Admission to the University
(2010 Catalog)
Southern Methodist University - General Admissions Policy
Southern Methodist University’s vision is to “shape citizens who contribute to their communities and lead their professions in a global society.” To achieve this vision, SMU has expressed in its Statement of Mission the intent to “develop skills and cultivate principled thought and wisdom.” In addition, SMU seeks “to support and sustain student development and quality of life.” These statements reflect SMU’s recognition that its students cannot become the leaders the world will need in the years ahead unless they have been exposed to an educational environment in which there is a rich variety of thoughts and opinions. This type of exposure will better prepare them for the diverse workforce and society to which they will contribute.
Consistent with its vision and mission, SMU seeks to enroll students who have the potential for academic success and who will enrich the collegiate community. Through financial enablement, SMU will endeavor to ensure that cost of attendance will not be a barrier to achieving its goal of a diverse community. The rich variety of perspectives SMU seeks are those that may result from differences in racial, ethnic, socio-economic, geographic, educational and religious backgrounds; different
life experiences or talents in the arts or athletics; or diverse multilingual skills. It is the policy of SMU to examine individually each prospective student’s application for admission in order to determine the nature and extent of the applicant’s
potential to succeed and to enrich the community.
All first-year students, regardless of intended major, enter the University via Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. Dedman College will assign an appropriate academic adviser based on the student’s intended field of study. The adviser assists the student in selecting courses pertinent to the General Education Curriculum requirements as well as the student’s chosen major.
Students normally qualify for entry into a specific degree program during their sophomore year. Admission into any undergraduate degree program requires the completion of minimum academic standards determined by the school in which the program is based. The specific requirements for admission into each of SMU’s undergraduate schools are outlined in the admission section of that school’s information
in this catalog.
First-Year Admission Criteria
Selection of applicants is based on several criteria: the high school curriculum,
classroom performance, grade pattern, rank in class (if applicable), SAT I and/or
ACT scores, counselor and teacher recommendations, essay and extracurricular
activities. Although no specific cutoff is applied to any single measure, generally a
student who has accomplished both a strong academic record and exhibited a variety
of academic and personal achievements gains and benefits the most from the SMU
experience. Matriculation to the University is contingent upon continuing academic
achievement as evidenced in the application for admission, and final completion of
the high school diploma. As an independent institution, SMU has no limits on enrollment
based solely on geography, and no distinctions in tuition, fees or other costs
based on the home state of the student. The University is open to applicants without
regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status.
High School Curriculum
Students who present academic records in excess of the following minimum requirements generally have an advantage in the admissions process. Curriculum rigor, classroom performance, elective choices and senior-year course load are given particular consideration. Applicants should submit high school records with a minimum
of 15 or more academic units. The recommended distribution for a minimum program is as follows: four units of English, three units of mathematics (algebra I, plane geometry, algebra II), three units of science (including two units of laboratory science), three units of social science and two units of a foreign language (a two-year sequence). Engineering applicants should have completed four years of math (including
higher level math beyond algebra II) and a year each of chemistry and physics. Students who have not completed a two-year sequence of a single foreign language in high school will be required to complete successfully two terms of a single foreign language at an accredited institution prior to their fifth regular term at SMU, regardless
of intended major. American Sign Language will be used to satisfy the University’s admission foreign language requirement for those students with a documented language-based learning disability that prevents learning a foreign language.
Home School Criteria
Home school and distance learning applicants are expected to complete the equivalent of the high school curriculum as outlined above and submit SAT I and/or ACT scores, as well as the SMU Home School Supplement that indicates mastery of English, math and science in the home school curriculum and documentation that the student has fulfilled their home state’s requirements for high school graduation.
