Missouri State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Fourth District Normal School (1905–1919) Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (1919–1945) Southwest Missouri State College (1945–1972) Southwest Missouri State University (1972–2005) |
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| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1905 |
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Academic affiliation
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CUMU |
| Endowment | $193 million |
| President | Richard "Biff" Williams |
| Provost | Frank A. Einhellig |
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Academic staff
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1,124 |
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Administrative staff
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1,350 |
| Students | 23,418 |
| Location |
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United States
37°11′59″N 93°16′51″W / 37.19971°N 93.28079°W |
| Campus | Urban, 225 acres (91.1 ha) |
| Colors | Maroon and White |
| Nicknames | Bears and Lady Bears (women's basketball only) |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – (C-USA in 2025) |
| Mascot | Boomer Bear |
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Missouri State University (MSU or MO State) is a large public university in Springfield, Missouri. It was started in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School. A "normal school" was a special type of college that trained teachers.
Today, Missouri State is the second-largest university in Missouri. In fall 2023, about 23,418 students attended. The university also has a smaller campus in West Plains, Missouri. This campus offers two-year degrees. You can also study business at a special program in China.
Contents
History of Missouri State
Missouri State University began on March 17, 1905. It was first called the Fourth District Normal School. Its main goal was to train teachers for public schools.
Classes started on June 11, 1906. The first group had 543 students. They met in a building off campus. The first permanent building was Academic Hall. It opened in 1909. This building is now called Carrington Hall. It is named after William T. Carrington, the first president. Today, it is the main office building for the university.
In 1919, the school changed its name to Southwest Missouri State Teacher's College. This showed its focus on the region and teaching. Over the years, the college added more subjects like arts and sciences. So, in 1945, it became Southwest Missouri State College.
More students joined in the 1950s and 1960s. This led to new dorms and more advanced studies. In 1972, the school became Southwest Missouri State University. By 1973, over 10,000 students were enrolled.
By 1985, it was the second-largest public university in Missouri. People wanted to change the name to Missouri State University. This idea faced some challenges. The University of Missouri System was worried about competition.
In 2005, the name change finally happened. Governor Matt Blunt signed the bill on March 17, 2005. This was exactly 100 years after the university was founded.
In 2006, the university updated its rules. It added that it does not treat people unfairly based on their sexual orientation. This means everyone is welcome.
The university's fight song, "The Scotsman," was chosen in the 1960s. It is played at sports events. The school's colors, maroon and white, and its mascot, the Bear, were chosen in 1906. The Bear was picked because of the design on Missouri's state seal.
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Presidents of Missouri State
Here are the leaders who have guided the university:
- William Thomas Carrington, 1906–1918
- Clyde Milton Hill, 1918–1926
- Roy Ellis, 1926–1961
- Leland Eldridge Traywick, 1961–1964
- Arthur Lee Mallory, 1964–1971
- Duane G. Meyer, 1971–1983
- Marshal Gordon, 1983–1992
- Russell Keeling (interim), 1992–1993
- John Keiser, 1994–2005
- Michael T. Nietzel, 2005–2010
- James E. Cofer, 2010–2011
- Clifton M. "Clif" Smart III, 2011–2024
- Richard "Biff" Williams, 2024-present
Academics and Learning
Missouri State University is known as a "Doctoral/Professional" university. This means it offers many advanced degrees, including doctorates.
What You Can Study
Missouri State University has many different colleges and schools:
- Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts and Letters (RCOAL) – This college includes art, music, theater, and languages.
- College of Business (COB) – Here you can study business, accounting, and marketing.
- College of Education – This college trains future teachers and school leaders.
- McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) – This college focuses on health, nursing, and psychology.
- College of Humanities and Public Affairs – This college covers history, politics, and sociology.
- College of Natural and Applied Sciences – Here you can study biology, chemistry, and computer science.
- Missouri State Outreach and Missouri State Online – These offer classes for students who can't attend on campus.
- William H. Darr College of Agriculture – This college focuses on farming and related sciences.
- Graduate School – For students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees.
The university offers over 150 different subjects for undergraduate students. It also has more than 45 graduate programs. In 2022, the university awarded 4,404 degrees. Most teachers have the highest degree in their field.
International Programs
Since 2000, Missouri State University has partnered with Liaoning Normal University in China. They created the LNU-MSU College of International Business. This college offers two-year and four-year business degrees. Students from many countries study there.
Public Affairs Mission
Missouri State University has a special mission called "Public Affairs." This mission was given to the university by the state in 1995. It has three main parts:
- Ethical Leadership: Students learn to be good leaders and make ethical choices.
- Cultural Competence: Students learn to understand and respect different cultures.
- Community Engagement: Students learn to help their communities and society.
The university holds events and conferences to support this mission. They invite speakers to discuss important topics.
Campus Life
Missouri State University's main campus is in central Springfield. It covers 225 acres and has over 40 buildings.
The "Historic Quadrangle" has some of the oldest buildings. These include Carrington Hall, Hill Hall, and Siceluff Hall.
