Areas of Study

The ethnic studies program offers an interdisciplinary examination of African-American and Mexican-American experiences through the social sciences and humanities. This program provides good preparation for graduate work in the social sciences, the humanities and professional schools, as well as jobs and careers in many fields. 

SMU’s Political Science Department offers four minor concentrations, including the minor in American Politics. It is recommended if you are interested in pre-law, journalism, American history or business administration.

Major

Anthropologists are able to understand the needs of businesses in other countries. Cultural anthropologists, employed as diversity consultants and cultural analysts, identify potential international markets.

• Four subfields: archaeology, cultural/social anthropology, anthropological linguistics and physical anthropology
• Hands-on experience at sites including SMU’s archaeological field school at the SMU-in-Taos campus, New Mexico

Minor

A 15-hour minor in anthropology is offered in three tracks: archaeology, cultural anthropology and general anthropology; an 18-hour track may be taken in biomedical anthropology.

Acquire substantial vocabulary and knowledge of idiomatic language and advanced syntax, study authentic materials in classical prose with readings and discussions and take courses in SMU-approved international programs.

This minor provides students with a foundation in the scientific method, critical thinking and reasoning, interdisciplinarity, and the culture history of our species. This minor compliments majors in earth science, environmental studies, engineering, history, education, and human rights. (15 credit hours)

This interdisciplinary minor introduces different forms of political activity, social relations, religious traditions and literatures and includes two years of college-level study of an Asian language. You’ll be encouraged to spend at least one term or summer studying in Asia. For many students, this minor leads to graduate studies or the beginning of a professional career in international business or law.

This minor provides students with a foundation in methods, theory, and problems in cross-cultural health and global health care. (18 credit hours)

Major

Prepare for a rewarding career and achievements in a variety of fields with solid hands-on research experience in the laboratory. From Ph.D. programs at Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, Cornell and Rice to the M.D./Ph.D. program at Baylor Medical School, UT Southwestern Medical School and the University of Wisconsin, our SMU chemistry graduates consistently place in top institutions nationwide. Recent graduates have found employment at Merck, IBM, the EPA and more.

• The B.S. in environmental chemistry and the B.S. in environmental science are available for students with more specialized interests.
• The B.S. in chemistry satisfies American Chemical Society certification requirements and prepares students for graduate school and employment in the chemical industry.
• The reduced course requirements of the B.A. in chemistry make it suitable for a double major, such as chemistry and biology, chemistry and business administration, etc.

Minor

Students majoring in other departments may obtain a minor in chemistry. At least two of the advanced courses must be taken at SMU.

Consisting of 17 term hours, the Chinese minor includes 14 hours of language training and one course in Chinese culture, history or literature. The minor focuses on language proficiency, among the refinement of other skills.

Study the various aspects of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome in this interdisciplinary minor whose course offerings span everything from advanced Latin to Athenian democracy and classical rhetoric.

SMU’s Political Science Department offers four minor concentrations, including the minor in comparative and international politics. Recommended for students interested in the Foreign Service, the military, international business and commerce, journalism or area studies, this minor analyzes and contrasts different patterns of political development in Western, Marxist-Leninist and Third World countries and surveys the elements of international relations, including international law, diplomacy, foreign policy and more.

This track covers everything from the origins of civilization to human ecology and language in culture and society to the cultural aspects of business, the immigrant experience and health as a human right.

A two-course geology core serves as the background for this interdisciplinary minor. It is not available to students who are majoring or minoring in the Earth science; it is designed for students heading into the environmental field from other disciplines.

Gain a strong foundation in ethics, along with skills in reasoning, analysis and the critical evaluation of ethical and philosophical issues, positions and arguments. This minor – which can be easily combined with majors or minors in other disciplines – explores questions of value, justice, responsibility and the moral life as well as philosophical treatments of ethics.

Major

This interdisciplinary program examines the African-American and Mexican-American experiences through the social sciences and humanities, probing the roots of traditions beginning in early African and pre-Columbian cultures as well as examining minorities in contemporary U.S. society. As an ethnic studies major, you can pursue a career in education, law, journalism, urban planning, business, social work, politics and many other fields.

• African/African-American Studies
  B.S. and B.A. are offered.
• Mexican-American Studies
  B.S. and B.A. are offered.

Minor

The African and African-American studies minors are each 18 credit hours. The Mexican-American studies minor is 19 credit hours.

Complete two years of college-level study of a European language other than English. Students are encouraged to spend at least one term or summer studying in Asia – most of the courses taught in SMU study abroad programs in Europe may be applied to this minor.

Major

Make yourself more marketable and versatile in the workplace with a degree in this language spoken worldwide. Becoming fluent in French is not always easy, which is why majoring in French will tell potential employers that you are smart, savvy and hardworking.

Minor

Choose from courses such as: Business French, Internship in French, French Cinema, African Cinema, The African Novel in French, Immigration in France, Advanced Spoken French, French Civilization and more. Selection University Curriculum requirements can be met upon completion of minor in French.

Major

In addition to studying the geology major’s core sequence of plate tectonics, earth materials and field methods, you’ll be encouraged to pursue concentrations in paleontology, geochemistry or resource geology that integrate classroom learning with field and laboratory experience.

