[ Table of Contents | Graduate School of Public Health Home | Bulletins Homepage | Next Section ]





General Information
The University of Pittsburgh

  • University Environment
    The campus of the University of Pittsburgh is in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, about three miles from the heart of the Golden Triangle, the commercial center of the city. Together, Oakland and the Golden Triangle form the heart of metropolitan Pittsburgh. Oakland is the site of the Mellon Institute, a physical science research center; the Carnegie museum complex; the Scaife Gallery; and Phipps Conservatory. These institutions border the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon and are within walking distance of other educational and cultural facilities. Schenley Park, also adjacent to the campus, features an 18-hole golf course, cross-country skiing trails, running trails, and a skating rink.

    Highland Park, about three miles from the University, features one of the most complete zoos in the country and includes the Children's Zoo and Park, an Aqua Zoo, and an Underground Zoo. The National Aviary is also nearby on the Northside of Pittsburgh.

  • Golden Triangle
    Pittsburgh is a city on the move--environmentally, economically, and culturally. Although Pittsburgh's past reputation as the "smoky city" still clouds its image, in recent years the city has ranked first or among the top as a place to live and work--for example, being rated as America's "Most Livable City" and one of the top ten cities in urban redevelopment. The city has one of the lowest crime rates of any major metropolitan area.

    In the heart of the downtown area are the headquarters of many of the world's major corporations, including USX, Westinghouse, Alcoa, H. J. Heinz, PPG Industries, and Mellon Bank, making Pittsburgh one of the largest corporate headquarters in America. Employment and commercial development are growing. New office towers, a convention center, a new theater center, a 600-room international hotel, a new public science center, and more riverfront attractions have been built in the last few years.

    Pittsburgh is also known for the arts. The Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Opera, the American Wind Symphony, the Mendelssohn Choir, and the Civic Light Opera provide year-round musical offerings. Works of great masters like Rodin, Van Gogh, Giacometti, Wyeth, and Picasso are part of the permanent collection at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Both Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts are sites for ballet and modern dance, Broadway theater, and performances by top soloists.

    A major sports town, Pittsburgh has great college football and boasts the first professional team to win four Super Bowls, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The excitement continues throughout the year with Big East basketball, Pittsburgh Penguins hockey (winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups), and Pittsburgh Pirates professional baseball. Each May, more than 3,500 runners participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon.

    The night scene in Pittsburgh has something for everyone--from jazz in small, out-of-the-way clubs that spawned national stars like George Benson, Earl Hines, Eric Kloss, and Harold Betters, to bluegrass, to nationally recognized nightclubs. Major concerts are nearly always on the bill at the Civic Arena, Three Rivers Stadium, Star Lake Amphitheater, and the A. J. Palumbo Center. Theater fans will enjoy the repertory at the Pittsburgh Public Theater and many local theaters. Moviegoers will love the many theaters featuring classic and cult American and foreign films.

  • Surrounding Area
    Within Pittsburgh, throughout Allegheny County, and in surrounding counties are amusement parks, recreational parks with overnight accommodations, camping grounds, picnic shelters, ski resorts, lakes, and boating facilities. Fishing and hunting are excellent along the many streams and in the extensive wooded areas of the region. For the history buff, Western Pennsylvania is rich in mementos of America's struggle for independence during the Revolutionary War period.

    Apartments in and around the Oakland area are plentiful. In many pleasant neighborhoods within 15 minutes of Oakland, apartments and houses are available in virtually all price ranges and often feature stained glass windows, log-burning fireplaces, comfortable balconies and porches, and other elements of architectural interest.

    Visitors to Oakland usually make reservations at the Holiday Inn-University Center, Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge, or Hampton Inn, all within walking distance of the teaching hospitals and the University.

    [ Graduate School of Public Health Home | Bulletins Homepage | Next Section ]