TWU Commencement Program Fall 2023

A Brief History of Texas Woman’s University
The unique history of Texas Woman’s University started before the turn
of the 20 th century with a revolutionary idea – higher education for women.
In 1901, the 27th Texas Legislature created Texas Woman’s University. When TWU offered its first classes in 1903 in Denton, the
institution was called the Girls Industrial College of Texas. Three name changes later – the College of Industrial Arts (CIA) in 1905,
Texas State College for Women in 1934 and TWU in 1957 – the university has expanded its curriculum to offer bachelor’s, master’s,
specialist and doctoral degrees in more than 70 areas of study in traditional and nontraditional fields for women. The university
became fully co-ed in 1994. In 2021, Texas Woman’s became the nation’s first university system focused on women and the seventh
system in the state of Texas.
Throughout TWU’s history, the institution has emphasized academic excellence, professional preparation and personal growth for
all students. The university’s dedication to learning was reflected in the establishment of its first graduate programs in 1930; TWU
awarded its first doctoral degrees in 1953. That growth took new directions (literally) when TWU opened the Institute of Health
Sciences Houston and Dallas Centers in 1960 and 1966, respectively.
Today, the university includes five colleges – the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Health
Sciences, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Education – and the Graduate School. With an enrollment of more
than 15,500 students, Texas Woman’s University offers degree programs in the liberal arts, nursing, health sciences, the sciences,
business and education. Its campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston also have a robust online presence.
2 u Commencement Ceremony Fall 2023