SMU is a private, comprehensive university offering 123 undergraduate degrees and 127 graduate and professional degrees, including 25 doctorates. The University has seven degree-granting schools:
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.
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History: Humanities, social sciences 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.
Academic Programs: Sixteen departments in humanities, social sciences and sciences offer Bachelor's degrees through more than 85 majors and minors, plus Master's and doctoral degrees.
Innovative Offerings: The Embrey Human Rights Program offers the nation's largest undergraduate minor in human rights. Its interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to explore civil, political, economic, social and cultural aspects of human rights and prepares future generations of human rights advocates and responsible citizens.
Competitive Graduates: Dedman students have a high rate of graduate school acceptance. Their acceptance rate to medical school over the past five years has been 20 or more percentage points above the national average.
Research: In 2009–10 Dedman faculty generated 87 awards for $18.7 million (74%) of the $25.6 million in external funding for SMU research and sponsored projects.
Publications: Dedman faculty are published by such university presses as Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Harvard.
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History: Established in 1920, the Cox School of Business was named in 1978 in honor of benefactor Edwin L. Cox of Dallas.
Academic Programs: Bachelor of Business Administration with majors in accounting, finance, financial consulting, general business, management, marketing and real estate finance, risk management and insurance; Master of Business Administration and Master of Science degrees in accounting, management and entrepreneurship.
Ranking: SMU Cox is one of the few schools in the nation with three M.B.A. programs ranked in the top 15 according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
Location: One of the Cox School's greatest advantages is its location in Dallas, frequently cited as one of the best places to start a career and earn a living. Cox has forged strong relationships with leading companies and influential business leaders in the area and has been recognized in The Economist as one of the top 15 schools worldwide for networking potential.
International Study: The Cox School has a mandatory international immersion experience for all full-time M.B.A. and Executive M.B.A. students. Professional M.B.A. students also have short-term immersion courses. All students can take advantage of Cox's 15 exchange partnerships with schools around the world.
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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 of Spain.
Academic Programs: Meadows provides a conservatory atmosphere in a liberal arts setting through Bachelor's and Master's degrees and Artist Certificates. Divisions: Temerlin Advertising Institute, Art, Art History, Arts Entrepreneurship and Arts Management, Communication Studies, Dance, Film and Media Arts, Journalism, Music and Theatre.
Meadows Prize: Inaugurated in 2009, the Meadows Prize, an international arts residency, is awarded each fall to two pioneering artists in a Meadows discipline. Winners spend four to eight weeks in Dallas, interact with students and leave a lasting legacy for the city and SMU. Awardees have included eighth blackbird, Grammy-winning new music ensemble; arts organization Creative Time; choreographer Shen Wei; and playwright Will Power.
Prominent Alumni: Meadows 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.
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History: SMU's School of Engineering, founded in 1925, was named in 2008 in honor of Dallas leader Bobby B. Lyle.
Academic Programs: Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral degrees offered through the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Engineering Management, Information and Systems; and Mechanical Engineering.
New Initiatives: The Lyle School is the first engineering school in the nation to host a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® Lab modeled after the iconic California research facility established to solve complex technology problems. The Center for Engineering Leadership creates customized leadership development plans for each student. The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education is developing new methodologies for incorporating engineering education into K-12 schools. The Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity pairs technological innovation with business collaboration to improve conditions for the global poor.
Facilities: SMU's high-performance engineering complex includes the Junkins Engineering Building; Embrey Engineering Building, one of the nation's first academic lab buildings to be LEED gold-certified for environmentally sensitive design and construction; and the new Caruth Hall, also LEED gold-certified.
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History: SMU's School of Law, founded in 1925, was named SMU Dedman School of Law in 2001 in honor of benefactors Nancy and Robert H. Dedman, Sr., and their family.
Academic Programs: Juris Doctor (day and evening programs), Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science. The Master's program for graduates of foreign law schools was among the first in the country and has graduated more than 2,000 lawyers from 80 countries. The law faculty has published extensively.
Other Programs and Resources: Dedman School of Law publishes five well-respected law journals and operates seven legal clinics serving diverse community needs. The school's Underwood Law Library houses the largest private law collection in the Southwest.
Recognition: Dedman ranks first among all law schools in the number of graduates who are CEOs at Fortune 50 companies. It is among the nation's most competitive law schools for admission and consistently ranks among the top 30 law schools in most rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dedman in the nation's top 50 law schools.
Alumni: SMU law graduates include Texas Supreme Court justices, members of the U.S. Congress, ambassadors, foreign ministers and members of the highest courts worldwide.
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History: One of SMU's original schools, the theology school was named in 1945 in honor of benefactors Joe J. and Lois Craddock Perkins of Wichita Falls, Texas. Perkins is one of five university-related theological schools of The United Methodist Church.
Academic Programs: Master's degrees in divinity, theological studies, church ministries and sacred music; Doctor of Ministry; M.A. and Ph.D. in religious studies jointly with Dedman College.
Specialized Programs: The Perkins Internship Program, a model for programs nationwide; Mexican American Program, a national training center for students and church leaders preparing for ministry in Spanish-speaking contexts and cultures; certificate programs in Hispanic studies, African American church studies, Anglican studies, pastoral care, urban ministry and women's studies; and Global Theological Education, providing immersion experiences in different cultural contexts.
Resources: Bridwell Library houses a major religious studies research collection and outstanding rare book, Bible and manuscript collections.
Facilities: The new Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall and renovated Kirby Hall and Selecman Hall provide significantly expanded and enhanced facilities for the school. The Ruben L.F. Habito Labyrinth provides a guide for prayer and meditation by campus and community members. Perkins Chapel serves SMU and the larger community.
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History: SMU renewed its commitment to professional education programs in 2005 by establishing the School of Education and Human Development. In 2007 the school was named in honor of Annette Caldwell Simmons, following a gift from Harold C. and Annette C. Simmons for the school.
Academic Programs: Undergraduate teacher certification; Bachelor's in applied physiology and sport management; graduate certification including literacy education, bilingual education, English as a second language, gifted student education, learning therapy, mathematics, science, technology and dispute resolution; Master's degrees in education, bilingual education, educational leadership, higher education, urban leadership, counseling, dispute resolution and liberal studies; and Ph.D. in educational research.
Research and Community Programs: Institute for Evidence-Based Education, Gifted Students Institute, Center for Child and Community Development, Center for Family Counseling, Diagnostic Center for Dyslexia and Related Disorders, Center for Academic Progress and Success, Upward Bound, Community Counseling Centers, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Services, informal courses for adults and academic enhancement programs for youth.
Facilities: Programs are offered on the Dallas campus and at SMU-in-Plano. The Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall, new home of the school, opened on the Dallas campus in August 2010.