The History of UNT

Since our founding in 1890 as Texas Normal College and Teachers’ Training Institute in leased facilities above a hardware store on Denton’s town square, our institution has served as a leader in higher education.

Founding president Joshua Chilton’s original charge remains at the core of our values: “It will be our aim to become leaders in the education of the young men and women of Texas, fitting them to creditably fill the most important positions in business and professional circles. We desire the cooperation of all who believe in higher education and who want to see our state in the very front of intellectual as well as material progress.”

True to our founding principles, UNT remains an innovative force in creative endeavors, research, the arts and community involvement.

Ņ First jazz studies program in the U.S.

Ņ First undergraduate emergency administration and planning program in the U.S.

Ņ First bachelor’s degree in digital retailing in the U.S. and first Master of Science program in merchandising offered completely online

Ņ First school library certification program in the U.S. offered completely online

Ņ First graduate applied anthropology program in the U.S. offered completely online

Ņ First undergraduate program in applied behavior analysis in the U.S. and first accredited master’s program in behavior analysis in the world

Ņ First and only Ph.D. program in art education in Texas

Ņ World’s first graduate program in environmental philosophy and world’s first field station in environmental philosophy, science and policy at Cape Horn, Chile

Ņ First four-year aviation logistics program at a university in Texas and only such program in the nation

Ņ First and only standalone M.S. program in artificial intelligence in Texas