Sam Houston State University is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas, founded in 1879. The Bearkats compete in Conference USA at the Division I level. SHSU is one of the oldest public universities in Texas and is known for its programs in criminal justice, business, education, health sciences, and the liberal arts. The Sam Houston College of Criminal Justice is consistently ranked among the best in the nation and draws students from across the country. The university's historic campus is set in the piney woods of East Texas, near the Huntsville home and grave of Texas Republic her…