A checklist of the home school requirements can be found at www.smu.edu/admission/apply_home_school.asp. In addition to the above requirements, three SAT II subject exams (to include English, math and science) offered by the Educational Testing Service may be encouraged for students who have taken the majority of high school coursework at home. Home-schooled students are eligible for federal student aid for college if they have “completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law” (Section 484(d)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
Application Timetable for First-Year Students
All prospective students must complete the application for admission and submit a $60 nonrefundable application fee. First-year candidates will be processed on the admissions calendar as follows:
Early Action Applicants*
Application Deadline: November 1
Notification Date: By December 30
Deposit Reply Date: May 1 (postmark date)
Regular Decision Applicants
Application Deadline: January 15
Notification Date: By March 15
Deposit Reply Date: May 1 (postmark date)
Rolling Decision Applicants (space-available basis)
Application Deadline: March 15
Notification Date: Rolling after April 1
Deposit Reply Date: May 1 (postmark date)
* Acceptance under Early Action does not require a student to withdraw applications from other institutions. The deadline for priority merit scholarship consideration is January 15.
Required Testing
SMU requires all applicants, except foreign citizens who attend secondary schools outside the United States, to submit SAT I scores and/or scores from the ACT exam. Foreign citizens interested in academic scholarships must submit official ACT/SAT scores for scholarship consideration. These examinations are conducted in a number of test centers throughout the United States and in other countries several times each year. It is recommended that students take the SAT I or ACT more than once. Although scores from tests taken after January may be submitted, waiting for score results may delay the final admission decision. Foreign students whose native language is not English and whose entire secondary education has not been in an English-medium school are required to submit one of the following:
- TOEFL English language proficiency exam score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the Internet-based test.
- IELTS English competency test score of 6.5 on the academic test.
- Pearson Test of English score of 57.
Students can obtain additional information about the College Entrance Examination
Board and its tests (SAT I, SAT II, TOEFL) from their high school counselors or by contacting the board at PO Box 592, Princeton NJ 08540; www.collegeboard.com. Students can request further information about the ACT from their high school counselors or the ACT National Office, 2201 North Dodge Street, PO Box 168, Iowa City IA 52243;
www.act.org.
Performing Arts Auditions/Visual Arts Consideration
In addition to meeting general University admission criteria, all first-year and transfer students who intend to major in the performing arts of dance, music or theatre must also satisfy a performance audition requirement as part of the admission process to the University. Students wishing to pursue the B.F.A. or B.A. in art must submit a portfolio of their work for faculty review to the Meadows School of the Arts through the SlideRoom digital portfolio system (www.smu.slideroom.com). Information regarding audition and portfolio requirements and dates may be obtained by contacting
the Office of Recruitment, Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275-0356; 214-768-3217,
www.meadows.smu.edu.
Performance auditions must be completed by the final published national or campus audition date, which normally is not later than March 15 prior to the entering fall term. Submission deadlines for art portfolios correspond with deadlines for SMU application submissions. Current deadlines can be found at
www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/Art.aspx. Transfer students entering degree programs within the Division of Dance or Theatre may do so only in the fall term.
Reserving a Place
Admitted students are required to submit a nonrefundable $550 deposit by the May 1 deadline to reserve a place in the class. This deposit includes a matriculation fee, advance tuition deposit and housing deposit. All foreign passport holders are required to pay a one-time, nonrefundable $150 international fee. All first-year students who have completed fewer than 30 hours of SMU coursework must live on campus unless permission is granted to live at home. Students granted permission
to live at home by the director of Housing and Residence Life need to submit a nonrefundable $450 deposit.
To facilitate advising and enrollment, students are required to submit their final high school transcript confirming graduation.
Health Examination
All new students must have a completed medical history form on file with the
University Health Service before they are eligible to register. All students must
provide proof of immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola
(red, or regular, measles), rubella (German, or three-day, measles) and tuberculosis
(a negative skin test or chest X-ray within the past year).
Credit by Examination
Examinations Administered in High School
SMU grants credit and placement for scores of 4 or 5 on most AP examinations
taken in high school (see table below). Students may not receive credit for an AP exam, an IB exam and a college course covering the same subject matter; i.e., the
course equivalency will only be awarded once. Credit by examination earned at
SMU is considered resident credit.
An official copy of test results must be sent from the College Board to the Office
of Admission so that you may know what credit you have earned prior to advising
and enrollment.
