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Houston Baptist University is a private, accredited, Baptist institution of higher education located in Houston, Texas. Established in 1960, Houston Baptist University was created by action of the Baptist General Convention of Texas after many years of consideration and preparation. The College’s first classes officially opened in 1963 with a freshman class of 193 students; between then and the 1966-67 academic year, a new class was added each year until the College achieved a complete four-year program. Initially, Houston Baptist University only offered a Bachelor of Arts degree with academic courses in five divisions – Christianity, Fine Arts, Languages, Science and Mathematics, and Social Studies. Between 1964 and 1969 the College expanded, adding first a Division of Education and Psychology, then a Division of Business and Economics, and finally a Division of Nursing.
Academic Programs
Today, Houston Baptist University is made up of several colleges and schools, including the Archie W. Dunham College of Business; the School of Christian Thought; the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; the School of Fine Arts; the School of Humanities; the School of Nursing and Allied Health; and the College of Science and Mathematics. More than forty undergraduate programs are offered at Houston Baptist University as well as nearly a dozen graduate programs. The University’s core curriculum and major programs are designed to equip students to think, speak and write with effectiveness and clarity. Classes kept small to ensure that no student becomes just a number and an academic advisor is assigned to each student in order assist them along every step of the way.Houston Baptist University’s mission is “to provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord.’” Each class at the University is inspired and shaped by a Christian worldview, equipping students with “foundational truths and values” in order to enable them to learn to “see the world with a deeper, broader and clearer perspective.”
Student Life
Houston Baptist University has a total enrollment figure of more than 3,000 students, including over 2,000 undergraduates. Houston Baptist University’s student body is as diverse as the area of Houston itself. Situated in the heart of one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the United States – as well as the nation’s fourth largest – Houston Baptist University is located just minutes away from Houston’s thriving downtown district. Opportunities for jobs, internships and fun are available for students in the city and Houston’s global workplace creates numerous opportunities for Houston Baptist University students to gain valuable hands-on experience in their prospective fields.Houston Baptist University offers an intimate college environment on its 100 acre campus. More than 70 student-led clubs and organizations exist, catering to a wide range of interests and passions and provide ample opportunity for students to connect outside of the classroom. An NCAA Division I-AA school, Houston Baptist University’s varsity athletic teams compete in the Southland Conference. Nicknamed the Huskies, Houston Baptist University’s varsity teams include basketball, soccer, track and field (indoor, outdoor, and cross country), and golf, as well as men’s baseball, and football and women’s softball, volleyball, and beach volleyball.