Southern Methodist University

The Lyle School of Engineering is always looking to push into new research and technologies. In recent years, a number of new programs have been launched that students can take part in.

In 2017, Lyle partnered with the Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship and the Cox School of Business at SMU to offer a Masters in Engineering Entrepreneurship. The program is designed so that graduating students can have an impact in the competitive industry of tech start-ups. As part of the program, students are given mentors at small and medium-sized engineering companies and venture capital firms to gain wider industry experience.

In keeping with the excellent faculty and teaching at Lyle, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) have recently acknowledged Barbara Ellen Spang Minsker, Ph.D for her contribution to the field of engineering, specifically mentoring women pursuing careers in engineering. Minsker has been awarded the Margaret S. Petersen Award, which recognizes female members of the ASCE who have made a significant contribution and demonstrated committed service to the engineering community.

The Lyle School of Engineering has an excellent reputation. With more than 90 years of experience, it is one of the best institutions in the Southwest for engineering and technical subjects.

The ratio of students to faculty members is 11:1. This means students get an excellent standard of teaching, and a high level of one to one teaching attention. They can also engage more closely with faculty members and the research they are undertaking.

The research undertaken at the Lyle School of Engineering is of a world-class standard, and specializations include critically important global issues such as cybersecurity and biomedical research. It is new research which allows the faculty to create new programs for their students to study, and broadens the industry experience students leave university with.

There are five departments and several multidisciplinary offerings that make up the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU.

Civil and Environmental Engineering – offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, this department is based in the J. Lindsay Embrey Building. State-of-the-art laboratories within Caruth Hall include space for a range of modelling, analysis and geotechnical engineering.

Computer Science and Engineering – the department encourages collaboration and innovation between disciplines, as well as between undergraduate and graduate students in their advanced laboratories for practical design and advanced research.

Electrical and Computer Engineering – based in the Jerry Junkins Building, undergraduate and graduate students can use specialist laboratories tailored to the department's research specialties, including communications, circuits and photonics.

Engineering Management, Information and Systems – bringing together technical management with a high level of engineering expertise, undergraduate and postgraduate students can analyse data and create their own advanced analytics programs in the EMIS laboratories.

Mechanical Engineering – with programs focused on solutions in the industry, including design and manufacturing, undergraduate and postgraduate students alike get involved with the department's research projects and have access to their specialist laboratories.

Multidisciplinary Studies – a range of interdisciplinary master's programs are available to meet the needs of student's whose interests don't fall precisely within one of the existing departments, allowing students and the school to experiment with new technologies.

Dual Degree Program – this is a two-year MSC Engineering/MBA in a chosen area of engineering and Business Administration, preparing students of the course for leadership roles across the technology industry.

Joint Degree Program – the Masters in Engineering Entrepreneurship (MSEN) helps graduate students who are looking to initiate and lead new technological business ventures.

Individual degree programs may have their own entry requirements, but there are a number of entrance guidelines which apply across the School.

All international students who do not have English as a first language (and graduate applicants who haven't gained their undergraduate at an American university) must submit a TOEFL test or equivalent with a minimum score of 550 on the paper examination, 213 on the computer examination or 80 overall score on the online examination. A score of 6.5 or better on the IELTS also qualifies.

Graduate applicants must have a minimum 3.000 GPA (on a 4.000 scale) for all of their previous undergraduate or graduate studies. For those applying for doctoral studies, they must also have three letters of recommendation. For all doctoral applicants, and for those applying for certain master's degrees, students will also need an official GRE graduate school admission test score.

Accommodation

There is a range of accommodation available on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas, with first-year incoming students assigned to the same residential facilities. Most accommodation includes common areas for studying and socializing, laundry rooms, and a 24-hour access card system. There is also a Resident Assistant and Residential Community Director on staff to help students living on campus.

Libraries

SMU's main library is the Fondren Library. It is open 24 hours a day Monday-Thursday, with shorter hours on Friday and weekends, during term times. It includes a cafe, IT help desk and a research help center. There are a number of classrooms, study spaces and lockers available for students to use, as well as printing and copying services.

SMU Facilities

As part of SMU, students have access to a range of state-of-the-art facilities on site. The Dedman Centre includes two sand volleyball courts, a climbing wall, indoor recreational space for a range of classes and activities, indoor and outdoor pools including The Falls, a pool complete with 7-foot waterfalls. The Moody Auditorium is a 7000-seat arena home to SMU basketball. Meanwhile, one of the oldest buildings on campus, the McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, was opened in 1926 and is a proscenium style theatre with over 2000 seats.

As a university, SMU has an excellent reputation for graduate outcomes. In 2017, a PayScale report ranked it in the top 21% of universities in the U.S. for student return on their investment. The median salary was nearly USD 80,000 within five years of graduates beginning their career. In 2017, the Center for World University Rankings put SMU in the top 0.5% of 1000 universities from around the world for alumni employment.

SMU has an excellent career development program, and Dallas-area businesses offer SMU students more than 4,400 internships and placements every year. The Princeton Review ranked SMU 6^th in the U.S. for its internship opportunities.

The Lyle School of Engineering also boasts the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, which helps connect students to opportunities including mentoring relationships, internships, placements and even job opportunities. The Center hosts networking events, workshops and recruiting events, and can help individual students with mock interviews, resumes and interview prep.

Once students leave Lyle, they are still part of the SMU alumni network, which was ranked 13^th in the U.S. amongst universities by the Princeton Review.