NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY

public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Flagstaff, Ariz., U.S. The university comprises colleges of business, creative and communication arts, engineering and technology, health professions, social and behavioral sciences, and arts and sciences. It also includes the Center for Excellence in Education and schools of forestry and hotel and restaurant management. The university offers about 80 bachelor's degree programs, 40 master's degree programs, and 8 doctoral programs. There is an academic centre in Yuma, and nine branch offices of the university are located throughout the state. The school's facilities include the Arizona Earthquake Information Center and the Center for American Indian Economic Development. Northern Arizona also cooperates with area research institutions, including Lowell Observatory. Total enrollment exceeds 18,000. The university was founded in 1899 as the Northern Arizona Normal (teacher-training) School. It was made a four-year teachers college in 1925. In 1945, after its scope had grown beyond teacher training, the college was renamed Arizona State College at Flagstaff. With the addition of a forestry program in 1958, the college entered another period of expansion. It was elevated to university status and named Northern Arizona University in 1966.