The undergraduate program in architecture combines broad general study in the arts, humanities, and sciences with more specific study directed toward providing a foundation for understanding social, aesthetic, technical, and environmental issues as they relate to architecture. The program offers excellent opportunities in general education as well as in more specific preparation for careers in architecture, construction, or related fields.

Because of the great diversity of offerings in the College of Environmental Design and in the Department of Architecture in areas such as building environments, practice of design, design methods, structures, construction, history, social and cultural factors in design, and design itself, it is possible to obtain either a very broad and general foundation or to concentrate in one or several areas.

Some graduates go on to obtain professional degrees in architecture or in other related fields; many others work in architectural offices, construction, government, or industry. Employment opportunities exist also at the community level, particularly in those communities which traditionally have not been served by professional architectural practice. The overall aim of the undergraduate program is to establish a strong foundation for a diversity of careers and to provide for mobility and flexibility to suit changing individual opportunities.

Accreditation. The A.B. degree is not a professional degree and is not recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The Master of Architecture is the only accredited professional degree offered by the department. However, at present the degree is accepted for partial credit toward licensure in California by the State Board of Architectural Examiners. It is generally not accepted in other states.

Minors

Along with the minors listed below, architecture undergraduates at Berkeley may choose a minor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, a minor in city and regional planning, or a minor from outside the college. For undergraduate architecture students interested in engineering, UC Berkeley offers a minor in Structural Engineering that prepares students for joint graduate study in the two fields.

The Department of Architecture offers the following minor programs to UC Berkeley undergraduate students:

• Architecture. Open to landscape architecture, urban studies, and civil and environmental engineering majors only.
• Ecological Design. Open to all majors.
• Environmental Design in Developing Countries. Open to all majors.
• History of the Built Environment. Open to all majors.
• Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design. Open to all majors.