Sam Houston State University Undergraduate Catalog 2006-2008
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Admission Standards for Undergraduate Students

Sam Houston State University accepts applications for undergraduate admission from students without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age.

All undergraduate admission applications and all transcripts (high school and college/university) are discarded/destroyed when students do not enroll (or register for classes) for the semester/summer session for which admission was sought.

Beginning Freshmen

A beginning freshman student who graduated from an accredited high school must take the ACT Composite or SAT I (critical reading + math).
A beginning freshman student must submit all of the following documentation:

  • Completed Texas Common Application with nonrefundable application fee
  • Official copy of ACT Composite or SAT I (critical reading + math)
  • Official copy of high school transcript showing class rank (if applicable). Upon graduation from high school, applicant must provide a final official high school transcript with final class rank, date of graduation, and graduation plan.

Admission requirements include the following:

  • Top 10%, no minimum score on ACT Composite or SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • 11-25%, a minimum score of 17 on ACT Composite or a minimum score of 850 on SAT I (critical reading + math)
  • 2nd quartile, a minimum score of 19 on ACT Composite or a minimum score of 930 on SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • 3rd quartile, a minimum score of 22 on ACT Composite or 1030 on SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • 4th quartile, a minimum score of 25 on ACT Composite or 1140 on SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • Students from non-ranking high schools, a minimum of 21 on ACT Composite or 1010 on SAT I (critical reading + math)

A beginning freshman student who has attempted college/university coursework while enrolled in high school or prior to entering Sam Houston State University must provide official transcript(s) indicating the completion of all transferable academic hours (excluding developmental, remedial, vocational/technical, continuing education, or lifelong learning courses) with an overall cumulative transfer grade point average of 2.0 or higher on all academic hours attempted.

Graduates of a Non-Accredited High School, Home Schooled Students, and Students Who Earned the GED

Graduates of a non-accredited high school, home school graduates, and students who earned the GED must submit the following documentation:

  • Completed Texas Common Application with nonrefundable application fee.
  • Official copy of ACT Composite or SAT I (critical reading + math) score.
  • Official copy of high school transcript showing class rank or official GED certificate with GED scores. If the student is home schooled, a notarized copy of the transcript must be provided. Upon graduation, applicants must provide a final official transcript showing final class rank and date of graduation.


Sam Houston State University considers admission for qualifying graduates from non-accredited high schools, home school graduates, or students who earned the GED who meet the following criteria:

  • Score at least 21 on the ACT Composite or 1010 on the SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • Present a high school/home school transcript that meets the Texas State Graduation Requirements as approved by the State Board of Education. (See http://www.tea.state.tx.us/taa/ch74001101.html or Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74.) Students who earned the GED must present an official copy of the GED certificate with GED scores in lieu of a transcript.

Transfer Students

A transfer student is defined as an undergraduate student who has completed a minimum of 12 hours of transferable academic coursework from an accredited college or university. “Transferable academic coursework” is defined as those attempted hours of coursework which are applicable to a baccalaureate degree program.

Transfer Students from U.S. Colleges or Universities
Undergraduate students who transfer to Sam Houston State University from another regionally accredited college or university must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher AND provide all of the following documentation:

  • Completed Texas Common Application with nonrefundable application fee.
  • Official transcript(s) from all accredited colleges and universities attended.

Undergraduate students who transfer from a regionally accredited college or university with less than 12 transferable hours must also meet the standards of beginning freshmen students (see Beginning Freshmen within this chapter).

Students who are currently suspended from another college or university are not eligible for admission to Sam Houston State University.

Transfer of Credit
Sam Houston State University accepts a maximum of 66 academic hours plus four hours of activity based physical education (kinesiology) for a total of 70 semester hours from the accredited community colleges attended. Please see Appendix D for information about Texas Common Course Numbers and equivalent SHSU courses.

All academic courses attempted at a four-year regionally accredited U.S. college or university will be reviewed for transferability. Sam Houston State University reserves the right to refuse courses taken at U.S. schools other than regionally accredited colleges or universities.

Former SHSU Students

All former SHSU students who did not attend the University during the most recent Fall or Spring semester must submit all of the following:

  • Completed Texas Common Application with nonrefundable re-application fee
  • Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended since last attending SHSU.

