Shear wave based acoustic devices are being used in gaseous and liquid environments because of their high-sensitivity. The theoretical study of horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves in a layered structure consisting of a piezoelectric ceramic of PZT − 5H or BaT iO3 material overlying a couple stress substrate is presented in this paper. The considered substrate is supposed to be exhibiting microstructural properties. The closed form expression of dispersion relations are derived analytically for electrically open and short conditions. The effects of internal microstructures of the couple stress substrate, thickness of PZT − 5H or BaT iO3 ceramic, piezoelectric and dielectric constants are illustrated graphically on the phase velocity of the piezoelectric layer under electrically open and short conditions.