- Academics
- Quick Links
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.
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 the most from the SMU experience. Matriculation to the University is contingent upon 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.
Students who present programs in excess of minimum requirements generally have an advantage in the admissions process. Elective choices and senior-year curriculum are given serious consideration. Applicants should submit high school records in a minimum of 15 or more academic units. The recommended distribution for a minimum program is as follows: 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics (Algebra I, Plane Geometry, Algebra II), 3 units of science (including two units of laboratory science), 3 units of social science, and 2 units of a foreign language (a two-year sequence). Engineering applicants should have completed four years of math (including a half-year of trigonometry) 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 successfully complete two terms of a single foreign language at an accredited institution prior to their fifth regular semester 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 graduates must submit SAT I and/or ACT scores, as well as the Home School Certificate that indicates mastery of English, math and science in the home school curriculum. If this information is not indicated on the Home School Certificate or transcript, three SAT II subject exams (to include English, math, and science) offered by the Educational Testing Service must also be provided. According to "Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations," Part 600, Section 600.4, an accepted home schooled applicant must be at least 17 years of age. It is also suggested that home school applicants submit the GED certificate if they wish to be considered for need-based financial aid.
All prospective students must complete the application for admission and submit a $50 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
Regular Decision Applicants
Application Deadline: January 15
Notification Date: by March 15
Deposit Reply Date: May 1
Rolling Decision Applicants (on space-available basis)
Application Deadline: March 15
Notification Date: Rolling after April 1
Deposit Reply Date: May 1
*NOTE: Acceptance under Early Action does not require a student to withdraw applications from other institutions. The deadline for merit scholarship consideration is January 15.
SMU requires all applicants except foreign citizens from foreign secondary schools to submit Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I) scores and/or American College Test (ACT) scores. These examinations are conducted in a number of test centers throughout the United States and in foreign 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, score results may delay the final admission decision. Foreign students whose native language is not English are required to submit a score of 550 or better on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or a score of at least 213 on the computer-based TOEFL.
Students may obtain additional information about the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and its tests (SAT I, SAT II, TOEFL) from their high school counselors or by writing to the CEEB at PO Box 592, Princeton NJ 08540. Students requesting further information about the American College Test also may contact their high school counselors or write to the ACT National Office, 2201 North Dodge Street, PO Box 168, Iowa City IA 52243.
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 satisfy a performance audition requirement as part of the admission process prior to matriculation. Information regarding audition requirements and dates may be obtained by contacting the Associate Dean, Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX 75275-0356; 214-SMU-3217.
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. Transfer students entering degree programs within the Division of Dance or Theatre may do so only in the fall term.
Admitted students are required to submit a nonrefundable $500 deposit by the deadline stated in the Application Timetable to reserve a place in class. This deposit includes a Matriculation Fee, Advance Tuition Deposit, and Housing Deposit. All first-year students who have completed fewer than 30 hours in residence at SMU 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 $400 deposit.
To facilitate advising and enrollment, you will need to submit your final high school transcript confirming graduation.
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).
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 both an AP or IB exam and a college course covering the same subject matter.
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.
| AP Examination | Scores |
Credits Awarded |
Course(s) Credited |
| American History | 4, 5 |
6 Hours |
HIST 2311, 2312 |
| Art History | 4, 5 |
6 Hours |
ARHS 1303, 1304 |
| Biology | 4, 5 |
8 Hours |
BIOL 1401, 1402 |
| Chemistry | 4, 5 |
8 Hours |
CHEM 1403, 1404 |
| Computer Science A | 4, 5 |
3 Hours |
CSE 1341 |
| Computer Science AB | 4, 5 |
3 Hours |
CSE 1341 |
| Economics: | |||
|
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
ECO 1312 |
|
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
ECO 1311 |
| English (Lng/Comp or | 4 |
3 Hours |
ENGL 1301 |
|
5 |
6 Hours |
ENGL 1301, 1302 |
| European History | 4, 5 |
6 Hours |
HIST 2365, 2366 |
| Government: | |||
|
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
PLSC 1320 |
|
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
PLSC 1340 |
| Languages (Lang or Lit): | |||
|
4, 5 |
12 Hours |
FREN 1401, 1402, 2401 |
|
4, 5 |
14 Hours |
GERM 1401, 1402, 2311, 2312 |
|
4, 5 |
14 Hours |
LATN 1401, 1402, 2311, 2312 |
|
4, 5 |
12 Hours |
SPAN 1401, 1402, 2401 |
| Mathematics: | |||
|
4, 5 |
3 Hours |
MATH 1337 |
|
4 |
3 Hours |
MATH 1337 |
|
5 |
6 Hours |
MATH 1337, 1338 |
| Physics: | |||
|
|
4, 5 |
4 Hours |
PHYS 1403 |
|
|
4, 5 |
4 Hours |
PHYS 1404 |
| Psychology | 4, 5 |
3 Hours |
PSYC 1300 |
| Statistics | 4, 5 |
3 Hours |
STAT 2331 |
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
SMU gives credit for CLEP subject examinations in American government, history, and literature, biology, economics, and English literature, based on specified minimum scores.
