Online Degrees Available at SHSU
Sam Houston State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Sports Medicine Online.
Sam Houston State University enrolls more than 20,000 students and offers more than 140 doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degree programs — many of which are available online. In fact, the school was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for being among the best in the U.S. for online graduate programs.
For instance, students may choose to pursue a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. This particular program was ranked first in the U.S. for “Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs” by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the Journal of Criminal Justice Education recognizes the faculty as being the most productive researchers in the country. The Master of Science in Criminal Justice is available only online, combining the convenience of distance learning education with the prestige of a criminal justice degree. Required courses cover topics such as emergent issues in criminal justice leadership, communication theory and administration of justice, computer and technological applications for criminal justice, research methods and quantitative analysis, and a critical analysis of justice administration. The 36-credit-hour program prepares students for success in the field of criminal justice and careers in social services, securities, corrections, and law enforcement. Working professionals who are seeking career advancement can earn their degrees in just two years.
Undergraduate students may choose from nine online bachelor’s degree programs. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree is ranked as one of the best online programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Students may customize the degree through electives, and students gain a broad knowledge in a number of core business subjects. The program has earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business since 1996. A general degree in business in a popular choice among students who are certain they want to work in the business field but who are not certain what professional career they want to pursue when they graduate. The Bachelor of Business Administration from SHSU may lead to a career in production, sales, management, public relations, marketing, or finance. Students must complete 120 credit hours to earn the degree.
The Doctor of Education in Developmental Education Administration is one of a few doctoral degrees offered at SHSU. The fully online program is designed to prepare working educators to administer and develop programs for under-prepared university and community college students in writing, reading, and/or math. Sam Houston State University students will complete 60 credit hours to earn their Ed.D., including courses in doctoral studies, developmental education, teaching strategies, advanced learning theory, designing learning environments, outcomes assessment, non-cognitive student development, statistical methods, education research, qualitative methodology, and contemporary issues in higher education leadership and administration as well as a doctoral dissertation.
Other popular degrees that are offered online include the Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Human Performance, Family and Consumer Sciences M.S., Master of Public Administration, Project Management M.S., and an MS. in Homeland Security Studies.
About Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University, also known as Sam or SHSU, is the third oldest post-secondary institution in Texas. Founded in 1879, SHSU is located in Huntsville, Texas, just 70 miles north of downtown Houston. It is one of the oldest purpose-built universities for teacher instruction west of the Mississippi River, and it was the first of its kind in Texas. SHSU belongs to the Texas State University System and enrolls more than 20,000 students in more than eight doctoral, 59 master’s, and 80 undergraduate programs. Students may also choose from more than 20 online graduate and undergraduate degrees that are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Notable alumni include WWE professional wrestler Billy Gunn, journalist Dan Rather, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and author Shea Serrano.
Sam Houston State University Accreditation Details
Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, several of its degree programs in teaching and counseling are accredited by their respective agencies. The purpose of accreditation is to ensure quality assurance and institutional effectiveness, meaning that the school is providing programs that meet or exceed targeted levels of quality. Accrediting agencies are responsible for developing standards-based evaluation criteria and conducting peer reviews to assess whether or not the school meets those criteria. Accreditation is a voluntary method of ensuring high-quality programs and is designed to distinguish schools from one another as well as to allow the transfer of credits among institutions.
Sam Houston State University Application Requirements
Students pursuing an online degree from Sam Houston State University undergo a similar process to those seeking a traditional degree. Undergraduates and graduates must complete an online application and pay a $45 nonrefundable application fee. Undergraduates are required to submit their high school transcripts as well as their ACT and/or SAT scores before the university will notify them of their admission application status. Graduate students must submit writing samples, a document of intent, and a current resume as well as letters of recommendation. Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions are also required for acceptance into an online graduate degree program. In addition, some online programs require a GRE and/or a GMAT test score earned within the last five years.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Online students pursuing an undergraduate degree will pay $3,756 per semester for tuition in addition to a $1,212 distance learning fee for a grand total of $4,968 for every 12 semester hours. Online graduate students will pay $4,650 in tuition and fees as well as the $1,212 distance learning fee for a total 12-semester-hour tuition rate of $5,862. SHSU offers a guaranteed price plan (GPP) for Texas residents, which allows students to pay $4,012.32 in tuition and fees plus the $1,212 distance learning fee for a total tuition cost of $5,224.32. Undergraduate resident incoming transfer students and undergraduate resident freshmen must elect this plan. Prospective students should also keep in mind that the $1,212 distance learning fee rate is not guaranteed through the GPP, and it may increase for students enrolled in the GPP.
Sam Houston State University offers a number of types of financial aid to help students cover the cost of tuition. These include loans, scholarships, grants, and a work-study program in which students hold employment while they complete their degrees. The SHSU Veterans Resource Center, established in 2009, helps veterans and their dependents to seek a high-quality education by offering benefits such as Post-9/11 GI Bill, tuition assistance, and more.
Sam Houston State University Website
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