Founded in 1875 as the Indiana Normal School and granted university status in 1965 the university is approximately sixty miles northeast of Pittsburgh, in the heart of Indiana County. The university offers undergraduate degree programs, a nationally recognized honors program and graduate programs, including doctoral programs. Students are offered traditional courses of study, such as, philosophy, English or anthropology or they can take up career-oriented applied majors, such as, safety sciences or respiratory therapy. On campus residence facilities are offered to the students.