The University of Missouri, also known as MU, was founded in 1839 in Columbia in Missouri, as the first public university west of the Mississippi River and the first state university in Thomas Jeffersons Louisiana Purchase territory. It is a major land-grant institution, Missouris largest public research university and is the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU offers more than 280 degree programs, including 40 online degree options and is designated as comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides programs in several areas, such as journalism, dispute resolution, family and community medicine, campus writing program and Freshman Interest Groups. It has an enrollment of over 30,000 students from nearly 100 countries. Designated as a botanic garden, MU s approximately 1,000-acre main campus features more than 5,000 trees and over 650 varieties of plants. A number of university buildings also are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.