Sam Houston State University Review
Sam Houston State University, located in Huntsville, Texas, is among the oldest institutions for higher learning in the state. The university currently offers 70 undergraduate and 60 graduate degree programs in academic fields, such as agriculture, forensic chemistry, communication studies and victim studies.
Sam Houston State University Overview
Founded in 1879, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) was one of the first teacher colleges in the southwestern region of the country. After 1919, the university began offering bachelor's and post-baccalaureate degree programs. Today, SHSU offers a distance education program in history as well as offering a criminal justice program that is affiliated with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Sam Houston State University has 32 residence halls and student apartments, which house the majority of the university's 16,795 students. A university hotel is also available for visiting students, family members and university events. Campus community life at the university includes over 200 student organizations, along with student-run newspaper media, including a newspaper and radio and television stations. The university offers recreational sports for student and faculty, with available indoor track fields, weight and aerobic rooms and outdoor pools.
Admissions and Enrollment Overview
High school class rank, GPA and standardized test scores are all taken into consideration for incoming freshmen applicants, though admission requirements vary by student academic level and academic college. Students can access the university application, admission status, transfer information and other admission resources on SHSU's website. Once accepted into the university, students complete all additional paperwork, arrange for housing and student orientation, and work with their academic advisor to select courses.
Campus Facilities and Learning Environment
Sam Houston State University is home to Newton Gresham Library, the university's main library with over 1.3 million books, government documents, digital collections, videotapes government documents and more. Students have access to materials from other college and university libraries across the state through SHSU's interlibrary services. The university also houses an observatory and a planetarium, which are open to the public during the fall and spring semesters.
The student-to-faculty ratio at SHSU is 20:1, with classes having an average size of 31 students. The university's computer services department operates 12 computer labs across campus, with computers equipped with Windows, USB ports, scanners and software; each lab has assistants available. Students who are interested in studies beyond their on-campus or online courses may consider SHSU's international programs and study abroad opportunities.
Colleges at Sam Houston State University
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Education
- College of Business Administration
- College of Criminal Justice
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Contact Information
- Address: 1806 Ave. J, Huntsville, TX 77340
- Phone Number: (936) 294-1111