Taos offers the perfect complement to the big city setting of Dallas. Enjoy beautiful mountain weather and views at our 423-acre campus in Taos, NM. Discover the fascinating intersection of cultures and history in the American Southwest. Explore Taos’ art, music, outdoor recreation and much more. Campus resources included brand new Miller Campus Center, library staffed by SMU librarian during terms, on-campus OIT Specialist, shared faculty office with computers and free printing, biology and archaeology lab spaces, out door and indoor spaces for creative projects and chef-prepared meals.
“The aspect of Taos that I found most enjoyable was the overall environment of the campus. It was possible to easily interact with professors over a shared meal or a run down the mountain. Camaraderie between all students and faculty was easily built. This resulted in an experience that was far less formal and more easily attuned to meaningful and thoughtful conversations.” - Andrew Timmins, Jan 2016 Faculty
"What a GREAT place for adventurous learning! Teaching art history during the 2016 Taos August term was one of the high points of my 30-year teaching career. The students, staff, and faculty colleagues could not have been better and the learning environment was fantastic." - Kathy Windrow, Art History faculty
“I believe 100% that it is a once in a life time experience for students and that they will learn things there that they could not learn any other way.” Max Gunther, Psychology Faculty
SMU Taos courses are offered during focused summer terms and one fast-paced winter term.
Condensed, focused terms during the summer and winter breaks allow you to engage and challenge your students through discussions, projects and field trips each day.
Our living-learning environment, like that of the new Residential Commons system, increases interactions with students in and out of class.
Small class sizes with an average of 10 - 15 students, but sometimes less, mean you get to know each and every one of your students both personally and academically
“I've been able to develop new courses and refine curricula, created new teaching partnerships, learned from colleagues and students, broadened my own knowledge of the Taos area and New Mexico, and thoroughly enjoyed myself in beautiful Taos.” Carla Mendiola, History faculty member
“It is a renewing experience, and gets you closer to what teaching is all about.” - Bob Rasberry, Management Faculty
“It's an opportunity to focus on learning and scholarship without distractions and to develop strong relationships with instructors.” - Lorelei Rowe Psychology Faculty
SMU Taos practices a “classroom without walls” philosophy. This encourages learning beyond the physical classroom, from educational hikes and field trips to class debates and discussions around an evening campfire.
With Taos Pueblo (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Bandelier National Monument, Ghost Ranch and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, and many more art, history, and culture locations within an hour of campus faculty can help students engage directly with the content and ideas of their courses, beyond lectures and readings.
“They learned about, visited and experienced history and culture in a first-hand way that they probably would not have been able to do otherwise. They also interacted and made friends with fellow students who they also probably would not have met on the Dallas campus. It opens new opportunities for students to learn about new course content in an intimate setting, the culturally-rich Taos and NM area, and about themselves as they grow through this educational experience.” Carla Mendiola, History faculty member
“This is engaged learning at its best. Students have the opportunity to apply their learning every day. It's huge for their intellectual and social development.” Jill DeTemple, Religious Studies, June 2016
"It changes the rhythm of their everyday lives and opens them up to new possibilities. It helps them realize that learning can take place beyond the classroom." Sheri Kunovich, Sociology professor
Teaching at SMU Taos is done separately from one’s normal course load. Full-time faculty are issued extra compensation for their work. Adjunct faculty typically receive the same fee they would receive from their department for teaching a course. Faculty live on campus where room and board are provided for faculty. Travel costs are also reimbursed based on the current federal mileage rate (with mileage determined by distance from SMU’s Dallas campus to the SMU Taos campus).