Union College is a four-year private college located in Barbourville, Kentucky. The college, founded in 1879, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Union College is a small liberal arts college in the Appalachian Mountains. Barbourville was a thriving and progressive town of 450 citizens and three brick buildings at the time of the college's establishment. Union's approximately 1200 undergraduate and graduate students represent 23 states and many countries. The College's academic program fulfills the goal of a liberal arts education. It also provides students with the skills necessary to complete in a diverse job market. The undergraduate liberal arts curriculum makes available a body of knowledge drawn from the applied sciences, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Majors and areas of study in pre-professional, technical and skills-oriented fields enhance postgraduate employment opportunities. Union's 100-acre (0.40 km) campus is in southeastern Kentucky. The newest of the College's 20 buildings include a state-of-the-art technology center, academic center and student apartment building.