College-Level Examination Program
SMU gives credit for CLEP subject examinations based on the specified minimum
scores below:
|
CLEP Exam |
Score (out of 80) |
Credits Awarded |
Course Credited |
|
American Literature |
60 |
3 Hours |
ENGL 3346 |
|
English Literature |
60 |
3 Hours |
ENGL 3341 |
| Macro Economics |
60 |
3 Hours |
ECO 1312 |
|
Micro Economics |
60 |
3 Hours |
ECO 1311 |
SMU Departmental Examinations
SMU also awards credit for departmental examinations offered in a variety of disciplines. Such SMU credit may not transfer automatically to other universities. Credit for examinations awarded by other institutions will not transfer to SMU.
Foreign Languages. All students with at least two years of the same foreign language in high school are required to take the foreign language placement examinations given during orientation if they intend to continue the study of that language. Scores on these examinations are used to evaluate the foreign language competency of entering students so that they may be placed in classes appropriate to their level of achievement and degree program. Students may not enroll in a course below the level of their placement. When the student has successfully completed the course with a grade of
C or above, the student will earn retroactively from four to 16 term hours of University credit for the preceding courses in the beginning and intermediate levels of the language sequence. Students must enroll in the course for a letter grade (not Pass/Fail) in order for the course to serve as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Such credit counts toward graduation and serves to reduce the student’s foreign language requirement in degree programs that require competence in foreign language. Students must take the language placement examination in order to be eligible for retroactive credit at the successful completion of the course into which they have been placed. Language courses taken at other institutions cannot be used as a basis for granting retroactive credit. Although students may earn retroactive
credit in more than one language, the maximum aggregate credit involving more than one language allowed to count toward graduation is 16 term hours.
Physics. The department offers placement exams for PHYS 1303 and 1304 only. The placement exam must be taken in the first term that the student enrolls at SMU and is modeled from the final exam in the PHYS 1303 and 1304 courses.
The Physics Department does not allow test credit for labs (e.g., PHYS 1105, 1106, 4211). The essential element of the lab is the hands-on experience; therefore, substitutes will not be accepted.
Mathematics. Math credit exams are offered for the four courses listed below and must be taken prior to initial enrollment. Calculators are not permitted on these exams, except for MATH 1307. Students interested in credit exams for courses beyond this level may contact the Mathematics Department.
MATH 1307 Introduction to Mathematical Sciences (3 credits)
MATH 1309 Introduction to Calculus for Business/Social Sciences (3 credits)
(suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)
MATH 1337 Calculus I (3 credits)
(suggested preparation = one full year of high school calculus)
MATH 1338 Calculus II (3 credits)
Computer Science. The Computer Science and Engineering Department offers a credit exam for CSE 1341 Principles of Computer Science I that must be taken prior to initial enrollment. This exam is NOT the IT waiver exam that satisfies the information
technology requirement of the General Education Curriculum.
International Certificate Programs
SMU awards credit for the successful completion of the international certificate programs listed below. In certain cases, departmental examinations may be required as a part of the evaluation process.
- The International Baccalaureate
Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 5, 6 or 7 on International Baccalaureate
higher level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for standard-level exams.
- The General Certificate of Education A-Level (United Kingdom)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for grades of A and B on A-level exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for a grade of C, or for 0-level and AS-level exams.
- The Baccalaureate (France)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for scores of 11 or above, with a maximum award of 32 credits.
- The Abitur (Germany)
Six to eight credits will be awarded for passing scores on each of the written exams in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits. Credits will not be awarded for oral exams.
- The Italian Maturita (Italy)
For the Maturita Tecnica, Classica, Scientifica, and/or Linguistica, credits will be awarded for scores of 6 or above in transferable subjects, with a maximum award of 32 credits.
Concurrent Dual Credit/College Programs
Although the average GPA of successful transfer applicants who have completed 30 or more transferable hours is considerably higher than a 2.7 GPA (on a 4.0 scale), applicants with a GPA below this threshold are not typically successful in gaining admission. Candidates with a transferable GPA below 2.0 are not competitive for admission to the University. For all candidates who have completed 30 or more college
hours, the Admission Committee considers the rigorous nature of the courses attempted. In particular, applicants should have completed at least one course in English composition, a lab science, a math course beyond college algebra and a course pertaining to the intended major. The committee weighs overall academic performance as well as evidence of recent improvement. For some applicants, the high school performance is also a factor. Candidates with fewer than 30 hours are considered on an individual basis and are required to submit additional information including SAT I and/or ACT scores and high school performance.