Minor

The minor in geology requires 17 hours in selected Earth Sciences coursework.

Major

From beginning German to advanced courses on German literature, culture and film, you can earn a B.A. degree in German with eight advanced courses beyond your second year or a minor with four advanced courses beyond your second year. You can also combine a major or a minor in German with other majors to enhance your academic profile and boost your employment opportunities.

Minor

The German minor consists of 18 term hours of German and includes required courses on culture, grammar and literature as well as advanced courses.

Major

Interdisciplinary programs of study are designed to give you the expertise you need in the politics, economics, history, language and cultures of societies other than your own to succeed in an international career. Course work in the social sciences, business, language and the humanities will give you the foundation for this expertise as well as in-depth knowledge about specific geographical areas.

Minor

The minor in international studies requires 15 hours of coursework from the basic curriculum, nine of which must be in courses at the 3000 level or above.

The minor in Italian focuses on strengthening the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and linguistic proficiency within the context of studying contemporary Italian movies and culture. It includes computer, video and audio assignments.

This minor strengthens listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as linguistic proficiency in Italian. Requirements include selections from adviser-approved courses ranging from Italian poetry since Dante to modern and contemporary Italian literature.

This minor explores the language and culture of Japan with a focus on developing and enriching literary experience in Japanese, enhancing advanced reading and writing skills and communicating with accuracy and grammatical complexity.

The minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies requires 15 hours of coursework. A co-curricular requirement is two years of college-level study of Spanish or Portuguese. Students are encouraged to spend at least one term or summer studying in Latin America or Iberia – most of the courses taught in SMU study abroad programs in Latin America/Iberia may be applied to this minor.

Major

The program offers a classically liberal arts education within a broad subset of Western and non-Western contexts and preparation for preprofessional training in multiple fields, such as business, religious studies, biology, music theory and world languages and literatures.

Minor

This minor requires the completion of 15 hours from selected courses, including at least three interdisciplinary and nine advanced hours. Individual student programs are approved by the Director of Medieval Studies.

Major

Develop skills of analysis and reasoning, an understanding of arguments and viewpoints, critical evaluation of varied perspectives and clear written and oral communications. These critical thinking skills developed in the major and minor benefit students in many disciplines and are especially useful as preparation for law school.

Minor

This minor requires at least 15 semester hours of selected coursework in philosophy, including at least 9 hours in advanced courses at the 3000 level or above.

Major

As you engage in the study of space, time, energy and matter, you’ll be inspired to ask and try to answer the deepest questions about the universe. The Department of Physics at SMU offers a program consisting of course studies in broad areas of classical and modern physics and research studies in both experimental and theoretical physics.

Minor

A minor in physics is particularly appropriate for majors in prehealth, prelaw, Earth science, biology, mathematics and engineering. The departmental requirement for a minor in physics is 17 semester hours from selected physics coursework.

One of four minor concentrations offered by the Political Science Department, the minor in political thought is recommended for students interested in philosophy and intellectual history.

Major

Courses explore the development, practices and beliefs of different religions and emphasize analytical skills, critical reflection, persuasive argumentation and strong writing. This academically rigorous program will help you develop a global perspective, sensitivity to cultural diversity and a strong liberal arts background for success in graduate studies and careers in fields such as law, education, social services, medicine, ministry and business.

Minor

Students majoring in other departments or schools may obtain a minor in religious studies by completing 15 term hours in the department. Nine hours must be completed in courses numbered at the 3000 level or above.

This minor includes Russian reading, conversation, grammatical and syntactic structures in multilevel workshops and a selection of course options ranging from comparative grammar to a practicum in Russian culture in St. Petersburg.

Major

Gain a competitive advantage in fields that rely on social research with courses on research design, data analysis and social theory and by developing an understanding of domestic and international social conditions.

Career options include:

• Business (marketing research, human resources, personnel management, industrial relations, public relations, sales)
• Human services (nonprofits)
• Government (policy analysis, program evaluation, urban planning)

Minor

This minor requires 15 credit hours, including completion of the Introduction to Sociology course on the sociological approach to understanding human behavior and additional higher-level courses.

Major

Learn how to speak and write Spanish with proficiency, study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and take recommended electives outside the Spanish area.

Minor

The Spanish minor has different requirements depending on the student’s experience with the Spanish language. All minors must take 18 term hours of advanced and/or intermediate courses.

Major

Become a highly marketable graduate who can take advantage of the accelerating demand for specialists trained in data collection and analysis and prepared to harness the explosion of data from devices such as sensors, cell phones and medical instruments, as well as from business processes, surveys and social media.

Minor

Requiring at least 15 term hours, this minor is a valuable complement to majors in the natural or social sciences, engineering or business. It will enhance career opportunities for students planning careers that involve the collection, processing, description and/or analysis of quantitative information.

This interdisciplinary minor, which complements a variety of majors and minors, emphasizes the intellectual, artistic, political and social contributions of women and extends into a broader range of issues, including the social and cultural meanings of masculinity and the relationships between gender, sexuality and sexual identity.