Diverse On-Campus and Online SHSU Degrees
Sam Houston State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Affordable Online Graduate Education Programs.
Split into seven colleges with 78 percent retention, Sam Houston State University grants 86 bachelor’s majors in Huntsville, at The Woodlands Center, and online via Blackboard. For example, the 120-credit Bilingual Health Care Studies BA trains patient advocates in Spanish, Arabic, French, or German with 200-hour internships like Walker County Medical Center. Placed 47th nationally by the U.S. News & World Report, the Sociology BS follows 120-credit, SACS-accredited online tracks in Social Change, Economy & Society, or Inequality. Requiring RN licensure and 2.5 GPAs, the Nursing BSN has Texas Board approval for 62 online credits like Genomics and Older Adult Health. The Agricultural Engineering Technology BS advised by Dr. Ryan Saucier teaches crop innovations on the 1,740-acre Gibbs Ranch with Delta Tau Alpha membership. Other SHSU baccalaureates include the History BA, Dance BFA, Fashion Merchandising BS, Photography BFA, Soil Science BS, Victim Studies BA, and International Business BBA.
Known for its $2,000 ASPIRE Scholars Program, the SHSU Office of Graduate Studies has 54 master’s options as the Chronicle of Higher Education’s 14th fastest-growing university. The Family and Consumer Sciences MS builds a 36-credit, non-thesis Blackboard path toward full NCFR certification for nurturing healthy relationships. Open until July 1st or November 1st, the 36-credit Homeland Security Studies MS has placed online post-grads at the Central Intelligence Agency, Border Patrol, Photofax, Mustang Engineering, and more. Chaired by Dr. Holly Weimar, the Master of Library Science gives licensed teachers a 36-credit, NCATE-approved online degree for PK-12 media careers. Admitting average cohorts of 20, the Statistics MS ends with thesis research after 37 Huntsville credits from Regression Modeling to Sampling Methods. Sam Houston State University also awards a Spanish MA, Kinesiology MS, Creative Writing MFA, Business Administration MBA, Dietetics MS, Political Science MA, and Chemistry MS.
Ranked Forbes’ 223rd top research university, Sam Houston State utilizes cutting-edge labs like Gibson D. Lewis Center to award 10 doctoral degrees. Wholly online, the Developmental Education Administration EdD starts 60-credit cohorts each June for university careers aiding underprepared students. Costing $4,529 per term, the Instructional Systems Design and Technology EdD follows a 60-credit, CAEP-accredited online dissertation track for academic IT applications. Since 2015, the United States’ first Forensic Science Ph.D. has immersed Huntsville post-grads in 86 credits of hands-on crime laboratory experiences. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. directed by Dr. James Crosby trains legally informed clinicians with an intensive 108-credit, APA-accredited curriculum. Other SHSU doctorates are the Counselor Education Ph.D., Literacy Ed.D., Criminal Justice Ph.D., and Cyber Forensics Ph.D.
Labeled “Military Friendly” by G.I. Jobs for MyCAA Benefits, the SHSU Continuing Education Department also makes 22 short-term certificates available online. The Critical Infrastructure Protection Certificate starts an 18-credit plan thrice yearly for Blackboard classes like Unconditional Threats mandating 3.0 GPAs. Modeled after the 2010 Texas Education Agency’s Handbook, the 15-credit Dyslexia Certificate trains literacy specialists for diagnosis recognition. Since Fall 2017, the Health Communication and Public Relations Certificate has produced articulate medical PR staff for $2,724 per part-time term. At The Woodlands Center, the 15-credit Data Assurance Certificate led by Dr. Cihan Varol supplements management information systems degrees. More Sam Houston State University certificates include Adult Education, Community Development, School Superintendent, Youth Services, and Geography.
About Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was established in 1879 by the 16th Texas Legislature as the state’s first tax-funded normal school after Austin College moved to Sherman. Initially led by Bernard Mallon with 110 enrolled, Sam Houston State used Peabody Foundation funds to expand. By 1936, SHSU was granting master’s degrees as a public, coed RU/H institution of the Texas State University system. Contributing $8.2 million in community service yearly, Sam Houston State is now the 14th fastest-growing university with 21,115 Bearkats from 60 nations. SHSU grew beyond its 1,600-acre Huntsville complex near Josey Park to The Woodlands Center and online. Linked to 78,686 LinkedIn alumni, Sam Houston State has graduated Dan Rather, Richard Linklater, Melinda Estes, and others.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked SHSU the #1 best criminal justice, 16th best computer IT, 28th top education, and 79th best business school online. On Niche, Sam Houston State is America’s 212th top public university, 259th best accounting college, and 460th best faculty. Forbes picked SHSU for the 228th best research and 212th top public education nationally. College Factual noticed Sam Houston State University for the country’s 286th best value, 57th best agriculture program, and 161st most popular family sciences degree. Houston Public Media crowned SHSU as Texas’ 12th best college for ROI. According to Washington Monthly, Sam Houston State also features the 153rd best financial aid and 250th top Ph.D. completion rate.
Sam Houston State University Accreditation Details
In 2009, Sam Houston State University underwent an institutional quality checkup by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to reaffirm its Level VI accreditation under president Dr. Dana Gibson Hoyt through 2019. This third-party regional body in Decatur is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to review SHSU’s over 80 baccalaureates, 50 master’s, and 10 doctoral programs. Certain online degrees are also accredited by the following:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- National Association of Sport and Physical Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology
Sam Houston State University Application Requirements
Joining the 2,181 online Sam Houston State University students is considered “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s for the 72 percent admission rate. The Office of Graduate Studies solely accepts online master’s students with four-year baccalaureates that fulfill prerequisites. For instance, the Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance mandates 12+ credits in Kinesiology. The Online Master of Education in Reading/Language Arts needs current teaching certification. The Executive Master of Business Administration stipulates at least three years of full-time, valid experience. Most master’s applicants hold minimum 2.5 GPAs overall or 3.0 GPAs in the last 60 credits. Though sometimes optional, composite GRE scores must be higher than 280. Business majors need GMAT scores above 500, but the mean is currently 530. Some programs like the Online Master of Science in Health Care Quality and Safety also require an on-campus or video interview.
Sam Houston State University has general graduate deadlines of August 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and May 15th for Summer, but dates can differ. For example, the Online Master of Education in Instructional Leadership prefers candidates applying by June 15th or October 15th. The Graduate Admissions Application is completed online via ApplyTexas. If necessary, paper materials can be mailed to Box 2478 in Huntsville, TX 77341. Contact (936) 294-1111 or [email protected] with any questions. Post-bachelor’s online programs request these:
- $45 applications (2.75 percent fee for credit cards)
- Transcripts from accredited, degree-granting colleges
- Official scores from the Educational Testing Service
- Résumés with paid and unpaid work experiences
- Three signed, sealed letters of recommendation
- Typed, professional essays on expected outcomes
- Copies of relevant licenses (i.e. teacher or RN)
Tuition and Financial Aid
Traditional full-time graduate tuition at Sam Houston State University costs Texans $5,391 annually. Non-residents afford $12,861 for full-time master’s study each year. That’s before the $9,178 room and board charge is added at the Huntsville campus. SHSU Online follows a different schedule where everyone pays the same though. Master’s programs online bill $478 per credit with a $101 distance learning fee. One three-credit course will cost approximately $1,539. Taking nine credits each semester would equal $4,421 for full-time online graduates.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 69 percent of full-time SHSU Bearkats share $92.11 million with yearly financial aid offers worth $7,494 on average. Each online graduate student receives $1,000 from the 60×30 Scholarship Program. The Office of Graduate Studies houses institutional funds like the Arleigh B. Templeton Scholarship, Ed Sandhop Veterans Scholarship, Jim Stevens Technology Scholarship, Joe Glenn Burleson Agribusiness Scholarship, Robert J. Wagner Scholarship, American Bank Scholarship, and Diane Cochran Criminal Justice Scholarship. Submitting the FAFSA application with code 003606 checks eligibility for Direct Unsubsidized and Plus loan money. Sam Houston State University processes Texas B-On-Time and College Access loans too. Lonestar State post-grads can earn the Fifth Year Accounting Scholarship, Texas Armed Services Scholarship, and Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship.
Learn about more degree offerings, including the Digital Forensics Master of Science, Kinesiology Master of Science, Mathematics Master of Art, Project Management Master of Science, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Master of Education, and Victim Services Management Master of Science, at the Sam Houston State University website.