Welcome Bearkats!
Welcome to SHSU
Welcome to Sam Houston State University! We are excited to welcome you as a member of the Bearkat family. This family includes more than 21,000 current students and 130,000 alumni across the country and around the world.
Named for Sam Houston, the first president of the Lone Star Republic, and a former senator and governor of Texas, SHSU is grounded in a history of tradition and is committed to preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. The motto of our institution is “The measure of a Life is its Service.”
Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas, and is a member of The Texas State University System. It was founded in 1879 as the Sam Houston Normal Institute for the purpose of educating teachers. Today, that educational mission has expanded to include a diverse range of curriculum and programs. SHSU now offers over 90 bachelor's degree programs, 55 master’s degree programs and 10 doctoral programs to students (SHSU, 2021a).
In addition to its academic programs, SHSU offers a number of co-curricular to support your educational experience. There are more than 250 different student organizations and clubs at SHSU to build your resume and your social and professional networks (SHSU, 2021b). We hope that you will take advantage of all the great opportunities that SHSU has offer.
The faculty and staff at SHSU are excited you have chosen to attend our institution. We hope this open educational resource (OER) can be a valuable asset as you begin you Bearkat journey.
References
Sam Houston State University (2021a). About SHSU. https://www.shsu.edu/about/
Sam Houston State University (2021b). Campus life and culture. https://www.shsu.edu/campus_life/