The evolution of Texas State University's name
Texas State University has had seven names over its 125-year history. Each name change reflects a step in TXST’s evolution from a school that granted only teaching certificates to its status today as a doctoral university with high research activity.
Texas Gov. Joseph D. Sayers signed a bill in May 1899 approving the establishment of Southwest Texas State Normal School in San Marcos. As a “normal” school, its purpose was to train the future teachers of Texas.
The name change reflected the Board of Regents’ decision in 1916 to authorize state normal schools to offer two more years of college-level work, making them standard colleges. Students at TXST could now earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in education.
The college dropped “normal” from its name as part of a national trend of normal schools repositioning themselves as teachers colleges.
The college began offering pre-professional training for subjects other than education, which was reflected in the name change to Southwest Texas State College. The college now offered eight bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees.
The university continued to grow, both in size and scope, to meet the needs of the people of Texas and the nation.
In 2003, the Texas Legislature dropped the regional Southwest designation and the institution became Texas State University-San Marcos. Advocates for the change said it reflected the university’s elevated status as a doctoral-granting institution.
In 2013, the Texas Legislature authorized TXST to drop San Marcos from its name. School officials sought the change for simplicity and to clear up any confusion over whether the Round Rock Campus was part of Texas State University.