Located in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama is the oldest public university in the State of Alabama. It is dedicated to advancing the intellectual and social condition of the community through teaching, research, and service. The campus traces its roots back to 1818, when the federal government authorized the Alabama Territory to set aside a township for the establishment of a seminary of learning. One year later, a second township was added to the land grant. In December 1820, the seminary was established and named the University of the State of Alabama. The university opened its doors to students in April 1831. The institution is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. At the undergraduate level, a broad range of baccalaureate programs in arts and humanities, science and technology, pre-professional, and professional fields are provided. The graduate degree programs are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Communication and Information Sciences, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Human Environmental Sciences, College of Nursing, and School of Social Work. The School of Law, under the University of Alabama, is ranked among the top 20 public, law schools in the nation. In addition to the above, Interdisciplinary Programs and special academic programs which include Blount undergraduate initiative, Capstone international, Capstone living-learning communities, freshman seminars, Fulbright Scholarship programs, McNair scholars program, and interim programs are offered. For the convenience of students at different locations, the University of Alabama offers distance education programs. Also, it provides a wide range of research centers to promote research activities. Equal access to information and library resources are provided to all students through the campus libraries. The campus encompasses various libraries such as the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library- the main campus library, Angelo Bruno Business Library, McLure Education Library, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, Sarah and Eric Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering, Health Sciences Library, Bounds Law Library, Map Library, and the Place Names Research Center. It houses the Alabama Museum of Natural History, the Office of Archaeological Research, the Paul W. Bryant Museum, Gorgas House, and the Moundville Archaeological Park, as well.