English as a Second Language Program
www.smu.edu/esl
Students whose first language is not English may encounter special challenges as they strive to function efficiently in the unfamiliar language and culture of an American university setting. Dedman College offers the following ESL resources to students from all schools and departments of SMU. Students may apply on the ESL website.
More information about the ESL Program is available on the website or from the director, John E. Wheeler (jwheeler@smu.edu).
The Courses (ESL)
ESL 1001 (0). ESL COMMUNICATION SKILLS. The goal of this course is to improve ESL students’ oral and aural interactive skills in speaking, giving presentations, pronunciation, listening, and American idiomatic usage so that they may become more participatory in their classes and integrate more readily with their native English-speaking peers. It is designed to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students who may be fully competent in their field of study yet require specialized training to effectively communicate in an American class-room setting. The course is free of charge, noncredit bearing, and transcripted as pass or fail. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 1002 (0). ESL COMMUNICATION SKILLS II. Building on skills developed in ESL 1001, students make use of their knowledge and practice to explore various aspects of American studies. In addition to speaking and presentation skills, reading and writing are also exploited as a means for students to gain a deeper understanding of American culture, customs, attitudes, and idiomatic use of the language. The course is noncredit and no-fee, and is transcripted as pass or fail. ESL 1001 is recommended as a precursor but is not a prerequisite. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 20XX (0). INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAM. All 2000-level ESL courses are exclusive to the Intensive English Program. This multilevel, yearlong program is designed to prepare students and professionals for academic success at the university level. The course of study consists of English for academic purposes, TOEFL-related skills, and American culture. It is open to currently enrolled and newly incoming students, as well as to those not affiliated with SMU. On-campus housing and meals are available during the 6-week summer term. This is a noncredit, nontranscripted program, and separate tuition fees are charged. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 3001 (0). ADVANCED GRAMMAR FOR WRITERS. This course helps students develop their grammar and writing skills within the context of academic readings. Problem areas of English grammar and style are explored through periodic assignments, research documentation methods, and a final research project. The course is free of charge, noncredit bearing, and transcripted as pass or fail. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 3002 (0). ADVANCED ACADEMIC WRITING. Building on principles of grammar and style covered in ESL 3001, this course helps students further improve the writing skills needed for their particular academic careers, using academic texts as a basis for out-of-class writing assignments and a final research project. The course is free of charge, noncredit bearing, and transcripted as pass or fail. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 4001 (0). ESL PRONUNCIATION SKILLS. Students improve their pronunciation by focusing on sentence stress, rhythm, intonation, and body language while learning to mimic American speech patterns. With the instructor’s assistance and extensive individual feedback, students develop personal strategies and exercises to become more aware of their own weaknesses. The course is free of charge, noncredit bearing, and transcripted as pass or fail. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
ESL 6001, 6002 (0). SEMINAR FOR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING ASSISTANTS. Graduate students who speak English as a second language prepare for their teaching responsibilities with undergraduate students taking University Curriculum courses. The main components include language skills needed as international teaching assistants, ITA-related teaching methodology, cross-cultural communication within the American classroom, and presentation skills. Also, examination of case studies, microteaching demonstrations, and periodic out-of-class individual consultations on the student’s language and pedagogical skills. The course is free of charge, noncredit bearing, and transcripted as pass or fail. Prerequisite: ESL Program approval required.
Conversation Buddy Program
At the beginning of each term, all students are notified via campus email of the opportunity to practice their language skills in an informal, one-on-one setting outside the classroom for one to two hours a week.
ESL Self-Study Lab
A collection of materials is available for self-study use at the Fondren Library Information Commons. Students will find materials to help them improve their pronunciation, listening, vocabulary and grammar skills.
SMU-in-Plano
www.smu.edu/plano
SMU’s campus in Plano’s Legacy Business Park extends SMU’s resources to meet the educational needs of residents in Collin County and beyond, and makes enrollment in graduate-level programs more convenient for working professionals in North Texas. The campus collaborates with area businesses by offering programs to serve the training needs of their employees and by providing corporate meeting space.
Conveniently located about 1 mile south of the intersection of state Highway 121 and the Dallas North Toll Road, SMU-in-Plano features 16 landscaped acres and four buildings with nearly 200,000 square feet of classroom space.
SMU-in-Plano serves more than 800 adult students each year through several full-time, evening and weekend programs leading to master’s degrees and/or professional certificates in counseling, dispute resolution and video game technology (SMU Guildhall). In addition, numerous noncredit certificates and professional development programs are offered in Plano, including paralegal studies, certified financial planner, social media and digital communications, best practices in supervision, and project management.
During the summer, more than 2,000 children participate in a variety of programs designed to enhance their academic skills. The campus also provides important outreach services to the surrounding Collin County communities; these services include the Mediation and Arbitration Center and the Center for Family Counseling.
More information is available online or through the SMU-in-Plano office: 5236 Tennyson Parkway, Building 4, Plano, TX 75024, 972-473-3400.
Note: Only available for graduate students in either Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences or Lyle School of Engineering.
Since 1953, students and faculty of Southern Methodist University have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities. ORAU is a consortium of colleges and universities and a management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.
Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (the U.S. Department of Energy facility that ORAU operates), undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates and faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines, including business, Earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry and mathematics.
ORAU’s Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU’s members, private industry and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scientist Program and various services to chief research officers.
For more information about ORAU and its programs, students should contact Dr. James E. Quick, ORAU councilor for SMU (214-768-4345), Monnie E. Champion, ORAU corporate secretary (423-576-3306), or visit the ORAU website at www.orau.org.
The Office of Continuing and Professional Education provides noncredit courses that address different cultural, scholarly, personal and professional topics for the community, a practice that has been part of the SMU tradition since 1957. CAPE offers a selection of courses for open enrollment each fall, spring and summer term. Additional information is available at www.smu.edu/cape.
Personal Enrichment. CAPE classes are generally short sessions on topics for enjoyment and reflection. Courses offered for personal enrichment include several major areas of exploration: personal finance and life planning, communication and workplace skills, history, literature and film, culture and travel, and the fine arts (e.g., studio art, music, architecture, photography and art history). CAPE also offers noncredit language conversation courses, including Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language.
Test Preparation. Study courses for the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT and LSAT are offered throughout the year. Information is available at www.smu.edu/testprep.
Professional Development. For those who are seeking professional achievement or a new career direction but who are not interested in a traditional undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program, CAPE offers noncredit courses to enhance workplace skills and noncredit certificate programs, including special certificates offered in partnership with Meadows School of the Arts, the National Criminal Justice Training Center and the Center for Nonprofit Management.
Students complete certificates by taking a series of classes over weeks or months, depending on the specialization and the student’s schedule. Cohort and independent options are available, with some classes being offered online. Upon completion of the series, students receive a noncredit transcript documenting completion from Continuing and Professional Education at SMU.
Additional information and a full listing of current opportunities are available at www.smu.edu/cape/professionaldevelopment.
SMU’s Summer Youth Program offers one-week, special-interest enrichment workshops throughout the summer for those entering grades K-12. More information is available at www.smu.edu/CAPE/SummerYouth
Online Learning. CAPE partners with national leaders in online teaching and learning to offer self-paced, practical, career-enhancing courses. Additional information is available at www.smu.edu/capeonline.
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