Welcome to Sam Houston State University hotels - Serving hotels in Huntsville, TX

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About Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University, also known as simply SHSU or simply Sam, is a public university located in Huntsville, which is the county seat of Walker County and the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area, situated in the US state of Texas, having a population estimated at a number of more than 35 000 inhabitants, during the 2000 census.

SHSU was founded in 1879, being created by legislation signed by Governor Oran M. Roberts, with the purpose to train teachers for the public schools of Texas, being the first educational institution of its kind in the southwestern United States. In 1969, the institution adopted its current name, after having its name changed several times, being previously known as Sam Houston Normal Institute (1879), Sam Houston State Teachers College (1923) and Sam Houston State College (1965).

Since its founding, the university has constantly grown, offering today its students, which are estimated at a number of approximately 17 000, 78 undergraduate degree programs, 54 masters' programs and 6 doctoral programs in areas such as clinical psychology, criminal justice, special education, and reading and criminal justice, through 5 colleges, which are: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Criminal Justice, College of Education, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Athletics

Sam's athletic teams are known as the Sam Houston State Bearkats, who compete in NCAA Division I (Championship Subdivision for football) in the Southland Conference, their distinctive colors being orange and white. Athletcally, SHSU is, perhaps, best known for its men's basketball program, considered among the most efficient programs in NCAA Division I, ranking # 2 nationally in cost per win in 2006 at less than $25,000 per win with 18 wins against Division I opponents (21 overall). The Bearkat men's basketball team has won more games in the 11 seasons under Coach Marlin than any other Southland school, being ranked #2 in wins among Division I schools in Texas, in the current decade.

Notable Alumni

Among the most resonant names, on the list of notable alumni, there are: Dana Andrews - Hollywood actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1963 to 1965, Richard Linklater - Oscar-nominated film director, William F. Garrison - retired Major General of the United States Army who was the commander of Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched in 1993 to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Marcus Luttrell - Navy Cross recipient for his actions in 2005 facing Taliban fighters during Operation Red Wing, and Thaksin Shinawatra - former Prime Minister of Thailand, economic adviser to Cambodia, among others.