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. Entering first-year 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. When the student has successfully completed the course with a grade of C or above, the student will retroactively earn from four to 14 term hours of University credit for the preceding courses in the beginning and intermediate levels of the language sequence. Such credit counts toward graduation and serves to reduce the student's foreign language requirement in degree programs that require competence in foreign language. 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 12 term hours.
Other Subjects. Departmental examinations also are available in mathematics and physics.
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.
Credit is awarded for college courses a student takes prior to graduation from high school if they meet the criteria for transfer work outlined in the "Transfer Admission Criteria" section of this catalog. Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted, regardless of transferability.
University policy requires that of the 122 minimum required term hours for a degree, at least 60 hours must be earned in residence at SMU. 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 the 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 admission.
Although the average G.P.A. of successful transfer applicants who have completed 30 or more transferable hours is considerably higher than a 2.7 G.P.A. (on a 4.0 scale), applicants with a G.P.A. below this threshold are not typically successful in gaining admission. Candidates with a transferable G.P.A. below 2.00 are not admitted to the University. Candidates who present a G.P.A. between 2.00 and 2.69 must be reviewed critically on a number of factors. The Admissions Committee considers the level of improvement of the most recent coursework, rigorous nature of the courses attempted, readiness for intended major, and the high school performance of the transfer applicant.
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. (Specific admission requirements are described in the section under the school name 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 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. In addition, an official academic transcript from each college or university attended, including the last completed term must be sent to:
SMU Transfer 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.
No transfer credit is given for any correspondence course or work completed at a school that is not accredited. Only grades of C- or better in comparable courses are transferable to SMU for accepted students. Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted, regardless of transferability. A copy of the transcript evaluation is sent to transfer students prior to their enrollment.
All foreign 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 syllabuses. It is the student's responsibility to procure this evaluation, and to assume financial responsibility for it.
Because of the importance of this information, SMU accepts evaluations from the following institutions of proven reliability:
World Education Services, Inc.
PO Box 745 Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
Telephone: 212-966-6311
Toll-free 1-800-937-3895
E-mail: info@wes.org
www.wes.org
AACRAO
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-293-9161
Fax:: 202-872-8857
E-mail: info@aacrao.org
www.aacrao.org
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 92970
Milwaukee, WI 53202-0970
Telephone: 414-289-3400
www.ece.org
This service's evaluation should include an explanation that the institution is recognized by the ministry of education in the home country and is generally considered to offer at least the equivalent of US 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 independent decision of the credit to be given.
Information and applications are available on the worldwide web from the services. If you need further information, please contact the Office of Admission.
Fall with Summer term entry: 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.
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 March (for the fall term) and in early October (for the spring term) upon receipt of a pertinent data, including each official transcript through the last completed term.
Note: Priority scholarship deadline is May 15 for fall entry and November 1 for spring entry.
All degree-seeking admitted transfer students wishing to enroll at SMU are required to submit a $200 Matriculation Fee and a $200 Advance Tuition Deposit in order to reserve a place in the academic program. This $400 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 $400 fee and deposit are nonrefundable. 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 second summer-term before matriculation to SMU.)
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 Housing.
For the first year after a student in good standing withdraws from SMU, the student's file remains active and the student is able to register as though in continuous enrollment at the University. Students who left on probation will return on probation. All holds must be cleared prior to enrollment. Returning students are responsible for meeting all financial aid, housing, and advising deadlines. After nonattendance for two regular (Fall, Spring) terms, students who formerly attended are required to apply for readmission. There is no readmission fee.
All students who return to SMU after any period of non-enrollment 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. All information is due no later than July 1 for the fall term of enrollment and December 1 for the spring term.
All students who intend to return to SMU, regardless if they are required to apply for readmission, are responsible for notifying the appropriate University departments as soon as possible to ensure timely processing of financial aid, housing, academic advising and enrollment.
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 G.P.A. nor used for actions such as the determination of admission, academic probation, suspension, honors, scholarships, and graduation. Please see the University Registration and Academic Records Standards section for details of this policy. The academic forgiveness application is available through the Division of Enrollment Services.
Foreign citizens applying to SMU as first-year and transfer undergraduate students are expected to meet all requirements for admission.
Students for whom English is not the native language are expected take an internationally recognized English language test such as TOEFL or IELTS. A score of at least 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer test) on the TOEFL is required for admission consideration. Students with scores slightly below those mentioned above will be required to successfully complete SMU's summer 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 an international university must submit the following (in English or with an English translation):
The expenses to be incurred in attending the University are listed under "Financial Information." Additional costs that international students may expect include room and board during school holidays, travel expenses, and 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 by the January 15 deadline (December 15 for transfer students).
When an international student has been admitted and provided an adequate Certificate of Financial Responsibility or bank letter, 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 at Southern Methodist University must be covered by health insurance in the amounts specified for "Exchange Visitors" by the U.S. government. Health insurance may be purchased through the University by self-enrollment with the University-contracted insurance plan or elsewhere.
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 TAG program. 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 Office of Nondegree Credit Studies, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750382, Dallas TX 75275-0382; 214-768-4272. World Wide Web: www.smu.edu/continuing_education.
© Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas | Legal Disclosures | A-Z Site Index | Contact SMU
Share