Texas Southern University

What is the history of Texas Southern University?

Texas Southern University (TSU) is a public, historically Black university in Houston whose origins date to 1927, when the Houston Independent School District established Houston Colored Junior College. Its history reflects the expansion of higher education for Black Texans during segregation.

The institution became Houston College for Negroes in 1934. In 1947, Texas established it as Texas State University for Negroes; it adopted the name Texas Southern University in 1951. The 1947 change also brought a law school, now the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, during a period when Black applicants were excluded from the University of Texas law school. TSU has since developed into a university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.

What are the faculties and departments at Texas Southern University?

Texas Southern University offers programs across liberal arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, health, public affairs, and the professions. Applicants should look at the specific school and degree, rather than assume that university-wide admissions rules cover every program.

Its academic units include the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Jesse H. Jones School of Business, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, School of Communication, and Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Representative fields include accounting, biology, civil engineering, journalism, social work, and pharmacy. The law and pharmacy schools have separate professional admission pathways; some other majors also impose prerequisites or progression requirements.

What is the location of Texas Southern University?

Texas Southern University's main campus is at 3100 Cleburne Street in Houston's Third Ward. It is an urban campus, so students have access to a large metropolitan area but also need to plan around Houston traffic, parking, and the distance between home, work, and classes.

METRORail's Purple Line serves the university area, and local bus routes provide other transit options. Houston's employers, hospitals, cultural institutions, and community organizations may be relevant to students seeking internships or field placements, though access depends on the program and position. William P. Hobby Airport is generally the closer of Houston's two major commercial airports.

What is the mission and vision of Texas Southern University?

Texas Southern University describes its mission in terms of providing accessible, student-centered education, scholarship, and service. Its stated vision emphasizes academic development and the university's contribution to its communities.

TSU's identity as a public historically Black university is central to that purpose. Its academic offerings extend from undergraduate study to research and professional training, including law and pharmacy. Mission and vision statements describe institutional priorities; applicants evaluating a particular major should also examine that program's curriculum, resources, and outcomes.