Faculty
The faculty of the Graduate School which meets at least twice each year consists of persons who have been approved for graduate faculty status by the Graduate Council and includes three categories -- regular, associate, and special faculty. Regular faculty status is approved for five year periods while associate and special faculty are approved for three and one year periods, respectively. Approximately 85% of the graduate faculty hold the doctorate. Most graduate faculty members have had more than five years of college level teaching experience and have published scholarly books and papers in leading journals. Many are engaged in research projects supported by federal, state and private grants.

Students
The student population is ethnically diverse and includes persons from most of the states in the United States. A relatively large corps of international students also matriculate in the Graduate School.

Research
The graduate faculty is involved in a diversity of research projects funded by federal, state and private grants. Many of the research problems are associated with urban and instructional concerns. These research activities have recruited in publications in various scholarly journals; some books have been written also. The Graduate School publishes the University Research Journal, Catalog of Faculty Researchers, which is on-line, and an Annual Research Listing for University Faculty. A Graduate School Newsletter is also printed each semester. The Newsletter also contains information on international events. Dissertations are recorded by University Microfilms, Inc. and abstracts of dissertations are published in Dissertation Abstracts.

Degree Program
Through the various departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, majors are offered in: biology, chemistry, city planning, communications, English, history, journalism, mathematics, music, psychology, public administration, sociology, speech, and theater/cinema. Through the Department of Chemistry interdisciplinary programs of study are provided in environmental science at the M.S. and Ph.D. degree levels.

The School of Business offers courses which lead to the master's degree in accounting and business administration.

The College of Education provides courses leading to the master's degree in administration, counseling, elementary education, and secondary education, and health and kinesiology (physical education). The Doctor of Education degree is offered in the areas of administration, counselor education, and curriculum and instruction.

In the School of Technology, courses leading to the Master of Science degree in industrial technology and the Master of Science degree in transportation are offered.

Procedure for Program Proposing New Degree Programs and Courses
Proposals for new degree programs should originate in the respective academic department. After approval of the appropriate department chairperson and dean, the proposal is submitted to the Graduate Council. If approved, it is then referred to the Deans Council for action, and if approved to the President of the University and upon approval acted upon by the Board of Regents. Proposals approved by the Board of Regents are submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Upon approval by the Coordinating Board, the program may be initiated.

New graduate courses can be added upon the recommendation of a department with the approval of the College Dean, the Graduate Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Proposals for New Degree Programs and Courses
The Graduate Council is charged with the responsibility of evaluating all proposals for new degree programs and courses. The Council serves as an advisory, evaluative and recommending body. Proposals which are approved by the Council are recommended to the Deans Council through the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Prior to acting on a proposal, the Council reviews and makes suggestions for improving the document. The document is then acted upon by the Council and its recommendations are transmitted to the Academic Vice President. In evaluating the proposed program the Council uses (1) the guidelines of the Texas Coordinating Board; (2) the criteria of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; (3) the policy statements on graduate programs prepared by the Council of Graduate Schools.

In addition to these regional and national criteria, the Council considers the following: (1) the extent to which the proposed new degree program relates to the overall mission and goals of Texas southern University; (2) the extent to which the program complements existing courses and programs; (3) the extent to which the proposed program duplicates existing courses and programs; (4) the potential demand for the new program and/or courses; (5) the priority level of the proposed program in relation to overall University goals; (6) the cost of the program in relation to projected budgetary allocations; (7) the available supportive facilities and materials for the new program; (8) the extent to which supportive library materials exist; (9) the current strength of the faculty and the number of new faculty who will be needed to implement the new program; and (1O) the number and relevancy of proposed new course offerings in the proposed program.

Accreditation and Memberships
Texas Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as a level IV institution. The University holds membership in various organizations including the Council of Graduate Schools, the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the Texas Association of Graduate Schools, the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools, the American Council on Education, the American Chemical Society, the Association of American Universities, and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.