ANNETTE CALDWELL SIMMONS SCHOOL
OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

General Information

The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development is comprised of research institutes, undergraduate and graduate programs and community service centers. It is concerned with the areas of professional education, dispute resolution, counseling, wellness, liberal studies and lifelong learning. The mission of the school is to integrate theory, research and practice of education and human development; promote academic rigor and interdisciplinary study; educate students for initial certification and professional practice; and nurture collaboration across the academic community. Programs within the school complement discipline offerings throughout the University.

The professional education programs fall under the auspices of the Department of Teaching and Learning and represent SMU’s commitment to the professional development of educators through innovative and research-based undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs. The undergraduate curriculum prepares students for initial teacher certification. Graduate programs focus on literacy and language acquisition, learning theory, giftedness, math, science and technology. They include a doctoral degree, master’s degrees and graduate-level certifications. A variety of enrichment opportunities serve the continuing education needs of practicing educators.

The school promotes high quality research that combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, generates new hypotheses and influences pedagogical practices in EC-12 schools. The department’s research efforts are driven in large part by two institutes that are charged with the empirical study of education–the Institute for Reading Research and the Gifted Students Institute. One of the most productive literacy research centers in the nation, the Institute for Reading Research performs research concerning reading and reading disabilities, language acquisition, and teaching and learning. The Gifted Students Institute was founded on the premise that giftedness is a resource that should be nurtured for the benefit of all. It also sponsors an annual series of lectures and workshops.

The Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling offers a Master of Science in Counseling, a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution and a graduate certificate in dispute resolution. All of these draw on social and behavioral science theories to teach the communication skills necessary for the resolution of personal and interpersonal conflicts.

The Department of Lifelong Learning represents a broad, interdisciplinary area. Its central purpose is the promotion of personal enrichment and achievement of potential. Its credit and noncredit offerings broaden students’ perspectives, insights and understandings of the world and expose students to the ideas and events that constitute the human experience. At the heart of the Lifelong Learning programs–which include the Master of Liberal Studies, professional development programs, informal courses and nondegree credit studies–is the belief that people can continue to grow both personally and professionally throughout their lives.

The Department of Wellness offers the Choices for Living courses, two of which must be completed in order to earn a baccalaureate degree. Wellness courses reflect the University’s philosophy that a well-rounded education should enhance the physical and mental well-being of a student.

Policies and Procedures

Except where noted below, policies and procedures are the same for all of the graduate programs within the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Admission Requirements

Except in the case of the Graduate Teacher Certification Programs (all of which share the same admission procedures), admission requirements differ among programs within the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Refer to the individual program sections in this catalog for information regarding each program’s respective admission procedures.

Transfer Policy. Ordinarily, students will not be allowed to transfer more than six credit hours from other institutions. Only courses with grades of A or B may be transferred, and all are subject to the approval of the academic department. An official record of such work must be on file in the student’s department office by the end of the first semester of study. All transferred work must be completed within six years of graduation date. Any exceptions to these requirements and policies must have the approval of the dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements differ among the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development’s graduate degree programs. Refer to the individual program sections for specific requirements.