Southern Methodist University: A Comprehensive Guide to Undergraduate Program Requirements

Southern Methodist University (SMU) offers a wide array of undergraduate programs designed to prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on flexibility, interdisciplinary learning, and hands-on experience, SMU provides students with the tools they need to excel in their chosen fields. This article provides a detailed overview of SMU's undergraduate programs, admission requirements, and key aspects of the student experience.

Academic Programs: A World of Possibilities

SMU boasts over 100 majors and 85 minors, offering students the opportunity to customize their education and develop multiple competencies that are highly valued by employers. The flexibility of the SMU Common Curriculum allows students to pursue double or even triple majors, as well as accelerated degree programs. Here's a glimpse into some of the academic areas available:

Accounting

SMU students have the highest pass rate on the CPA Exam in the State of Texas. The accounting program focuses on the identification, measurement, and communication of financial information, preparing students for careers in accounting, consulting, government, and many other fields.

Advertising

SMU’s Temerlin Advertising Institute for Education and Research (TAI) trains students to find unique solutions in advertising. Through coursework across advertising, communication studies, and journalism, you’ll gain both the strategic and practical skills necessary to engage in the art and practice of public relations.

Ethnic Studies

The ethnic studies program provides an interdisciplinary examination of African-American and Mexican-American experiences through the social sciences and humanities. African/African-American Studies B.S. and B.A. and Mexican-American Studies B.S. and B.A. programs are available. The African and African-American studies minors are each 18 credit hours.

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Applied Physiology and Sport Management

Formulated on evidence-based practice, courses in the applied physiology and health management concentration of the Simmons School’s Applied Physiology and Sport Management program focus on holistic fitness and health outcomes.

Art

Students can explore and develop their artistic talents in a challenging environment that rewards experimentation and risk-taking. A minor in studio art allows students to grow in their understanding of visual imagery and gain confidence in studio practice. At SMU, art history takes an interdisciplinary and intercultural approach to learning, incorporating elements of literature, science, and engineering. This minor enables all students in the University to extend their study into the realm of the visual arts.

Biological Sciences

Gain powerful insights into the complexity of life by combining approaches from biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Earn your combined B.S. and M.S. degrees on our five-year track for a B.S. in biological sciences and an M.S. Earn a Ph.D. Students majoring in other departments may obtain a minor in biological sciences.

Biomedical Science

The B.S. program includes the entire SMU pre-health curriculum and additional courses that provide both the solid foundation and the advanced preparation you need to stand out.

Business

The B.S. major combines a skill-based business analytics component with a functional supply chain management curriculum focused on business operations and cost-efficient processes, production, and distribution. Undergraduates with majors outside the Cox School may complete the minor in business administration. Prepare to become a business leader at SMU’s Cox School of Business. Take advantage of the more than 75 years of combined energy industry work experience that our Cox School of Business faculty bring to the classroom for the energy management concentration.

Chemistry

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. 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. The B.S. The reduced course requirements of the B.A. Students majoring in other departments may obtain a minor in chemistry.

Chinese

Consisting of 17 term hours, the Chinese minor includes 14 hours of language training and one course in Chinese culture, history or literature. Make yourself more marketable and versatile in the workplace with a degree in this language spoken worldwide.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Prepare to engage in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of the infrastructure of modern society.

Computer Science and Engineering

Required courses include principles of computer sciences, programming concepts, data structures and discrete computational structures. A student majoring in computer engineering may not minor in computer engineering. A student majoring in computer science may not minor in computer science. Use engineering to advance the science, policy and application of cyber security to meet some of the most difficult challenges of a global society.

Dance

Become a disciplined, versatile artist through professional training in ballet, modern dance and jazz dance at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, which ranked No.

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Data Science

Today’s world is data-driven.

Earth Sciences

A two-course geology core serves as the background for this interdisciplinary minor.

Economics

The B.A. The B.S. in economics offers specialized training in economics and a foundation for graduate study in business, economics or law.

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Gain the skills to expand the frontiers of technology in today’s global world as well as for a variety of career opportunities in the high-tech marketplace. Gain the skills for a variety of career opportunities in the high-tech marketplace.

English

Providing a broad liberal education, the course of study is a rich intellectual experience that covers American, British and other literature. is key to every successful endeavor. The minor in English is available to students who are not pursuing a major in English or a major in English with creative writing. The English major with a creative writing emphasis will add broad knowledge of literature and the skills of analytic writing and research to your own writing.

Ethics

Gain a strong foundation in ethics, along with skills in reasoning, analysis and the critical evaluation of ethical and philosophical issues, positions and arguments. society.

Fashion Media

Prepare to enter the growing field of fashion media with career opportunities in journalism, blogging, social media, public relations and event planning, styling and fashion photography. as well as the high-demand digital media skills that will make you competitive in today’s job market.

Film and Media Arts

Develop your own artistic voice and vision with intensive training and close mentorship in the art of cinema and electronic/digital media. (screenwriting, cinematography, editing and sound). Gain practical experience in the field with professional internships. Develop your own artistic voice and vision with intensive training and close mentorship in the art of cinema and electronic/digital media. (screenwriting, cinematography, editing and sound). Gain practical experience in the field with professional internships. The B.F.A.

Finance

Gain expertise in managing alternative assets, including hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, real estate and oil and gas.

