Yale University

Overview

Yale University is a private Ivy League university in New Haven, Connecticut. The university is the culmination of attempts by colonial clergymen to build an educational institution that espoused European liberal education in the 1640s. It was not until 1701, however, that a Collegiate school was founded through the adoption of a charter by the Connecticut legislature.

Though Yale is now in New Haven, it was not the first location of the university. It was once the Collegiate School of Connecticut at Saybrook (now Old Saybrook in Middlesex County). It did not move to its present location until 1716. In 1718, it was named Yale College after Elihu Yale, a wealthy Welsh benefactor of the institution.

Yale first started offering the programs for which it is well-known today: Classical Studies, Medicine, Theology, and Law. Their English and History courses are also particularly strong . The latter has produced the likes of Ron Chernow, Laura Engelstein, and Anne Applebaum. Additionally, the departments of Psychology and Biology are also well-regarded nationwide and in international settings. From these two came Charles E. Osgood, who is credited for his contributions to psycholinguistics and Sandra L. Wolin who is best known for her work with RNAs, respectively. Economics, Political Science, Biology, and Biomedical Engineering are also majors that stand out in Yale.

Aside from those courses, Yale University is also known for its drama and music programs. Indeed, the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the university’s a cappella group, is renowned throughout the world. It is also considered as the oldest example of such. There is also the Yale Dramatic Association, which is the second oldest collegiate theater company in the United States. True to its appreciation of the arts, Yale established the School of Fine Arts in 1869, which was also the first school to accept female students.

Yale’s students and graduates have helped shape the history of the US. In 1776, 25 Yale graduates served in the Continental Congress. And four graduates—Lyman Hall, Philip Livingston, Lewis Morris, and Oliver Wolcott—embedded their signatures on the Declaration of Independence. In more recent times, it produced the father-and-son former presidents of the United States of America George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Yale alumni have also been making their marks in other fields, such as media and entertainment. Sigourney Weaver, who is known for her role in the Alien films, received her MFA degree from Yale’s School of Drama. Kenyan-American female actor Lupita Nyong’o also pursued a master’s degree in acting from the same school. The esteemed female actor Meryl Streep who is well-regarded for her versatility also got her MFA from Yale.

With such a pedigree of graduates, Yale continues its commitment to improving the world for future generations through the students that enter its doors. Thus, it has deep relationships with different countries and regions, such as China, Africa, Singapore, and Brazil. By embracing students from various corners of the world, Yale continues to advance its global engagement