The Duane G. Meyer Library is in the center of campus. It has over 877,000 books. It also has many newspapers and magazines. The library was updated in 2002. A special musical instrument, the Jane A. Meyer Carillon, was added. In front of the library is the John Q. Hammons Fountain.
David D. Glass Hall is home to the College of Business. It is a large, modern building. It was named after David Glass, a former CEO of Wal-Mart and an MSU graduate.
Other important buildings include Blunt Hall, Kemper Hall, and Strong Hall. The north side of campus has student dorms and recreation areas. Greenwood Laboratory School, a K-12 school, is also on campus.
Jane A. Meyer Carillon
The Jane A. Meyer Carillon is a large musical instrument. It is located at the Meyer Library. It has 48 bronze bells. The largest bell weighs almost three tons! The carillon plays music every 15 minutes. Special concerts are also held throughout the year.
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
This hall is a large theater with 2,220 seats. It is used for university music, dance, and theater shows. It also hosts the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Many national touring shows come to this hall.
Athletic Facilities
The Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is where the football team plays. It was first built in 1930. It has been updated many times. McDonald Arena was built in 1940. It was the main indoor sports venue for many years. Now, the 11,000-seat Great Southern Bank Arena is the main indoor sports venue. It opened in 2008.
Campus Housing
Missouri State University has nine residence halls and two apartment buildings. These are places where students live on campus.
- Wells House can hold up to 490 students.
- Freudenberger House (nicknamed "Freddy") can hold 740 students.
- Woods House has rooms for 376 students.
- Blair-Shannon House has space for 729 students in suite-style rooms.
- Hammons House and Hutchens House are eight-story dorms. They house hundreds of students.
- Scholars House is for Honors Program students or transfer students.
- Heitz House is the newest dorm, opened in 2022. It has dining and parking inside.
- Monroe Apartments and Sunvilla Tower are apartment buildings for older students.
All dorms have computer labs, laundry rooms, and study spaces. They offer free laundry, Wi-Fi, and 24-hour help. Some floors are "Living-learning Communities." These have special themes, like specific subjects or interests. The campus is smoke and tobacco-free.
Robert W. Plaster Student Union
The Robert W. Plaster Student Union (PSU) is a four-story building. It is a central spot for students. Here, students can eat, hang out, study, and shop. It has many restaurants like Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks. There's also a convenience store and an e-sports center. The PSU has many meeting rooms. It also houses offices for student services and organizations. A bronze bear statue stands at the entrance. The North Mall, outside the PSU, is a place for concerts and events.
Recreation and Fun
Missouri State has many intramural sports. These are sports played by students against each other. They include basketball, soccer, volleyball, and more. There are two large fields with artificial turf for these sports.
The Fitness and Wellness Program offers group classes. You can try Pilates, Yoga, and Zumba. The Outdoor Adventures program lets students rent gear for rock climbing, camping, and kayaking.
The Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center opened in 2012. It is a large building for student fitness and fun.
Student Groups and Activities
Missouri State has over 300 student organizations. These groups are for different interests. They include academic clubs, Greek life, religious groups, and sports clubs.
Pride Marching Band
The Pride Marching Band is the university's official marching band. It has 300 student musicians. They play at all home football games. The band has performed in famous parades. These include the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.
Chorale
The university's chorale is a singing group. They performed at the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017.
Chi Alpha
The first Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship (ΧΑ) group started at Missouri State in 1953. It is a national Christian organization.
News and Media
The Standard is the university's student-run newspaper. It publishes news online and in print. Students write and edit all the content.
"Ozarks News Journal" is a TV news show. It is made by broadcast journalism students. It airs weekly on local cable TV.
Radio and Television
"KSMU" 91.1 FM is the university's public radio station. It broadcasts National Public Radio content and classical music. The station has won many awards for its news reporting.
MSU also runs Ozarks Public Television. This station provides PBS programming. It serves many homes in Southwest Missouri.
Fraternity and Sorority Life
There are several fraternities and sororities on campus. These are social organizations for students.
Athletics and Sports
Varsity Sports
Missouri State University has 17 NCAA Division I sports teams. They are called the Bears. Their team colors are maroon and white.
The Bears compete in many sports. These include basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball, and football. Most teams are part of the Missouri Valley Conference. The football team is in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Starting in 2025, Missouri State will join Conference USA.
MSU teams have been to 52 NCAA championships. The men's basketball team reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in 1999. The women's basketball team made it to the "Final Four" in 1992 and 2001. The baseball team went to the College World Series in 2003. In 1974, the women's softball team won a national championship.
Club Teams
Missouri State University also has several club sports teams. The Handball team has won many championships.
The club Ice Hockey team, the Missouri State University Ice Bears, started in 2001. They play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). In 2014 and 2015, the Ice Bears made it to the ACHA National Championship. Their home games are at Mediacom Ice Park.
Other club sports include bowling, pistol, rodeo, and wrestling. There are also men's and women's club soccer teams.
Notable Alumni