Applicants for admission, who have not taken one of the math courses described under the Fundamentals/Mathematical Sciences list in the General Education Curriculum found in this catalog, must have completed within the last three years college algebra or a high school sequence of algebra I, algebra II and plane geometry to be considered for transfer admission.
Those students with more than 30 transferable hours may be admitted directly to the school of their intended major if the admission requirement of that school has been met. The specific requirements for admission into each of SMU’s undergraduate
schools are outlined in the admission section of that school’s information in this catalog.
All transfer students who intend to major in the performing arts of dance, music or theatre must audition. Refer to the sections on Performing Arts Auditions for requirements. Students wishing to pursue a B.F.A. or B.A. in art must submit a portfolio to the Meadows School of the Arts for review.
Students who have not completed a two-year sequence of a single foreign language
in high school nor a one-year sequence of a single foreign language at the college level will be required to take two terms of a single foreign language at an accredited institution to commence no later than their third regular term after matriculation at SMU, regardless of intended major. American Sign Language will be used to satisfy the University’s foreign language admission requirement for those students with a documented language-based learning disability that prevents learning a foreign language.
Prospective transfer students must complete an Undergraduate Application for Transfer Admission and submit a $60 nonrefundable application fee. In addition, an official academic transcript from each college or university attended, including the last completed term, must be sent to:
SMU Undergraduate Admission
PO Box 750181
Dallas TX 75275-0181
A final high school transcript or GED results should be sent to confirm foreign language and math background. A high school transcript, including SAT I or ACT scores, is required when less than 30 transferable hours have been earned. SAT I or ACT results will not be required of students for whom five or more years have lapsed since high school or high school equivalent.
Transfer Credit
University policy requires that of the 122 minimum required term hours for a degree, at least 60 hours must be SMU credits. That is, they must be earned in SMU courses or SMU-approved international programs. Therefore, regardless of the number of transferable credits completed elsewhere, to receive an SMU degree, students need to earn 60 credit hours through enrollment at SMU.
No transfer credit is given for any correspondence course or work completed at a school that is not regionally accredited. Only grades of
C- or better in comparable courses are transferable to SMU for accepted students. Vocational-technical courses, courses below college level, credit by examination earned at another college
or university, and PE activity courses in excess of two hours do not transfer. For courses not taught at SMU locations or in SMU-approved international programs,
free-elective transfer credit may be awarded for appropriate courses completed
with a grade of
C- or better at regionally accredited colleges or universities that meet SMU’s academic standards.
If a transferable course is repeated due to a failing grade, all attempted hours and earned grade points will be used to calculate the transferable GPA. For repeated courses with grades of
C- or above, only the first attempt will be awarded credit. A grade of
W (Withdrawn) will not be used to calculate the transferable GPA. A grade of
I (Incomplete) will be calculated as
F. A grade of
IP (In Progress) for a current term is not calculated.
Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted, regardless
of transferability. Transcripts must be received at SMU directly from the transferable
institution. A transcript issued to a student is acceptable provided it is received in a sealed, letterhead envelope with the Registrar’s Office stamp. Transcripts must be dated fewer than three years prior to processing. Coursework from one institution that appears on an official transcript from another institution will not be accepted for transfer credit. An official transcript must be issued by each institution attended. Also, photocopies of transcripts provided by other institutions are not acceptable.
An online version of the transfer credit evaluation is available to transfer students prior to their enrollment.
Foreign Transcript Credit
All foreign university transcripts must be accompanied by a professional evaluation
and an official transcript, including an English translation if it is not in English, and course descriptions or syllabi. It is the student’s responsibility to procure this evaluation and to assume financial responsibility for it. An exception to this requirement is an exchange agreement between SMU and a foreign institution
that is modeled after the U.S. education system. Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey is the only institution with which SMU currently has such an agreement.
