Penn State University
Penn State University
Penn State University, officially known as The Pennsylvania State University, is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, it was later designated as the state's first land-grant university in 1863. The university's primary campus, known as Penn State University Park, is located in State College and College Township.
History
Penn State was established in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. It was renamed the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania in 1862 and became the Pennsylvania State College in 1874. The institution gained university status in 1953, becoming The Pennsylvania State University. Over the years, Penn State has grown to include 24 campuses across Pennsylvania and the Penn State World Campus, which offers online education.
Campuses
Penn State operates 24 campuses across Pennsylvania, each offering a unique set of programs and opportunities. Some of the notable campuses include:
- Penn State Abington
- Penn State Altoona
- Penn State Beaver
- Penn State Berks
- Penn State Harrisburg
- Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Academics
Penn State offers a wide range of academic programs through its 16 academic colleges and additional schools. These include:
- College of Agricultural Sciences
- College of Arts and Architecture
- Smeal College of Business
- College of Communications
- College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Health and Human Development
- College of the Liberal Arts
- Eberly College of Science
The university offers more than 225 undergraduate majors and numerous graduate programs, including law, medicine, and business.
Research
Penn State is a major research university, conducting more than $800 million in research annually. The university is known for its research in fields such as engineering, life sciences, agriculture, and earth sciences. Penn State's research initiatives are supported by various institutes and centers, including the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute.
Student Life
Penn State offers a vibrant student life with more than 1,000 clubs and organizations, including academic clubs, cultural organizations, and recreational sports. The university's Greek system includes over 70 sororities and fraternities. The Nittany Lion is the university's mascot, and the school's athletic teams compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference.
Athletics
Penn State's athletic teams, known as the Nittany Lions, compete in 29 varsity sports. The football team plays in Beaver Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in North America, with a seating capacity of nearly 107,000. Other notable sports facilities include the Bryce Jordan Center and the Pegula Ice Arena.
Notable Alumni
Penn State has a large and active alumni network, with more than 775,000 members worldwide. Notable alumni include:
- Guion Bluford, the first African American astronaut
- Valerie Plame, former CIA officer
- John Aniston, actor
- Keegan-Michael Key, comedian and actor