The Department of Architecture at UC Berkeley has a strong tradition of fostering independent design thinking and research. The undergraduate program, culminating in the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in architecture, has set the standard for pre-professional architectural education for the past fifty years. They are committed to maintaining this edge, and are reviewing and redefining what undergraduates will need in the next fifty years. The graduate programs (the Master of Architecture and the Ph.D. in Architecture) offer professional training as well as depth and breadth within and across specialty areas, preparing the graduate students to become leaders in practice and in research. Simply put, the quality of faculty, staff, and students help rank the Department of Architecture among the best in the nation.