Accreditations

Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Sam Houston State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Sam Houston State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

College of Arts and Media

The Department of Art’s degree programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The Department of Dance's degree programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

The School of Music’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

The Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre's programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

College of Business Administration

The College of Business Administration’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs are accredited by AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

College of Criminal Justice

The Master of Science in Forensic Science is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

College of Education

The College of Education’s Educator Preparation Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). As one of only thirteen universities in Texas with CAEP accreditation, the educator preparation program stands out among the top programs in the nation. The college’s educator preparation certification programs are also accredited by the Texas Education Agency.

Many of the college’s undergraduate programs are recognized by Specialized Professional Accreditors (SPA), which indicates that the program has taken the extra steps necessary to meet rigorous standards set for the program’s specific educational field. The following teacher preparation programs have been nationally recognized by their respective SPA: Elementary Education EC-6 (Association for Childhood Education International); Middle School Education 4-8 (Association for Middle Level Education); Biology 8-12 (National Science Teachers Association); Kinesiology EC-12 (National Association of Sport and Physical Education); Mathematics 8-12 (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics); and Special Education (Council for Exceptional Children).

Many of the college’s graduate programs are also recognized by their respective Specialized Professional Accreditors. The following professional educator preparation programs have been nationally recognized by their respective SPA:  Library Science (American Association for School Librarians); Educational Diagnostician (Council for Exceptional Children); Principal (Educational Leadership Constituents Council); Superintendent (Educational Leadership Constituents Council); Reading Educator (International Literacy Association); and Instructional Technology (International Society for Technology in Education).

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; School Counseling, M.Ed.; and Counselor Education, Ph.D have been accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

College of Health Sciences

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at the undergraduate level and the Dietetic Internship (DI) Program at the graduate level in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. (312) 899-0040, ext. 5400. Website.

The Interior Design Program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is granted accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The BS in Kinesiology-all-levels Teacher Certification Program-The Physical Education Teacher Education Program was awarded “National Recognition” status by the Society of Health and Physical Educators America (SHAPE America) through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North, Washington DC 20006. 

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Doctoral Program degree in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

The Specialists degree in School Psychology is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to ensure high quality school psychology training and services. Any individual interested in reviewing the official document listing the accreditation, approval or licensing of Sam Houston State University, will have access to such material in the Reference Department of the Newton Gresham Library.

College of Osteopathic Medicine

SHSU-COM has been awarded Accreditation with Exceptional Outcomes by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).  For more information on COCA accreditation or to file a complaint with the accrediting body, please visit Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.  

College of Science and Engineering Technology

The American Chemical Society recognizes the Department of Chemistry as having adequate faculty, facilities, library, curriculum, and research for training professional chemists.

The Computing Science Program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs.

Sam Houston State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management has been accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.