McDermott College of the Arts is a private arts college located in the small town of Westmont, in western Massachusetts. Founded in 1927 by Joshua P. McDermott, an actor and former vaudeville performer, the college offers a top-rated, exclusive education primarily focused on theater, art, and creative writing. It was named one of the top-ten arts colleges in the country, and has gained national recognition for its theater department in particular. It is a small school, with an undergraduate enrollment of less than 1500 students, and a graduate theater program with an enrollment of only 250. The college offers twenty majors, and follows a standard academic calendar, beginning in late August and continuing until May, including a winter study semester and optional summer schedule opportunities. The McDermott community is a close-knit group of intense, driven young students who wish to pursue careers in a field of the creative arts.