The university was founded in 1785 as the United States' first state-chartered university and the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. Its historic North Campus is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as a designated historic district. The contiguous campus areas include rolling hills, gardens, and extensive green space including nature walks, fields, shrubbery, and large and varied arboreta. Close to the contiguous campus is the university's 58-acre Health Sciences Campus that also has an extensive landscaped green space, more than 400 trees, and several additional historic buildings. The university offers over 140 degree programs in a wide array of disciplines.