University of Mazandaran, is a university located in Mazandaran Province of Iran, headquartered in the city of Babolsar. Mazandaran University, formerly Reza Shah Kabir University, was founded in 1979 by the merging of Babolsar College of Economics and Social Sciences (مدرسه‌ عالي‌ علوم‌ اقتصادي‌ و اجتماعي‌ بابلسر) est. 1970, College of Higher Education (دانشكده‌ تحصيلات‌ تكميلي) est. 1974, Babol Higher Technical School (دانشسراي عالي فني بابل) est. 1969, Sari College of Agriculture (مدرسه عالي كشاورزي ساري) est 1972, Gorgan School of Natural Resources (مدرسه عالي منابع طبيعي گرگان) est. 1957, which later separated off into Gorgan University in 1986. Harvard University contributed academically, administratively, and to the original design of the predecessor of University of Mazandaran, which at the time was known as "Reza Shah Kabir University" in the 1970s. The university currently covers an area of 350 hectares, and operates 6 Faculties, offering numerous Bachelors degrees and twenty six postgraduate programs in M.A, M.Sc and/or Ph.D levels.