California Institute of Technology (commonly known as Cal Tech) is a leading scientific and technical institution. The independent, privately supported university is located in Pasadena, California. Its history dates back to 1891, with the opening of a vocational school by Pasadena philanthropist Amos Throop. The school gradually changed to Throop University, Throop Polytechnic Institute, and then Throop College of Technology. Under the leadership of the renowned astronomer George Ellery Hale, Throop became a first-class institution for engineering, and scientific research and education, in 1907. The institution acquired its current name in 1921, and it became coeducational, in 1970. Today, Caltech is a relatively small, but prestigious, university with 31 Nobel laureates. Caltech encompasses six academic divisions including Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy; Biology; Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Engineering and Applied Science; Geological and Planetary Sciences; and Humanities and Social Sciences. Undergraduate curriculum focuses on math, science, and engineering fields. The Bachelor of Science, Master of Science or Engineering, and Ph.D.s are the degrees awarded. As a premier research university, Caltech has a strong emphasis on the Natural Sciences and Engineering. Caltech has been named the seventh-best university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.