149 A BRIEF HISTORY
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is one of the leading universities in the nation. The university is comprised of 27 degree-granting divisions; 10 undergraduate colleges, 11 graduate schools, and six schools offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Five are located in Camden, eight in Newark, and 13 in New Brunswick and one in Newark and New Brunswick. Rutgers has a unique history as a colonial college, a land-grant institution, and a state university. Chartered in 1766 as Queen's College, the eighth institution of higher learning to be founded in the colonies, the school opened its doors in New Brunswick in 1771 with a handful of first-year students. During its early years, the college developed as a classic liberal arts institution. In 1825, the name of the college was changed to honor a former trustee and Revolutionary War veteran, Colonel Henry Rutgers. Rutgers College became the land-grant college of New Jersey in 1864, resulting in the establishment of the Rutgers Scientific School, featuring departments of agriculture, engineering, and chemistry. Further expansion in the sciences came with the founding of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station in 1880, the College of Engineering (now the School of Engineering) in 1914, and the College of Agriculture (now the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) in 1921. The precursors to several other Rutgers divisions were also established during this period: the College of Pharmacy (now the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy) in 1892, the New Jersey College for Women (now part of the School of Arts and Sciences) in 1918, and the School of Education in 1924. In 1924, Rutgers College officially became Rutgers University, a reflection of the institution’s rapidly expanding number of schools and academic programs. Early in the century, Rutgers had begun offering educational opportunities to women when the New Jersey College for Women (later Douglass College and now part of the School of Arts and Sciences) was founded in 1918, and to adult learners when University College was established in 1934. After World War II, enrollment exploded as Rutgers admitted all qualified candidates under the GI Bill. Rutgers was becoming an institution for all people, and in 1945 and 1956, state legislative acts formally designated Rutgers as The State University of New Jersey. A flurry of expansion ensued. The University of Newark (now Rutgers–Newark) joined Rutgers in 1946, followed by the College of South Jersey (now Rutgers–Camden) in 1950. An ambitious building program added libraries, classrooms, and student housing across the three regional campuses. In 1969, Livingston College opened, providing a coeducational residential experience with a special commitment to diversity. Graduate education in the arts and sciences grew through the establishment of the Graduate School–New Brunswick, the Graduate School–Newark, and the Graduate School–Camden. Professional schools were formed to serve students in the fields of business; communication, information, and library studies; criminal justice; education; fine arts; law; management and labor relations; nursing; planning and public policy; psychology; public affairs and administration; and social work. Meanwhile, as industry and government sought partners in solving problems and advancing knowledge, the concept of the research university emerged. In 1981, Rutgers adopted a blueprint for its transformation into a major public research university. With increased support from state, federal, and corporate partners, Rutgers’ strength in research grew dramatically. In 1989, in recognition of its enhanced stature, Rutgers was invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, an organization comprising the top 62 research universities in North America. Today, professors and students work in more than 180 specialized research centers, unraveling mysteries in marine sciences, early childhood education, neuroscience, advanced materials, climate change, nutrition, homeland security, transportation, stem cells, and many other areas that can improve life both in New Jersey and around the world. A 2007 major reorganization of undergraduate education in New Brunswick reinvigorated the undergraduate experience for both students and faculty by combining the traditions and strengths of four undergraduate liberal arts colleges—Douglass, Livingston, Rutgers, and University—into a single School of Arts and Sciences. With 27 schools and colleges, Rutgers offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate and professional degree programs. The university graduates more than 10,000 students each year, and has more than 350,000 living alumni residing in all 50 states and on six continents. Rutgers also sponsors community initiatives in all 21 New Jersey counties. University-wide, new degree programs, research endeavors, and community outreach are in development to meet the demands of the 21st century. Today, Rutgers continues to grow, both in its facilities and in the variety and depth of its educational and research programs. The university's goals for the future include the continued provision of the highest quality education, along with the increased support of research and commitment to public service to meet the needs of society.
UNDERGRADUATE Accounting African & African-American Studies African-American Studies Africana Studies Agricultural Science Allied Health Technologies American Studies Ancient and Medieval Civilizations Animal Science Anthropology Anthropology, Evolutionary Art/Design/Digital Art (B.F.A.) Art/Visual Arts (B.A.) Art/Visual Arts (B.F.A.) Art History Astrophysics Biochemistry Bioenvironmental Engineering Biological Sciences Biology Biomathematics Biomedical Technology (B.S.) Biotechnology Botany Business Administration Cell Biology and Neuroscience Central and Eastern European Studies Chemistry
Childhood Studies Chinese Classics Clinical Laboratory Sciences Communication Comparative Literature Computer Science Criminal Justice Dance (B.A.) Dance (B.F.A.) East Asian Languages and Area Studies Ecology and Natural Resources Education Teacher Certification Economics Education Engineering Applied Sciences Engineering Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering General Engineering Industrial & Systems Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering
MAJOR
English Environmental/Business Economics Environmental Planning and Design Environmental Planning and Design/Landscape Architecture Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior Environmental Science European Studies Exercise Science Finance Food Science French General Science Genetics Genetics & Microbiology Geography Geological Sciences Geology Geoscience Engineering German History History/French History/Political Science Hospitality Management Human-Computer Interaction Human Resource
PROGRAMS
Management Independent/Individualized Major Information Systems Information Technology and Informatics Interdisciplinary Major Italian Italian Studies Jewish Studies Journalism and Media Studies Journalism Labor Studies/Employment Relations Latin American Studies Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies Law (6-year Joint B.A. /J.D.) Liberal Studies Linguistics Management Management and Global Business Management Information Systems Marine Sciences Marketing Mathematics Mathematics, Applied Medical Technology
OF
STUDY
Medicine, Osteopathic (7-year Joint Camden/UMDNJ, School of Osteopathic Medicine) Medicine (8-year Joint New Brunswick/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) Medicine (7-year Joint NCAS/UMDNJ offered in Newark) Medieval Studies Meteorology Microbiology Middle Eastern Studies Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Music (B.A.) Music (B.Mus.) Nursing Nutritional Sciences Pharmacy Philosophy Physician Assistant (w/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-UMDNJ) Physics Physics, Applied Planning and Public Policy Plant Science Political Science Portuguese
Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies Prebusiness Predentistry Prelaw Premedicine Preveterinary Medicine Psychology Public Health Public Service Puerto Rican Studies Religion Russian Science, Technology, and Society Science, General Social Work Sociology Spanish Statistics Statistics/Mathematics Supply Chain Management Teacher Certification Theater Theater Arts Theater Arts, Television and Media Arts Urban Studies Video Production Visual Arts Women’s Studies Women’s and Gender Studies Zoology