Students register for all classes through this site: http://www.asaponlinereg.com/default.aspx?org=112
If you don’t have this link handy, you can always find the registration site from the main menu at the top of any page, via Classes > Continuing Education Courses, or via links on the right-hand side of the homepage.
Another useful URL is cdscourses.org, which will direct you to the Continuing Education page on the main CDS website.
The email address you choose to use to login into the registration site will be the primary means through which the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) will contact you. Our registration site will track your course and payment history. Please read the refund policy carefully. Some institutes and workshops may require a non-refundable deposit.
How long are CDS Continuing Education courses?
Most courses run six or eight weeks. There are also one-day workshops, four-day workshops, and weeklong institutes (the weeklong institutes in video, audio, nonfiction writing, and the Introduction to Documentary Studies Intensive are only held in the summer).
Classes are typically small, with an average of 12 students. Registration functions on a first-come, first-serve basis. On the rare occasion that a course does not reach a minimum enrollment, the course is cancelled for that term and students will receive a refund.
Who teaches in the CDS Continuing Education program?
Instructors are working professionals experienced in both the practice and theory of the documentary arts. Many have been teaching at CDS for over 10 years. CDS undergraduate faculty also teach some Continuing Education courses.
How can I contact the CDS Continuing Education program?
It looks like a class is full. How do I find out if there is still space available in a course?
Students are encouraged to sign-up through the registration site (http://www.asaponlinereg.com/default.aspx?org=112) even if the course is shown to have a waitlist. Signing up will automatically put the student on the waitlist in the order s/he applied. If space opens up in a class, the student will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to complete registration.
When will a particular course be offered again?
All courses required for the Certificate in Documentary Arts are offered each term. All beginning courses, such as Intro to Video Editing and Intro to Audio Documentary, are offered each term.
When can I register for courses for the next term?
CDS Continuing Education courses have two terms. The fall term runs September through December; fall courses open for registration in July. The spring/summer term runs January through August; spring/summer courses open for registration in early December.
What are the requirements for the Certificate in Documentary Arts?
Completion of the Certificate in Documentary Arts requires:
• A minimum of 112 credits or class hours (Any course, if completed separately, counts toward the total credit hours. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses are available in video, photography, audio, and writing. Students have four years from the time they enroll in the Certificate in Documentary Arts program to finish.)
• Three required courses: Intensive Introduction to Documentary Studies, an Advanced Project Seminar, and the Final Seminar in Documentary Studies. These courses will be offered each term. (Permission is required to enroll in the Final Seminar class. Prior to enrollment, students must submit a copy of their work to the Continuing Education director and schedule a meeting to determine readiness for completion.)
• Completion of a major project in a medium of choice.
• A formal project proposal in the second year of study.
• An application, statement of intention, and an $80 registration fee.
How do I get to CDS and where can I park?
There is free parking available behind the building. Please enter through the front door of the older part of the building (with the large front porch). Students may exit through any door.
Where are courses held?
All courses, unless otherwise stated, will be held in the CDS Bridges Building (the newer part of the building). There are Duke undergraduate students taking courses in this building during the day. Continuing Education courses are taught in the evening and on weekends. Lab facilities will also be shared with Duke students.
Is financial aid available?
Traditional financial aid is not available. Students needing payment options or inquiring about scholarships should send a detailed request and statement explaining their situation to .
Do I need to provide my own equipment and editing software/hardware? Can I use the digital photo printers at CDS?
CDS continuing education students are expected to provide their own equipment. Intermediate and advanced courses assume students will purchase their own editing systems. Students must receive specific training in order to use our digital printers.
What should students expect after signing up for a course?
Our small classes are filled with students with a diverse range of ages and experiences. This brings a unique dynamic to each class. Classes provide practical technical information about fieldwork, and also include discussions of various approaches and the ethical challenges of various projects. Classes provide a safe and creative audience for constructive critique of documentary work.
Instructors will contact students at least one week prior to the start of class. There may be recommended or required readings sent via email prior to the class. All classes require some work—fieldwork, or production or writing assignments—outside of class.
Students Talk About the CDS Video and Audio Institutes
