Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Federal University of Viçosa) - UFV - is a public federal university located in the city of Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In 2004 enrollment was over 12,000 students. Viçosa is considered a technical university and offers courses in different types of engineering, agronomy, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry,and other areas related to science. It is considered one of the top universities in the scientific field. The university began as the Higher College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science created in 1922 but with classes only beginning in 1927. In 1948 it was transformed into the Rural University of Minas Gerais. With its solid base it soon became known around the country and was federalized in 1969 with its present name. The area of Agricultural Science is the most developed and is highly regarded nationally and internationally. Recently the university has begun multiple exchange programs with the southern U.S. states of Florida and Georgia. These programs send a Brazilian student to the University of Florida or the University of Georgia for each U.S. student sent to the Universidade Federal de Viçosa.