Mount Saint Mary's University, founded in 1808, is America's oldest independent Catholic college. Located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, it was founded by Catholic priest Father John DuBois. The university campus is set in an attractive and serene environment. It has an area of 1,400-acres and is cradled in the shelter of the St. Mary’s Mountain. The university stresses justice, free inquiry, diversity, and equal opportunity. With a student population of more than 3,000, Mount Saint Mary's University is an intellectual and social community that does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or nationality. The university was appreciated three times by Ernest and Paul Boyer’s review on cutting-edge college programs. In 1996, the university was ranked in the first tier by the U.S. News and World Report among northern colleges and universities. The National Review College Guide also named the university as one of the top 50 liberal arts colleges in the United States. Mount St. Mary’s has concentrated on providing Catholic and liberal arts programs to the public. The University Seminary is a nationally recognized center for the training of Catholic priests. It has a mission to provide the world with the universal spirit of the Catholic Church. The liberal arts programs of the university include: Master of Education Concentration, Master of Arts in Teaching, Learning Management of the Curriculum, and Current Trends in Education. The university also offers graduate courses in Business administration and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. The mission of the university is to prepare well-qualified leaders for society. It is a close-knit community of learners fostering a spirit of respect, personal responsibility and intellectual curiosity. With the help of an outstanding group of faculty, staff, and students, the university develops a vision of faith, discovery, leadership and community.