• When do I register?
• How do I know what classes to take?
• When can I see my academic adviser?
• What exactly is a "liberal arts" curriculum?
• How and when will I choose a major?
• May I declare my major during my first year?
• Does SMU have an honors program?
• What is the average class size at SMU?
• What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
• Will graduate students teach most introductory classes?
• Will I have the opportunity to study abroad?
• Will SMU send my grades to my parents?

When do I register?
You may register during Academic Advising, Registration and Orientation (AARO) or during freshman orientation in August. Contact the office of New Student Programs at (214)768-4560 for detailed information.

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How do I know what classes to take?
Upon entering SMU, you will begin fulfilling two general sets of requirements necessary to graduate: the general education curriculum that all students must satisfy regardless of major, and the requirements specified by the major itself. (The General Education Experience: smu.edu/gened/.) First-year students are assigned to an academic advisor from Dedman College. Your advisor will work with you regarding selection of classes.

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When can I see my academic adviser?
You are assigned a professional advisor at Academic Advising, Registration and Orientation (AARO) (AARO: http://smu.edu/newstudent/AARO/AAROsplashpage.asp) and are required to see him/her before registration each semester. You can also set up appointments on your own time throughout the semester. SMU provides students with a well-staffed, award-winning advising center of professional, full-time advisors.

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What exactly is a "liberal arts" curriculum?
The liberal arts disciplines include the humanities, the natural and the mathematical sciences, and the social sciences. With a foundation in the liberal arts, the SMU student gets a complete education - as a professional in a chosen career, a citizen in the world of ideas, and a full-fledged participant in life itself. SMU's general requirements in the liberal arts (the General Education Curriculum) provide students with an exceptional educational opportunity.(® General Education Curriculum: http://smu.edu/gened/)

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How and when will I choose a major?
SMU offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and a variety of minors. Your academic advisor and many other support systems are available to help you choose your major. You will make this decision by the end of your sophomore year.

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May I declare my major during my first year?
Upon entering SMU, you may declare your intended major. All students enter the university through Dedman College of the Humanities, Mathematics and Sciences. You may not officially declare your major until you have successfully completed at least 24 hours and satisfied the entrance requirements for your intended major. (® Undergraduate Catalog: http://smu.edu/catalogs/undergrad/default.asp)

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Does SMU have an honors program?
Yes. Students participating in the program will take 7-8 special courses within the general education curriculum which encourage deeper understanding through interdisciplinary thinking and learning. The honors program offers small, discussion-focused classes. Entrance is by invitation.

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What is the average class size at SMU?
The average class size is 25-30. Sixty percent of our classes contain 25 students or less. Students don't get lost in large lecture courses conducted by graduate students. SMU students learn from senior faculty in small classes.

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What is the student-to-faculty ratio?
12:1. Classes are small enough to encourage close faculty-student interaction.

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Will graduate students teach most introductory classes?
No. Almost all classes at SMU are taught by faculty, not graduate students.

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Will I have the opportunity to study abroad?
Yes. SMU offers various opportunities to live, study and travel in foreign countries. SMU offers summer, semester, and/or year-long study abroad programs in Australia and Southeast Asia, China, Denmark, Germany, England, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, and Taiwan (Study Abroad International Programs: smu.edu/studyabroad).

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Will SMU send my grades to my parents?
The Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act of 1974 states that no personally identifiable information from a student's record will be disclosed to a third party without prior written consent from the student. Grades may be released to parents if either the student completes a release form or the parent completes a Declaration of Dependency form. These releases are available in the Registrar's office. Once SMU has an approved release on file then the parent or student can request an official transcript.

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