Since its founding in 1821, Amherst College has become one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation, enrolling some 1,600 talented, energetic and diverse young men and women. Amherst College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, a town of 35,000 people in the western part of the state. The college's 1,000-acre campus is adjacent to downtown Amherst. Amherst is an undergraduate, residential, liberal arts college that awards the B.A. degree in 33 different majors. Through the Five College Consortium, Amherst students may also take courses for credit at Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges and the University of Massachusetts. Additionally, students may attend various colloquia and special seminars throughout the year.