Harris-Stowe State University
Harris-Stowe State University
History
Harris-Stowe State University traces back to 1857 when it was founded as a normal school for white students only by the city of St. Louis.
This school was later named Harris Teachers College in honor of William Torrey Harris who had been a School Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools and a United States Commissioner of Education.
In 1920, Harris Teachers College became a four-year undergraduate institution authorized to grant a Bachelor of Arts in Education Degree.
Stowe Teachers College began in 1890 as a normal school for future black teachers of elementary schools in the city of St. Louis. This normal school of the St. Louis Public School System was an extension of Sumner High School.
In 1924, the Sumner Normal School became a four-year institution granting baccalaureate degrees.
In 1929, its name was changed to Stowe Teachers College, in honor of the abolitionist and novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe.
These two teacher education institutions were merged by the Board of Education of the St. Louis Public Schools in 1954 as the first of several steps to integrate the public schools of St. Louis.
The merged institution retained the name Harris Teachers College. Accreditation from other agencies followed, including accreditation by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Later, in response to the many requests from alumni of Stowe Teachers College and members of the Greater St. Louis community, the Board of Education agreed to restore to the college’s name the word “Stowe” and to drop the word “teachers.”
In 1979, Harris-Stowe College became the newest member of the State system of public higher education.
Academic Merit
Harris-Stowe is accredited by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
In 2005, Harris-Stowe State College obtained university status. Harris-Stowe State University hosts collaborative graduate degree programs with Maryville University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Webster University.
HSSU offers 59 majors and features a 15:1 Student-to-faculty ratio. Its Busch School of Business Administration offers five Bachelor of Science degrees:
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Health Care Management
• Hospitality & Tourism Management
• Information Sciences and Computer Technology
Harris-Stowe State University’s Teacher Education Department presently offers several Bachelor of Science degree programs:
• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Middle School Education
• Secondary Education
• Teacher Certifications
Lastly, the school offers Urban Specializations Programs in Urban Education, Criminal Justice, and Professional Interdisciplinary Studies.
Campus Life
Gillespie Residence Hall and Student Center opened in 2006. Located within the Student Center is the Dean of Student Affairs, Office of Student Activities, counseling and health offices, game room, computer lab, and the university bookstore.
Gillespie is the first residence hall at HSSU.
As a small urban university in St. Louis, the school enjoys many entertainment benefits on nearby Grand Avenue, Downtown, and the Loop District. You can visit this campus anytime but contact the school to arrange classroom visits.
ADDRESS: 3026 LaClede Avenue, St. Louis, MO MAP
PHONE: 314-340-3366
WEBSITE: https://www.hssu.edu