Students readmitted to Sam Houston State University who originally left on academic probation are readmitted on academic probation regardless of whether the student has since attended another institution. All other students applying for readmission into the University must present a minimum, combined grade point average of 2.0 or higher on work completed at other institutions since last attending SHSU.

Summer Transient Students

Students applying for summer school only must meet the same undergraduate admission requirements as stated in the Transfer Students from U.S. Colleges or Universities section of this catalog. Summer school only students are required to provide verification of TSI requirements to the Registrar’s Office.

Early Undergraduate Admissions Program

High school students who have completed the junior year may be accepted to attend classes at Sam Houston State University. To be accepted to attend classes, the students must provide official documentation for the criteria listed below, complete the undergraduate admissions application form, and pay the nonrefundable application fee. To qualify for the Early Undergraduate Admissions Program, a high school student must meet the following criteria:

  • Be in the top 25% of the graduating class.
  • Have the intent to return to high school and complete the senior year.
  • Have the recommendation of the high school principal or counselor.
  • Have written permission of the parent or guardian.
  • Provide verification of TSI status.
  • Submit the completed Early Admission Application.

Upon graduation from high school, the student must submit a new undergraduate application to change the classification from “Early Admissions” to “Undergraduate Student” and meet the appropriate admission standards in order to continue taking classes at Sam Houston State University.

Full-Time Early Undergraduate Admissions Program Requirements

Sam Houston State University recognizes that in some instances a truly gifted student may receive considerable educational benefit from a full-time early undergraduate admissions program to a college or university.

To be admitted to the University, the student must provide official documentation for the criteria listed below, complete the undergraduate admissions application form, and pay the nonrefundable application fee. High school students desiring to enter a full-time early undergraduate admissions program must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete the junior year of high school.
  • Be in the top 25% of the graduating class.
  • Score 27 or higher on the ACT Composite or 1200 or higher on the SAT I (critical reading + math).
  • Provide letters of recommendation from the high school principal and two other high school teachers.
  • Provide a signed letter from the student’s parents or guardian stating that they understand the program and approve of the student’s participation.
  • Have a personal interview with the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee.

Admission of Undergraduate International Students

All undergraduate international students must file the Texas Common Application or the SHSU Undergraduate Admissions Application and pay the nonrefundable application fee in U.S. currency. All undergraduate international students must declare a major (other than General Studies) on the application for admission.

Sam Houston State University has five categories of undergraduate international students: beginning international freshmen who have graduated from a high school outside the United States, beginning international freshmen who have graduated from a high school in the U.S., transfer international students who have attended a college or university from outside the U.S., transfer international students who have attended a college or university in the U.S. and have obtained less than 60 hours, and transfer international students who have attended a college or university in the U.S. and have obtained at least 60 hours or an associate degree.

International students who are beginning freshmen graduating from a high school outside the U.S. must provide the following:

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • Application for undergraduate admission (must declare a major other than General Studies)
  • TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) if English is not their first language.
  • Official high school transcript.
  • Evaluation of high school transcript from an accredited evaluation company.
  • Certified English translations for documents submitted in a language other than English.

Post-Admission Requirements

  • Proof of financial support. The student’s or sponsor’s bank statement(s) on bank letterhead indicating an amount on deposit equal to the estimated expense for one year at the University. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Home country address. Regardless of current residency, students must provide a home country address for the processing of the I-20 A/B. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.

International students who are beginning freshmen graduating from a high school in the U.S. must provide the following:

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • Application for undergraduate admission (must declare a major other than General Studies)
  • A final high school transcript showing the date of graduation and class ranking and satisfactory ACT or SAT scores.
    • The admissions requirements for beginning freshmen
      graduating from U.S. high schools are:
      • Top 10%, no minimum score on ACT Composite or SAT I (critical reading + math)
      • 11-25%, a minimum score of 17 on ACT Composite or a minimum score of 850 on SAT I (critical reading + math)
      • 2nd Quartile, a minimum score of 19 on ACT Composite or a minimum score of 930 on the SAT I (critical reading + math)
      • 3rd Quartile, a minimum score of 22 on ACT Composite or 1030 on SAT I Total (critical reading + math).
      • 4th Quartile, a minimum score of 25 on ACT Composite or 1140 on SAT I Total (critical reading + math).
      • Students from non-ranking high schools, a minimum of 21 on ACT Composite or 1010 on SAT I (critical reading + math)