Because of the importance of this information, SMU accepts evaluations only from the following agencies of proven reliability:
The evaluations provided by the agencies listed above should include an explanation
that the institution is recognized by the ministry of education in the student’s home country and is generally considered to offer at least the equivalent of U.S. higher education credit. In addition, it should include an explanation of the credits, the grading system and course levels, as well as a course-by-course evaluation.
The expertise and reliability of a professional evaluation report is recognized worldwide and is likely to be accepted by other academic institutions, employers and state licensing boards. However, the report is not binding to SMU and will be considered a recommendation for SMU’s independent decision of the credit to be given. Information and applications from the agencies are available online. For more information, contact the Office of Admission.
Application Timetable for Transfer Students
Summer term entry: All data due no later than March 15.
Fall term entry/scholarship consideration: All data due no later than April 1.
Fall term entry: All data due no later than June 1.
Spring term entry: All data due no later than November 1.
Space-available applicants: All data due no later than August 1.
NOTE: The deadline for priority scholarship consideration is April 1 for fall entry and November 1 for spring entry.
It is not recommended that an application be submitted on or near the deadline. Earlier application is strongly recommended, particularly for those students applying
for financial aid or University housing.
Application processing begins in early February (for the summer and fall terms) and in early October (for the spring term) upon receipt of pertinent data, including each official transcript through the last completed term.
Reserving a Place
All degree-seeking admitted transfer students wishing to enroll at SMU are required to submit a $250 matriculation fee and a $200 advance tuition deposit to reserve a place in the academic program. This $450 fee and deposit should be sent to the Office of Admission. Space can be guaranteed only to those students who have submitted the fee and deposit by the deadline noted in the acceptance packet. Please note that this $450 fee and deposit are nonrefundable. Students seeking financial aid should wait until they receive their financial aid award before submitting
a deposit. All foreign passport holders are required to pay a one-time nonrefundable
$150 international student fee.
Note that admitted transfer students cannot actually enroll at SMU until their final transcript has been received and evaluated for transferability. (For this reason, we discourage fall term entry transfer students from attending the second summer term at their current institution before matriculation to SMU.)
Housing Deposit
Housing accommodations are offered on a space-available basis for new transfer students. Housing forms will be sent to interested transfer students once the student has been accepted. Students should complete and return the forms, along with the $100 housing deposit, to the Office of Admission.
Readmission of Students
If a student in good standing withdraws from SMU for one term, the student’s file remains active and the student is able to register as though in continuous enrollment at the University (re-entry). Students who left on probation will return on probation. All holds must be cleared prior to enrollment. Re-entry students are responsible for meeting all financial aid, housing and advising deadlines.
After nonattendance for two or more regular (fall, spring) terms, students who formerly attended SMU, including those who have completed a degree, are required to submit a readmission application through the Division of Enrollment Services/Undergraduate Admission (The application is online at www.smu.edu/admission/forms.asp). Any student who has been suspended is also required to apply for readmission. Students who have been suspended are required to attach a statement to their readmission application, indicating the reasons why they now feel ready to return to SMU. Although the Division of Enrollment Services facilitates the application process, an academic dean determines readmission.
A student who has already earned one undergraduate degree at SMU and is seeking a second undergraduate degree must apply for readmission if the student has not attended SMU for two or more regular (fall, spring) terms.
The deadline for filing this application and supporting materials is the last business
day prior to the first day of classes of the term of re-entry. Returning students are strongly advised to apply for readmission at least 60 days prior to the start of the term of re-entry. Returning students should note that separate applications exist for financial aid and residence halls and that they should contact these offices as early as possible. In addition, the availability of academic advising and courses may be limited immediately prior to and at the beginning of the term.
There is no readmission fee. All students who return to SMU after any period of nonenrollment must forward official transcripts from each college or university attended since last enrolled at SMU. If five years have elapsed since the last term of enrollment at SMU, official transcripts from each college or university attended prior to SMU also must be forwarded to the Division of Enrollment Services.