French

Make yourself more marketable and versatile in the workplace with a degree in this language spoken worldwide. 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.

German

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.

Health and Society

An inter-disciplinary major for students interested in the practice and study of health in global and cultural contexts.

History

Students with a general interest in history may pursue a minor by taking 15 term hours of departmental coursework. as responsible citizens of the world.

International Studies

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.

Italian

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.

Management

Learn more about effective behavior at both the managerial and organizational level by understanding how individuals, groups and organizations behave and interact and the complex global environment in which firms operate. Also termed “the science of better,” management science is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions.

Mathematics

Our particular strengths in computational and applied mathematics will give you the proficiency to succeed in a wide range of careers. The B.S. The B.A. This minor is available to students who are not seeking the B.A. or B.S.

Mechanical Engineering

Learn the fundamentals of science and engineering, the practical aspects of mechanical engineering and essential entrepreneurial know-how in small classes that foster strong mentoring and academic excellence. Learn how to apply creative knowledge to solve critical problems in many areas, including bioengineering; energy; medicine; robotics and automation; and even space travel and exploration. This minor requires the completion of 15 hours from selected courses, including at least three interdisciplinary and nine advanced hours.

Music

Prepare for success with conservatory-level music experiences within a strong liberal arts education. array of minors. Benefit from an interdisciplinary approach that develops knowledge in music theory, history and performance while providing focused training in music therapy, research and psychology.

Philosophy

Develop skills of analysis and reasoning, an understanding of arguments and viewpoints, critical evaluation of varied perspectives and clear written and oral communications.

Physics

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. A minor in physics is particularly appropriate for majors in prehealth, prelaw, Earth science, biology, mathematics and engineering.

Political Science

A uniquely broad curriculum covers the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our graduates have gone on to law school; to graduate programs in political science and international or area studies; journalism; M.B.A. SMU’s Political Science Department offers four minor concentrations, including a minor in political science offering general coverage of the discipline. legal career.

Psychology

SMU ranked No. 1 among the top 10 colleges with the highest paid psychology graduates in College Factual 2014. Gain transferable skills and preparation for career success. This minor requires 18 hours of coursework. You must take Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1300, minimum grade of C- or higher) before declaring Psychology as your minor.

Public Policy

An interdisciplinary program in economics and political science, the major in public policy will give you the analytical skills and the historical context to understand and deal with contemporary policy issues.

Real Estate

Combining the study of finance and real estate, this major will help you develop special competency in real estate law, transactions and valuation techniques and an in-depth understanding of mortgage markets.

Religious Studies

Courses explore the development, practices and beliefs of different religions and emphasize analytical skills, critical reflection, persuasive argumentation and strong writing. Students majoring in other departments or schools may obtain a minor in religious studies by completing 15 term hours in the department.

Sociology

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.

Spanish

The Spanish minor has different requirements depending on the student’s experience with the Spanish language. Requiring at least 15 term hours, this minor is a valuable complement to majors in the natural or social sciences, engineering or business. Major in French, German or Spanish or specialize in two world languages to receive the B.A. degree.

Admission Requirements

SMU takes a holistic approach to the admission process, considering a variety of factors beyond academic performance. While there is no absolute cutoff for grades, competitive applicants generally perform in the top quarter of their high school class.

GPA

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.67, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. To give you a more concrete idea of what they're looking for, the middle 50% of admitted students usually have a GPA between 3.61-3.95.

Test-Optional Policy

SMU is fully test-optional, meaning that applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you choose to submit scores, SMU superscores both the SAT and the ACT, taking the highest section scores from multiple test attempts.

SAT: The 25th percentile SAT score is 1340, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1480.ACT: The 25th percentile ACT score is 30, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34. The average ACT score at SMU is 32.

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, SMU will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and SMU forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1404, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on.

Application Materials

In addition to the application form, applicants must submit:

High school transcript: Demonstrating your academic performance and coursework.
Personal résumé: Including extracurricular, volunteer, and summer activities, work experience, and honors, awards, and leadership positions. The SMU Admission Committee wants to learn more about your interests, hobbies and how you spend your time.
Essays: Showcasing your personality, goals, and fit for SMU. In addition to your main personal statement, which you'll submit through the particular application platform you're using (Common Application, Coalition Application, ApplyTexas, or SMU's own platform), SMU usually has at least a couple of school-specific supplemental essays. These essays are a great opportunity to showcase your fit for this particular institution.
Letters of recommendation: Providing insights into your strengths and potential. SMU requires one counselor recommendation, and you have the option to submit a teacher recommendation as well. Be sure to ask for your letter(s) early, and choose a recommender, or recommenders, who can speak to your strengths and accomplishments both in and out of the classroom, to give SMU a more complete picture of who you are as a student and a person.

Applicants who graduate from a high school abroad that does not have an English-based curriculum (not bilingual) are required to submit English proficiency scores.

Additional Requirements for Arts Programs

If you are planning to major in Art, Film (BFA), Dance, Music, or Theatre, a required audition or portfolio is a critical factor influencing your chance of admission. All art, film (BFA), dance, music or theatre applicants are considered dual-admission students, which means they must apply to and be accepted by both SMU and the Meadows School of the Arts. Like other top-tier visual and performing arts schools, Meadows School of the Arts has adopted a test-optional policy. Applicants should only submit an SAT or ACT score report for academic merit scholarship consideration.

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