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Northwestern University is a private research university, recognized for its educational programs both nationally and globally. Northwestern has campuses in three locations, including the school’s 240-acre main campus in Evanston, Illinois, a 25-acre campus in Chicago, and a third campus in Doha, Qatar. Established in the 1850’s for the purpose of serving students in the Northwest Territory of the United States, Northwestern University remains committed to its mission of providing “excellent teaching, innovative research and personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community.” Made up of a dozen colleges and schools and ranked the 12th best national university, Northwestern’s faculty includes Tony Award winners, Guggenheim Fellows, MacArthur Fellowship Recipients, and members of numerous honorary and professional societies.
Academic Programs
University awards bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees through its several colleges and schools which include Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication; School of Education & Social Policy; McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science; Graduate School; Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; Pritzker School of Law; Kellogg School of Management; Feinberg School of Medicine; Bienen School of Music; School of Professional Studies; and the Northwestern University in Qatar.Accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1913, nearly 100 undergraduate majors and programs are offered by Northwestern in addition to more than 160 graduate programs. Undergraduates and graduates alike and in every college and school are highly encouraged to participate in meaningful research and are provided with every resource and opportunity to do so. Northwestern students have access to nearly 100 school-based research centers, more than 45 university research centers, and the university’s library system which is made up of ten individual libraries and houses approximately six million volumes.
Student Life
More than 21,000 students are enrolled at the university, including over 9,000 undergraduate students. Northwestern’s two stateside campuses which are bordered by a Great Lake are only twelve miles apart and a connected by a free intercampus shuttle which runs between the Evanston and downtown Chicago campuses. Evanston’s campus offers nearby beaches, shops, coffee houses, restaurants, and theaters that are right down the street from the university’s classrooms, labs and lecture halls. Northwestern’s Chicago campus, on the other hand, is located in the bustling Streeterville neighborhood and is close to many attractions including the Magnificent Mile, the Museum of Contemporary Art and John Hancock Center. Northwestern offers several housing options including traditional residence halls and residential colleges which gather students together who share a common intellectual interest.Northwestern students keep several campus traditions alive, including Painting The Rock, which is a way to advertise campus organizations, events, and more; the Dance Marathon, a 30-hour philanthropic event which raises money for various children’s charities; and Armadillo Day, a day filled with music and food held on Northwestern’s Lakefill each Spring. The university’s campuses are home to more than 500 student-led clubs and organizations and Northwestern sponsors nearly 20 NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic teams.