Students should be aware of specific policies regarding transfer courses taken after matriculation to SMU (see Transfer Courses From Other Institutions in the Policies and Procedures section of this catalog). In addition, each college within SMU has specific policies regarding readmission, transfer credit and statute of limitations, so students should refer to their school’s section of this catalog for that information.
Academic Forgiveness
SMU’s academic forgiveness policy permits a student to have academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission or readmission forgiven. Forgiven hours will not be included in the GPA nor used for actions such as the determination of admission, academic probation, suspension, honors, scholarships and graduation. See the University Enrollment and Academic Records Standards section for details of this policy. The academic forgiveness application is available through the Division of Enrollment Services.
International Students
Foreign citizens and U.S. passport holders studying outside the United States applying to SMU as first-year and transfer undergraduate students are expected to meet all requirements for admission.
For admission consideration, students for whom English is not the native language are required to submit a test score from an internationally recognized English language test such as the following:
- TOEFL English language proficiency exam score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the Internet-based test.
- IELTS English competency test score of 6.5 on the academic test.
- Pearson Test of English score of 57.
Students with scores slightly below those mentioned above will be required to successfully complete SMU’s Intensive English Program prior to matriculation. Transfer students without an internationally recognized English language test score will be evaluated on the basis of college-level grades in English composition/rhetoric courses.
International transfer students who have completed college-level work at a university outside the United States are required to submit the following (in English or with an English translation):
- An official transcript.
- Course descriptions.
- Professional evaluation. (For more information, see the Foreign Transcript Credit section of this catalog.)
The expenses to be incurred in attending the University are listed in the Financial Information section of this catalog. Additional costs that international students may expect include room and board during school holidays, travel expenses, international
student insurance, and a one-time international student fee (foreign passport holders only). Need-based financial aid is not available for international students.
However, first-year international students will be considered for all available academic scholarships if their application is complete with either the SAT I or ACT test score by the January 15 deadline. Transfer international applicants will be considered for all transfer scholarships for which they are eligible, provided the appropriate application deadline has been met.
When an international student has been admitted and provided adequate proof of sufficient financial funds, the International Office will issue the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility. The student will be required to produce the I-20, the Letter of Acceptance
and proof of finances when applying at the U.S. embassy or consulate for a student visa.
All international students taking one or more credit hours must enroll in the University-offered health insurance plan unless they have a special waiver personally
granted by the Health Center staff.
Nondegree Students
Nondegree students are those applicants for admission who wish to be enrolled in University courses for credit but who do not intend to pursue an SMU degree program. This category of students is normally limited to those who 1) have already earned a college degree, 2) are degree-seeking students in good standing and visiting
from another four-year college or university, or 3) are participants in special SMU programs such as the Talented and Gifted, College Experience or concurrent enrollment programs. Nondegree students are admitted through the Office of Nondegree Credit Studies and are eligible to register in day and evening classes for which they have satisfied prerequisites. Admission through the Office of Nondegree
Credit Studies as a nondegree-seeking student does not qualify a student as a degree applicant.
Applications for admission may be obtained by contacting the Department of Lifelong Learning, Office of Nondegree Credit Studies, Southern Methodist University,
PO Box 750382, Dallas TX 75275-0382; telephone 214-768-4272;
www.smu.edu/education/departments.
Final Matriculation to the University
In addition to the nonrefundable deposit (and housing application and deposit for those seeking on-campus housing), the following items are required for final matriculation to the University:
All new students must have a completed medical history form on file with the University Health Center before they are eligible to register. All students must provide proof of immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola (red, or regular, measles), rubella (German, or three-day, measles), tuberculosis (a negative skin test or chest X-ray within the past year) and meningitis. (Note: Proof of meningitis immunization is required a minimum of 10 days prior to moving
into on-campus housing).
To ensure that students have appropriate health care coverage, SMU requires all domestic students, both undergraduate and graduate, taking nine or more credit hours to have health insurance through either an individual/family plan or the University-offered plan. All international students taking one or more credit hours must enroll in the University-offered plan unless they have a special waiver personally
granted by the Health Center staff.
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