own passions and goals. In 30 credit hours, students learn together in interdisciplinary GLS seminars, pursue specialized coursework, and complete a Master’s Project — a capstone that can take many forms, from a digital exhibit or podcast to a novel, memoir, public history initiative, policy paper, or research study.
The program welcomes students from all walks of life — whether you’re a recent undergraduate exploring your next step, a working professional, a lifelong learner, or someone looking to shift careers. GLS provides the structure and support to pursue interdisciplinary scholarship while following your own intellectual path.
Beyond the classroom, students collaborate across campus, engage with local communities, and work on projects like Hidden Histories – that have real-world impact.
If you’re ready to ready to follow your curiosity, explore multiple fields, learn in a supportive and collegial setting, and create work that matters, Duke’s Graduate Liberal Studies program can open a door to all that Duke has to offer. Here, graduate education isn’t just about gaining a credential, it’s about authentic learning – whether in the classroom, in the community, or at places that matter. Come and grow with us by connecting ideas, charting your own curriculum, and discovering the hidden stories in our world and in your own heart.
