Sam Houston State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Sam Houston Normal Institute (1879–1923) Sam Houston State Teachers College (1923–1965) Sam Houston State College (1965–1969) |
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| Motto | "The measure of a Life is its Service" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | April 21, 1879 |
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Parent institution
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Texas State University System |
| Accreditation | SACS |
| Endowment | $152.3 million (2021) |
| President | Alisa White |
| Provost | Michael T. Stephenson |
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Academic staff
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598 |
| Students | 21,679 |
| Location |
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United States
30°42′50″N 95°32′50″W / 30.71389°N 95.54722°W |
| Campus | Distant Town, 272 acres (110 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Houstonian |
| Colors | Orange & White |
| Nickname | Bearkats |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – CUSA |
| Mascot | Sammy Bearkat |
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Sam Houston State University (often called Sam Houston, SHSU, or Sam) is a large public university located in Huntsville, Texas, United States. It was started in 1879, making it the third-oldest public college in Texas. It was also the first school in Texas created to train teachers.
The university is named after Sam Houston, a famous Texan leader who lived and is buried in Huntsville. SHSU is part of the Texas State University System. It has over 20,000 students. They can choose from more than 80 different study programs. The university also offers many online classes. SHSU is known for its high level of research.
Contents
University History
Early Years: 1800s and 1900s
The land where Sam Houston State University now stands was once home to Austin College. This college moved to Sherman, Texas, in 1876. Austin Hall, built in 1851, is the oldest university building still in use west of the Mississippi River. It was fixed up in 2012 and is now used for special events. Interestingly, Sam Houston himself was there when the building was first opened.
Sam Houston Normal Institute was created on April 21, 1879. Its main goal was to train teachers for Texas public schools. It was the first school of its kind in the southwestern United States. On October 10, 1879, the first classes began with 110 students and four teachers.
The Peabody Memorial Library was built in 1901. It was the first library building on a campus in Texas. Funds for it came from the George Peabody Foundation. This library was considered very special for its time. Today, it is fully restored and used for university events.
When the university first opened, students earned a certificate to teach. After 1919, the school started giving out bachelor's degrees. In 1936, it began offering advanced degrees for students who had already earned a bachelor's.
Recent Years: 2000s
In 2012, SHSU opened a new center in The Woodlands. This center has a large building and a parking garage. The university also has another location called SHSU-University Park. It is located near Tomball in Harris County.
How the University's Name Changed
Sam Houston State University has had a few different names over the years:
- 1879: Sam Houston Normal Institute (when it first started)
- 1923: Sam Houston State Teachers College
- 1965: Sam Houston State College
- 1969: Sam Houston State University (its current name)
In 2007, a law was passed in Texas. This law stopped the university's name from being changed to Texas State – Huntsville.
Campus Life
The main campus is in Huntsville, Texas. It covers about 316 acres (128 hectares) and has many oak trees. The university also has large farms for teaching and research. There is a rodeo arena, a planetarium, and an observatory. Students can also enjoy an 18-hole golf course called The Bearkat Course. The center of campus has the Blatchley Bell Tower and a fountain.
What Students Can Study
Sam Houston State University has eight main colleges. Each college focuses on different subjects:
- College of Business Administration
- College of Criminal Justice
- College of Education
- College of Arts and Media
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Science & Engineering Technology
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Osteopathic Medicine
The university also has an Honors College for students who achieve high grades.
The programs in the College of Criminal Justice are very well-known. They have been ranked among the top five in the country. The theater and dance programs are also highly ranked. SHSU offers the only Professional Golf Management program in Texas. This program helps students become golf professionals. The university also has one of the oldest speech and debate programs in the nation.
As of 2025, the university offers:
- Over 80 different bachelor's degree programs
- Nearly 60 master's programs
- Eight doctoral programs (highest level of degree)
- Many certificate programs
College of Criminal Justice
SHSU's College of Criminal Justice is one of the largest and oldest programs of its kind in the United States. Huntsville is a city with a strong connection to criminal justice. It is home to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and several prisons.
In 1970, the college was one of the first in the U.S. to offer a Ph.D. (doctorate) in criminal justice. It was also the first in Texas to offer a Master of Science in Forensic Science. Forensic science is about using science to solve crimes. The college has a working courtroom where students can watch real trials.
Texas Studies
The university offers classes that teach about the history and culture of Texas. In 2012, the university library started a project to collect stories from Texas military veterans.
Sports and Athletics
Sam Houston State's team colors are bright orange and white. Their teams are called the Bearkats. Sam Houston sports teams compete in Division I of the NCAA. They are part of Conference USA.
The Sam Houston Bearkats football team won the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship. They beat South Dakota State with a score of 23–21. They finished that season with a perfect 10–0 record. This was the first national championship for Bearkat football since 1964.
The nickname "The Bearkats" started in 1923. Before that, the teams were called "The Normals." The name "Bearkat" likely came from a local saying, "tough as a Bearkat!" It was a strong, fighting name. Some people think the Bearkat mascot might be based on animals like a Binturong or a Kinkajou.
A costumed mascot named Sammy Bearkat started appearing at sports events in 1959. A female mascot named Samantha joined in 1986 but retired in 2005.
Sports Rivalries
SHSU has a big rivalry with Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). The two schools are about 90 miles apart. Their annual football game is called the Battle of the Piney Woods. This game has been played since 1923. Since 2010, the game has been held at NRG Stadium in Houston. SHSU has won many more games in this rivalry.
SHSU also has a rivalry with Texas State University (TXST). These two schools have played each other many times. They are both part of the Texas State University System.
Club Sports
Many students at SHSU enjoy club sports. These include powerlifting, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, rugby, and martial arts. There are also club teams for basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and baseball. In 2013, the Sam Houston quidditch team won a national championship.
The university's cheer, dance, and mascot teams have won the most national titles among all sports and activities at Sam Houston.
Campus Media
The university has its own student-run radio station, KSHU (90.5 FM), and a television station (cable channel 7). These stations broadcast news, sports, and entertainment. "The Houstonian" is the student newspaper, published twice a week. All these media groups have offices in the Dan Rather Communication Building.
The Alcalde was the university's yearbook. It was published from 1910 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2006. It was named after Texas Governor Oran M. Roberts.
Other Schools Connected to SHSU
The university runs a network of charter schools. The main offices are in Huntsville, but the schools themselves are in the Greater Houston area. These schools started in 2017. They are located in daycare facilities.
- Brighton Academy (Kindergarten to 6th grade)
- Cypress Trails (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Greengate Academy (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Spring Woods (Kindergarten to 2nd grade)
Famous People Who Attended SHSU
Many notable people have studied at Sam Houston State University. Here are a few:
- Dana Andrews, actor
- Michael Bankston, professional football player
- Fred Beene, professional baseball player
- Rhett Bomar, professional football player
- Morgan Chesky, journalist
- Katie Rose Clarke, actress
- John Ferling, author and historian
- Victoria Gonzales, also known as Raquel Rodriguez, professional wrestler
- P. J. Hall, professional football player
- Abby Johnson, activist
- Richard Linklater, movie director
- Marcus Luttrell, U.S. Navy Seal
- Josh McCown, professional football player
- Dan Rather, journalist
- Shea Serrano, author
- Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand
- Monty Sopp, better known as Billy Gunn, professional wrestler
- Steve Sparks, professional baseball player and broadcaster
- Charlie Wilson, U.S. politician
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