Schools & Departments
SMU is a private, comprehensive university offering 123 undergraduate degrees and 127 graduate and professional degrees, including 23 doctorates. The University has seven degree-granting schools:
- Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
- Algur H. Meadows School of the Arts
- Edwin L. Cox School of Business
- Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
- Dedman School of Law
- Perkins School of Theology
- Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development
SMU also offers courses through numerous continuing education programs.
SMU has several centers and institutes focused on diverse and interdisciplinary subjects. They include the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies, the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies, the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, and the Institute for Reading Research.
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
History – Humanities and sciences have been the heart of SMU from its beginning. Dedman College, SMU’s largest school, provides a liberal arts foundation for all undergraduates. It was named in 1981 for benefactors Robert H. Dedman, Sr., and his wife, Nancy McMillan Dedman, of Dallas.
Areas of Study – Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degrees offered through 16 departments in humanities, social sciences and mathematical and natural sciences.
Competitive Graduates – Dedman students have a high rate of graduate school acceptance. Their acceptance rate to medical school ranges 14–23 percentage points above the national average each year.
Publications – Dedman faculty are published by such university presses as Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Harvard.
Research – In 2006–07 Dedman generated $9.95 million of the $20.53 million awarded for SMU research and sponsored projects.
Facilities – SMU has committed more than $40 million in the past 10 years to upgrade and expand teaching, research and support facilities in Dedman College. Major examples include Dedman Life Sciences Building and extensive renovations in Fondren Science Building.
Edwin L. Cox School of Business
History – Established in 1920, Cox School of Business was renamed in 1978 in honor of benefactor Edwin L. Cox, Sr., of Dallas.
Areas of Study – Master of Business Administration and Master of Science degrees in accounting, management and entrepreneurship; Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in accounting, business and financial reporting, finance, financial consulting, general business, management, marketing and real estate finance.
Rankings – Cox is recognized as a leader in business education by such publications as BusinessWeek, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal.
Location – The Cox School benefits from its location in Dallas. Forbes magazine has named Dallas-Fort Worth the “Fourth Best Metropolitan Area for Business,” and the 2007 Fiske Guide to Colleges affirmed that SMU is “a training ground for the business elite of Dallas, and for those who may lead the state of Texas someday.”
International Study – Cox, through its American Airlines Global Leadership Program, was the first business school to require and fund an international immersion experience for all first-year, full-time M.B.A. students.
Algur H. Meadows School of the Arts
History – Arts education dates from SMU’s opening. It evolved into Meadows School of the Arts in 1969, named in honor of benefactor Algur H. Meadows and The Meadows Foundation of Dallas. The partnership with The Meadows Foundation continues to benefit the Meadows School and its renowned Meadows Museum, housing one of the finest collections of Spanish art outside Spain.
Areas of Study – Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and Artist Certificates. Divisions: Temerlin Advertising Institute, Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Cinema-Television, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (CCPA), Dance, Journalism, Music and Theatre.
Outstanding Students – Advertising and Cinema-Television students won first place in a national advertising competition, and CCPA and Dance students are partnering with the Dance Theatre of Harlem to develop audiences and funding.
Prominent Alumni – Arts alumni have won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony, Emmy and Academy Awards. Their work is represented in museums such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum and Museum of Modern Art.
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
History – The Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest. In 2008, the School was named in honor of Bobby B. Lyle, a Dallas entrepreneur and industry leader who has been instrumental in shaping the direction and growing prominence of the school.
Areas of Study – Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degrees offered through departments of Computer Science and Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Engineering Management, Information and Systems; Environmental and Civil Engineering; and Mechanical Engineering. The Lyle School also offers a Universitywide engineering and innovation minor to teach innovation and design skills to SMU students pursuing non-technical degrees.
Institutes, Centers and Offices – The Lyle School conducts cutting edge research, engages in educational outreach and provides enhanced opportunities for students and alumni through its institutes, centers and offices. They include: the Research Center for Advanced Manufacturing; the Center for Engineering Leadership; the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education; and the Office of Contemporary Technology (offering continuing education to all engineering alumni).
Emphasis – Programs focus on preparing students to become technical and engineering leaders equipped with innovation and professional skills to compete in the global economy.
Work Experience – Students gain work experience through the undergraduate co-op program, oldest in the Southwest; Industry Scholars Program, offering corporate-sponsored internships and scholarships; and other domestic and international internships.
Corporate Support – The Lyle School benefits from relationships with corporate partners who have supported a variety of facilities and initiatives, including: the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Lab®; TXU Design Studio; Goldman Sachs Research Library; AT&T Mixed Signals Lab; Texas Instruments Digital Signal Processing Lab; Proctor & Gamble Biomedical Research Lab; and Nokia Wireless Communication Lab.
Facilities – The Lyle School is one of the few educational institutions in the United States with entirely new, state-of-the-art facilities, including: the Jerry R. Junkins Electrical Engineering Building; the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified J. Linsday Embrey Engineering Building; and Caruth Hall, also designed for LEED certification and currently under construction.
Dedman School of Law
History – SMU’s School of Law, founded in 1925, was renamed Dedman School of Law in 2001 in honor of benefactors Robert H. Dedman, Sr., his wife, Nancy McMillan Dedman, and their family.
Academic Programs – Juris Doctor, Master’s and Doctor of Law degrees. SMU also offers a J.D. degree through an evening law program. The Master’s program in comparative and international law has graduated more than 1,400 lawyers from more than 75 countries.
Recognition – According to a survey published by D magazine in May 2007, approximately one-third of "leading lawyers" in Dallas are SMU law graduates.
Programs and Resources – Dedman School of Law publishes five well-respected law journals, operates six legal clinics and offers numerous international programs. The school’s Underwood Law Library houses the largest private law collection in the Southwest.
Alumni – SMU law graduates include Texas Supreme Court justices, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and members of the highest courts worldwide.
Perkins School of Theology
History – One of SMU’s three original schools, the theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J. and Lois Craddock Perkins of Wichita Falls, Texas.
Areas of Study – Master’s degrees in divinity, theological studies, church ministries and sacred music; Doctor of Ministry; Ph.D. in religious studies jointly with Dedman College; certificate programs in urban ministry, women’s studies, African-American church studies, Anglican studies and pastoral care.
Affiliation – Perkins is one of five university-related theological schools of The United Methodist Church.
Internships – The Perkins Internship Program, which gives students experience appropriate to their vocational goals, is a model for other programs nationwide.
Specialized Study – The Mexican-American Program is a national training center for students preparing for ministry in Spanish-speaking contexts and cultures.
Resources – The school’s Bridwell Library houses a major religious studies research collection and outstanding rare book, Bible and manuscript collections.
Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development
History – SMU renewed its commitment to professional education programs in 2005 by establishing the School of Education and Human Development. In 2007 it was renamed the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development in recognition of benefactors Harold C. and Annette Caldwell Simmons of Dallas.
Areas of Study – Undergraduate teacher certification; graduate certification in reading, mathematics, science and technology; Master’s degrees; and a Ph.D. focusing on education research and innovation. The school also offers Master’s degrees in counseling, dispute resolution and liberal studies. Programs are offered on the Dallas campus and in Plano at SMU-in-Legacy.
Community Outreach – Noncredit enrichment programs for adults and academic enhancement for teens.
Institutes and Research – The Institute for Reading Research has received more than $9 million in grants and contracts since it began in 2003. Current projects include instructional models for Spanish-speaking children and children with moderate developmental disabilities. The Gifted Students Institute provides teacher training and academic programs for gifted youth.