Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), basic information of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on science, engineering and technology education and research.

Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, the Institute used a polytechnic university model and emphasized laboratory instruction. MIT's early emphasis on applied technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels led to close cooperation with industry. Curricular reforms under Karl Compton and Vannevar Bush in the 1930s re-emphasized basic scientific research. MIT was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1934. The researchers worked on computers, radar, and inertial guidance during World War II and the Cold War. Defense research contributed to the rapid postwar expansion of the faculty and campus under James Killian.

The (68.0 ha) campus of 168 acres today opened in 1916 and extends over 1 mile (1.6 km) along the north bank of the Charles River basin. In the past 60 years, MIT's educational disciplines have expanded beyond the physical sciences and engineering into fields such as biology, economics, linguistics and management.

MIT enrolled 4,384 students and 6,510 graduate students for the 2011-2012 school year. MIT received 18,109 undergraduate applicants for the class of 2016, with only 1,620 offered admission, an acceptance rate of 8.9%. It employs about 1,000 faculty members. 78 Nobel laureates, 52 National Medal of Science recipients 45 Rhodes Scholars, and 38 MacArthur Fellows are currently or have previously been affiliated with the university. MIT has a strong entrepreneurial culture. The aggregate revenues of companies founded by MIT alumni will rank as the eleventh-largest economy in the world.

The sponsor "Engineers" 33 sports, most teams competing in the New England Women's NCAA Division III Men Athletic Conference, the Rowing Programs Division compete as part of the EARC and EAWRC.