Northeast Normal University (simplified Chinese: 东北师范大学; traditional Chinese: 東北師範大學; pinyin: Dōngběi Shīfàn Dàxué; often abbreviated NENU or 东北师大/東北師大) is one of the six national universities in China located in Changchun, Jilin. Northeast Normal University is an institution of higher learning under the direct administration of the Ministry of Education, being selected as one of the universities given priority in construction in the "211 Project". The university, located in Changchun city, Jilin province, occupies an area of 1,500,000 square meters, including 800,000 square meters of the main campus and 700,000 square meters of the new campus. The NENU's predecessor is the Northeast University, the first comprehensive university founded by the Communist Party in Northeast China in Benxi, Liaoning Province, in February, 1946. In 1949, the school was moved to Changchun City and renamed Northeast Normal University in 1950. NENU presently comprises 19 schools, 56 undergraduate specialties and a graduate school, which offers 145 M.A. degree specialties, and 77 Ph.D. degree specialties.