Post-Admission Requirements

  • Proof of financial support. The student’s or sponsor’s bank statement(s) on bank letterhead indicating an amount on deposit equal to the estimated expense for one year at the University. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Home country address. Regardless of current residency, students must provide a home country address for the processing of the I-20 A/B. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • International Student Advisor’s Report. This form is to be completed and signed by the student and an advisor at the U.S. high school.
  • Copies of immigration documents (i.e., passport photo page, visa, and I-94).

International students who are transfer students who attended a college or university outside the U.S. must provide the following:

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • Application for undergraduate admission (must declare a major other than General Studies)
  • TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based) if English is not their first language.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
  • Evaluation of all transfer work from an accredited evaluation company.
  • Certified English translations for documents submitted in a language other than English.

Post-Admission Requirements

  • Proof of financial support. The student’s or sponsor’s bank statement(s) on bank letterhead indicating an amount on deposit equal to the estimated expense for one year at the University. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Confirmation of dependents. If dependents will accompany the student to the U.S., provide each dependent’s full name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and relationship to the student. For each dependent the dollar amount of financial support must be increased by the following amounts: $2,000 for a spouse, $2,000 for the first child, and $1,000 for each additional child. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Home country address. Regardless of current residency, students must provide a home country address for the processing of the I-20 A/B. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.

International students who are transfer students who attended a college or university in the U.S. and have obtained less than 60 hours must provide the following:

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • Application for undergraduate admission (must declare a major other than General Studies)
  • TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer version) if English is not their first language.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.

Post-Admission Requirements

  • Proof of financial support. The student’s or sponsor’s bank statement(s) on bank letterhead indicating an amount on deposit equal to the estimated expense for one year at the University. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Confirmation of dependents. If dependents will accompany the student to the U.S., provide each dependent’s full name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and relationship to the student. For each dependent the dollar amount of financial support must be increased by the following amounts: $2,000 for a spouse, $2,000 for the first child, and $1,000 for each additional child. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Home country address. Regardless of current residency, students must provide a home country address for the processing of the I-20 A/B. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • International Student Advisor’s Report. This form is to be completed and signed by the student and an advisor at the U.S. high school.
  • Copies of immigration documents (i.e., passport photo page, visa, and I-94).

International students who are transfer students that attended a college or university in the U.S. and have obtained at least 60 hours or an associate degree must provide the following:

Pre-Admission Requirements

  • •Application for undergraduate admission (must declare a major other than General Studies)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.

Post-Admission Requirements

  • Proof of financial support. The student’s or sponsor’s bank statement(s) on bank letterhead indicating an amount on deposit equal to the estimated expense for one year at the University. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Confirmation of dependents. If dependents will accompany the student to the U.S., provide each dependent’s full name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and relationship to the student. For each dependent the dollar amount of financial support must be increased by the following amounts: $2,000 for a spouse, $2,000 for the first child, and $1,000 for each additional child. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • Home country address. Regardless of current residency, students must provide a home country address for the processing of the I-20 A/B. Visit http://www.shsu.edu/international for further details.
  • International Student Advisor’s Report. This form is to be completed and signed by the student and an advisor at the U.S. high school.
  • Copies of immigration documents (i.e., passport photo page, visa, and I-94).

Requirements for Registration by Undergraduate International Students

  1. To ensure that all undergraduate admission and immigration papers are in order, international students are required to visit the Office of International Programs immediately upon arrival on campus. Telephone (936) 294-4607 or e-mail oip@shsu.edu.
  2. All international students are required to purchase the Group Hospitalization, Medical Evacuation, and Repatriation Insurance available to all eligible SHSU students. Proof of this insurance must be presented to designated university officials each semester before the registration process can be completed. Further information concerning this required coverage may be obtained from the University Health Center. Telephone (936) 294-3957.