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Southern Methodist University (also known as SMU) is a private, coeducational university in University Park, Texas, (an enclave of Dallas). Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU currently operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.

Of the university's current enrollment of 11,000, around 6,000 are undergraduates. 21.5% of entering undergraduates classify themselves as "minorities," and more than half of the student body claims a religious affiliation. Only 25% of new undergraduates claim affiliation with the Methodist church. Demographic profile

University history and facts

Founded in 1911 by what is now the United Methodist Church, SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry. The city of Dallas has supported SMU since its beginning, when local citizens pledged $300,000 to secure the University's location. In appreciation of the city, SMU named its first building Dallas Hall, which remains the University’s symbol and centerpiece. Designed after the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Dallas Hall opened its doors in 1915 and housed the entire University as well as a bank and a barbershop. Because Dallas Hall was built on a hill, SMU was nicknamed “The Hilltop.” The University seal is on the floor under the Rotunda. Dallas Hall is now registered in the National Registry of Historic Places.

The University’s first president, Robert S. Hyer, selected Harvard red and Yale blue as the school colors to symbolize SMU’s high standards.

Academic divisions

SMU's seven degree-granting schools are: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Meadows School of the Arts, School of Engineering, School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, and Perkins School of Theology.

Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Dedman College was named in 1981 in honor of its benefactors, Robert H. Dedman Sr. and his wife, Nancy McMillan Dedman, both of Dallas.

  • Areas of Study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral degrees are offered through 16 departments in the humanities, social sciences, and the mathematical and natural sciences.

  • Competitive Graduates: The percentage of Dedman students accepted to medical school is typically 10-20 points higher than the national average each year.

  • Publications: Faculty members publish with such university presses as Oxford, Yale, Cambridge, and Harvard. Many of their publications can be seen at the Barnes and Noble SMU Bookstore, which has a section devoted to faculty authors.

  • Research Grants: In 2004, Dedman College researchers generated $7,752,800 of SMU’s $19.6 million in competitive research grants, an amount that has increased 52 percent since 1994.

  • Renovated Facilities: In 2004, Dedman College completed the first phase of the Fondren Science Building renovation. During the prior five years, more than $28 million supported construction and renovation projects for science facilities within the College.

  • University Honors Program in the Liberal Arts: In 1966, Dr. Franklin G. Balch, a political science professor at SMU, founded the "Superior Studies Program" consisting of 40 students. Over the next decade, Superior Studies was divided between Departmental and General Education programs. Thus, the University Honors Program developed, growing in 2006 to a group of more than 850 students who complete a required minimum of seven courses in the humanities. The UHP (as it is commonly called) focuses on an interaction-based pedagogy. The program notably features smaller classes, highly-acclaimed professors, guest lecturers on controversial topics, and free special events for its participants.

Cox School of Business
The SMU Cox School of Business was established in 1920, and was renamed in 1978 to recognize the support of benefactor Edwin L. Cox of Dallas.

  • Areas of Study: Master’s degrees in business and accounting; Bachelor’s degrees offered through majors in accounting; finance; information technology and operations management; management and organizations; marketing; real estate, insurance, and business law; and strategy and entrepreneurship.

  • Rankings: The SMU Cox School of Business is consistently recognized as a leader in business education by such publications as BusinessWeek, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. The Cox B.B.A. program ranks among the top 20 nationally in BusinessWeek's 2006 rankings.

The Cox School of Business houses a nationally-ranked MBA graduate program as well as a BBA honors program and extensive Executive Education offerings. SMU Cox rose to #16 in the world (#13 in the United States), up from #18 in BusinessWeek's last EMBA ranking in 2003. This puts SMU Cox ahead of quality programs such as NYU Stern, Cornell, and Purdue. The Cox Professional MBA (PMBA) Program offers an opportunity for students to earn their MBA degree while maintaining full-time employment. The Cox School is also one of only eight programs (the others being Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, Anderson School at UCLA, University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business, NYU Stern School of Business, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and the MIT Sloan School of Management) to rank in the top 30 for research impact in information systems, marketing, strategy, finance, and economics.

  • Location and Connections: Dallas-Fort Worth is the “Fourth Best Metropolitan Area for Business,” according to Forbes magazine, and “SMU is all but the official alma mater of the Dallas business and professional elite,” states The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

  • American Airlines Global Leadership Program: SMU offers the only M.B.A. program that requires and funds international study for all first-year students. In 2006, students visited China, the UK, Switzerland, and Italy during GLP.

Meadows School of the Arts
Meadows School of the Arts began as the School of Music in 1917 and became Meadows School of the Arts in 1964, incorporating studies in art and theatre. In 1969, thanks to Algur H. Meadows and The Meadows Foundation, the school was named the Algur H. Meadows School of the Arts.

  • Areas of Study: Meadows School of the Arts offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and Artist Certificates. Divisions include the Temerlin Advertising Institute, Art, Art History, Arts Administration, Cinema-Television, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (CCPA), Dance, Journalism, Music, and Theatre.

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Southern Methodist University".

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