Washington University in St Louis

What is the history of Washington University in St Louis?

Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university founded in 1853. St. Louis merchant Wayman Crow and minister William Greenleaf Eliot helped establish it as a nonsectarian institution intended to expand educational opportunities in the region.

The university was initially chartered as Eliot Seminary and soon took the name Washington University in honor of George Washington. It later added "in St. Louis" to distinguish itself from other institutions with similar names. Its development into a research university included the expansion of professional education, notably in medicine, law and social work.

A major physical change came in the early 20th century, when the university developed its present-day Danforth Campus near Forest Park. Today, its academic activity extends beyond that campus, particularly to the Medical Campus in St. Louis's Central West End.

What are the faculties and departments at Washington University in St Louis?

Washington University organizes undergraduate study primarily through Arts & Sciences, the McKelvey School of Engineering, the Olin Business School and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Applicants should distinguish these undergraduate pathways from the university's graduate and professional schools because curricula and admissions procedures differ.

Arts & Sciences spans fields such as biology, economics, history, mathematics and psychology. McKelvey offers engineering and computer science programs; Olin focuses on business; and Sam Fox includes architecture, art and design. The university also has graduate and professional education in fields including law, medicine, social work and public health, along with continuing and professional studies options.

Students interested in combining fields should examine each school's rules for majors, minors and cross-school coursework. Admission to one undergraduate division does not necessarily mean that a later change into another division, or entry into a professional degree, is automatic.

What is the location of Washington University in St Louis?

Washington University's main Danforth Campus is in the St. Louis area, alongside Forest Park and near the boundary between the city and St. Louis County. Its Medical Campus is separately located in the city's Central West End. This distinction matters when comparing housing, class locations and commuting routes.

The Danforth Campus has access to the MetroLink light-rail system and local buses. Students can also reach nearby neighborhoods for shopping and services, though travel times depend on where they live and study. St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the main airport for longer-distance travel.

For a student considering a car, parking policies and costs deserve attention: first-year students generally cannot register or park a car on campus. Transit access may be particularly useful for those moving to St. Louis from another state.

What is the mission and vision of Washington University in St Louis?

Washington University states that its purpose centers on research, teaching and learning, including the discovery and sharing of knowledge and the protection of free inquiry. Its stated priorities connect undergraduate education with scholarly research and professional work.

The university was founded as a nonsectarian institution and is not a religious college. Its mission describes institutional aims, not a guarantee about an individual student's classroom experience. Applicants can assess how those aims apply to a particular program by examining its curriculum, faculty research, undergraduate research access and advising arrangements.