The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor bills itself as "a world-class research university." The University of Michigan system was founded in 1817 in Detroit, as the first public university in the region. The university houses departments in dozens of disciplines, including architecture, urban planning, engineering, education, music, dance, theatre, public health, public policy and social work. The university also offers a long list of graduate programs spanning almost all academic disciplines. According to the university, Ann Arbor is known for diverse bookstores, fine dining, scientists, foodies and nature enthusiasts.
Hillsdale College is a liberal arts college located in Hillsdale, Michigan. The college was started in 1844 and in 2011, enrolls around 1,300 students. Hillsdale prides itself on having approximately 10 students to every professor. The core curriculum at Hillsdale includes courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and every student is required to take seven specific courses. These courses are Physical Science, Biological Science, Freshman Rhetoric and the Great Books 1 and 2, Western Heritage to 1600, and American Heritage and the U.S. Constitution. Students may then choose degree tracks in humanities, fine arts, social or physical sciences.
Located in Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is the fourth largest school in Michigan's public university system. Central Michigan University is a standard-size public university; fall 2010 enrollment was 4,173 freshmen. The university has 751 full-time faculty members and eight subcolleges: Business Administration, Communication and Fine Arts; Education and Human Services; Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences; Science and Technology; Health Professions; Medicine and Graduate Studies. There is a long list of undergraduate academic programs, including Biology, Natural Resources, Communication Disorders and Integrative Public Relations. The university also offers over 70 masters and doctoral programs, as well as online degrees.
Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti and teaches approximately 23,000 students every year. The university has seven subcolleges: Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology; Honors and Graduate School. There are hundreds of majors available at Eastern Michigan University, including Aviation Flight Technology, Interior Design, International Affairs and Early Childhood Education. Graduate programs include Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising; Management of Health Care Services; Occupational Therapy and Quality Management. Eastern Michigan University students can study abroad in many countries, including China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, France, Germany, Ecuador and Mexico.