Dedman College provides students with a strong liberal arts education. This is an essential foundation for any student, especially those interested in pursuing the medical or legal fields. Advisors of students who are in the pre-health or pre-law programs encourage students to investigate majors across the curriculum, including any of the 40 majors offered in Dedman College. In a typical year, 60% of the 100 pre-law seniors have a major in Dedman College. Pre-health students favor Dedman College due to its wide variety of science and research opportunities.
Pre-law students share common traits: a desire to analyze and solve real problems, strength in both written and oral expression, a logical approach to problem-solving, and a fascination with the complexities of societal structures. These elements are strengthened with a liberal arts education.
The pre-law program consists of advising services, lectures and exclusive access to the SMU Law Fair. Advisors boast that 70-80% of pre-law seniors have been accepted at law schools including the University of Chicago, Cornell University, Duke University, the University of Texas and Dedman School of Law at SMU.
Pre-Health students pursue admission to dental, medical, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, physical therapy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine and chiropractic medicine training programs. In addition to a core curriculum, the program consists of advising, support tools such as the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center and student organizations (including Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-health honor society, and the Pre-Dental Discussion Group).