Engaged Students

SMU students have the opportunity to explore a wide assortment of subjects in an innovative, interdisciplinary way…

An education that goes as far as you take it

• Described as “open-minded, outgoing and friendly,” SMU students are known as forward-looking, yet they tend to appreciate traditional values and lifestyles.

• According to a survey by Inc. Magazine, Dallas is the hub of the country’s fastest-growing private companies. This gives SMU students tremendous opportunities for internships. For example, 80% of Lyle School of Engineering graduates complete an internship during their undergraduate careers. Students in Cox School of Business are offered internship opportunities both locally and nationally with top-ranking companies.

• The University provides several opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research. The Richter Fellowship awards grant money to support the costs SMU students incur while researching international or multicultural topics, often in a foreign country. Students studying biomedicine can take advantage of summer research opportunities through the Biomedical Researchers in Training Experience Scholars Program. SMU psychology majors start researching and conducting experiments as early as their sophomore year.

• SMU offers 100 majors and 75 minors as well as 148 study abroad programs in 48 countries. SMU's campus in northern New Mexico, also known as SMU-in-Taos, offers summer and fall credit and noncredit courses in disciplines such as anthropology, geology, biology, art history, music, music history, photography, painting, sculpture, literature and history. Additionally, the program offers a variety of wellness activities, including hiking, biking, river rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding and fly-fishing.

Great Teaching

SMU offers students a galaxy of outstanding academic opportunities revolving around a core curriculum that equips students to succeed in more than just their chosen professions...

An academic program that’s innovative and comprehensive

• “One-on-one interaction is the heart of an SMU education,” says one faculty member. Every first-year student takes a rhetoric class with 18 or fewer students to ensure that the classroom experience is mutually beneficial for both the students and the professor. The SMU faculty is known for their accessibility to students outside scheduled office hours. Some professors even offer their home or cell phone numbers in case students need assistance after hours.

• The Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) offers an array of programs to help students stay on track, including seminars on time and stress management, writing tutorials from full-time faculty and a course titled ORACLE (Optimum Reading, Attention, Comprehension and Learning Efficiency). These services are offered to students free of charge Sunday through Friday.

Academic Programs

Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Economics with Finance Applications Specialization, Economics with Systems Analysis Specialization, English, English with Creative Writing Specialization, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies (African/African-American, Mexican-American), Geology, Geophysics, History, Human Rights, Individualized Studies in the Liberal Arts, International Studies, Latin American and Iberian Studies, Markets and Culture, Mathematics, Medieval Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Religious Studies, Sociology, Statistical Science, World Languages and Literatures (French, German, Italian Area Studies, Spanish).

Cox School of Business
Accounting, Finance with Alternative Asset Management Specialization, Financial Consulting, General Business, Management, Marketing, Real Estate Finance, Risk Management and Insurance

Lyle School of Engineering
Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering with Networking, Hardware or Software Engineering Specializations, Computer Science, Computer Science with Game Development, Bioinformatics, Security or Research Specializations, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering with Biomedical, Communications and Signal Processing, Computer, Microelectronics and Photonics or Telecommunications Specializations, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science with Engineering Emphasis, Management Science, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with Engineering Management and Entrepreneurship or Manufacturing Specializations

Meadows School of the Arts
Advertising (General, Creative, Media), Art, Art History, Cinema-Television, Communication Studies, Dance, Journalism, Music, Music Composition, Music Education with Texas Teacher Certification, Music Performance, Music Therapy, Theatre (Acting, Theatre Studies, Design and Technology)

Simmons School of Education and Human Development
Applied Physiology and Sport Management

Specialized Studies
Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Education (Teacher Certification), Physical Therapy, Biomedical Research

Vibrant Community

With so much going on, finding something to do on the SMU campus is as simple as getting out of bed in the morning...

• The SMU campus features beautiful classic Georgian architecture, perfectly groomed landscape and smiling students, but the University is definitely a 21st-century college. Students can find their home in one of several living arrangements, including first-year halls, four-year halls, honors halls and fine arts community.

• Honors students have the opportunity to live in special communities. The Hilltop Scholars Program is a live-and-learn community for first-year students. These students live together in Perkins Hall and take up to three classes together. The University Honors Program also offers honors students the option to live in Virginia-Snider, a hall dedicated to the honors community. Students interested in community service can live in the Service House, where their volunteer work and hours help pay for room and board.

• SMU is home to about 200 student organizations where students can get involved in community service, student government, professional associations and more. SMU also hosts an active intramural athletics program. About 36% of SMU students are involved in the fraternity and sorority system. In addition, students can stay active at Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports, which includes a 3,000-square-foot cardio and weight room, an indoor soccer field, racquetball courts, two sand volleyball courts and a three-story rock-climbing wall. Varsity athletic events also help bring the students together. SMU is a Division I school and a member of Conference USA. In addition to student clubs and intramurals, the Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series hosts world famous guests such as Colin Powell, Anderson Cooper, Tony Blair and Katie Couric.

• In addition to all the exciting activities on campus, there's also a lot to do right across the street, and a nearby light-rail system makes the city accessible. There are numerous shops and restaurants within walking distance of campus. Some of the best shopping, art and cultural activities in the world can be found in Dallas. SMU's Meadows Museum houses one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside of Spain. The Dallas area is also home to the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers and FC Dallas.

Successful Outcomes

SMU’s record of highly successful graduates spans a wide range of disciplines...

From the silver screen of Hollywood to the marble halls of Congress

• Whether students are planning to attend graduate school or join the workforce, the SMU Hegi Family Career Development Center is prepared to help. The center provides comprehensive testing services, academic guidance, seminars on résumé building and mock interviews. The career center also has a job and internship placement program and is proud to say that there are more internships available to SMU students than there are students to fill them.

• SMU has approximately 100,000 alumni worldwide who continue to show their appreciation for the education they received at SMU by staying connected to the University through donations, guest lectures, and mentoring opportunities.

• Nearly 40,000 SMU alumni live and work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Dallas is home to more than 10,000 businesses and is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best locations for its thriving environment for commerce. Because of SMU’s close ties with the community, area companies and other organizations, students can gain valuable work experience through internships and part-time jobs. In addition, many top executives serve as student mentors and visit campus for lively exchanges of information and ideas.