Rensselaer is recognized as one of the world?s elite technological research universities. The Institute was founded in 1824 to instruct students ??in the application of science to the common purposes of life.?? From its campuses in Troy, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn., to locations around the globe, the impact of Rensselaer, its students, faculty, and alumni, is felt in the way people live, work, and play.More than 100 programs and 1,000 courses lead to bachelor?s, master?s, and doctoral degrees are offered by the schools of Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, and Science and in the interdisciplinary degree program in information technology (IT). The undergraduate experience features close collaboration with faculty members, experiential learning, undergraduate research, and a rigorous curriculum. Accelerated programs in medicine and law are offered in cooperation with other universities.