The University of Southern California, founded in 1880, is one of the world's leading private research institutions and Southern California's oldest independent teaching and research university. Located in one of the biggest metropolises in the world, USC's two main campuses are home to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 17 professional schools, as well as one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country. A unique strength of USC is its integration of liberal and professional learning. Students are encouraged to develop "breadth with depth" by pursuing academic minors that are far afield from their chosen majors.