Mercer University traces its roots back to the Mercer Institute which was established in the year 1833. Later in 1837, the educational institute was awarded university status. With its main campus in Macon, MU is one of the oldest and distinctive private universities in the city of Georgia. The university offers an array of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs to students from across the world. Spread across 12 colleges and schools like the School of Education, School of Engineering, and School of Liberal Arts, these courses are available in both online and on-campus formats. The most popular programs of MU are in the field of Nursing, Engineering, Business, Psychology, Elementary Education, Human Services, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Communications. To enhance the campus experience, the students are provided with an array of recreational and extracurricular activities in the form of clubs, organization, professional and honorary societies, and religious and special interest groups. Apart from housing a School of Medicine in Columbus and 4 libraries, the university also has a Grand Opera House, the Mercer Engineering Research Centre and 2 regional academic centers at Douglas and Henry County. The university aims to embrace the freedom of mind and spirit, cherish equal worth of students while remaining grounded in ancient traditions.