The students, faculty and professional staff who comprise Duke's academic community interact on many levels, from interdisciplinary curricula and community-based learning to international study. Duke is among the world's leading research universities yet retains a special focus on undergraduates, providing them with numerous opportunities to engage faculty members individually, in small class settings and through mentored research opportunities. This engagement starts the minute students step on campus, through such offerings as the Focus Program and first-year seminars.