Application Process

Admission requirements

  • Online application
  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
  • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • A one-two page essay explaining why the applicant wants to study Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management.
  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Interview with a member of the Admission Committee
  • Application fee
  • Students applying to the Master’s program after completing the certificate program must demonstrate a 3.5 GPA from the certificate program (and comply with all other admission requirements). Up to 21 credits from the certificate program will be accepted towards your Masters requirements.

Deadlines

The Dispute Resolution Program offers rolling admissions throughout the year.

Priority admission deadlines follow:

  • Fall Term - June 1st
  • Spring Term - November 1st
  • Summer Term - May 1st

Transcripts

Admission to the Dispute Resolution Program requires submission of transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended, including transfer credits. If your school participates in 'E-scripts,' we can accept transcripts sent directly from your school to gradappmaterials@smu.edu. If sent through the physical mail, please mail to:

Graduate Application Processing
PO Box 518
Dallas, TX 75275-0518

Language requirement

Applicants who do not speak English as their native language are required to supply scores on the TOEFL English language proficiency test, the IELTS English competency test, the Duolingo English Test (DET), or the TOEFL Essentials exam. The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 80/score level 4. The minimum IELTS score is 6.5. The minimum score for the TOEFL Essentials is 8.5 with a minimum score of 8 in all subsections. The minimum DET score is 110 unless specified otherwise by a program or department. SMU’s ETS (TOEFL) school code is 6660. For the IELTS, please indicate “SMU – Graduate Application Processing Office”. For DET, please send scores to “SMU – Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.”

This requirement can only be waived if applicants have either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying country from the list below:

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Dominica
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Grand Cayman
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad/Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S. Pacific Trust

Foreign transcript policy

All foreign transcripts must be accompanied by a professional evaluation and an official transcript, including an English translation if it is not in English. It is the applicant’s responsibility to procure this evaluation and to assume financial responsibility for it. An exception to this requirement is an exchange agreement between SMU and a foreign institution which is modeled after the U.S. education system.

Because of the importance of this information, SMU only accepts evaluations from the following agencies of proven reliability:

World Education Services, Inc.
PO Box 745 Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
Telephone: 212-966-6311
TOLL FREE: 1-800-937-3895
E-mail: info@wes.org

International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 2585
Denton, TX 76202-2585
Telephone: 940-383-7498
https://www.iacei.net/

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Telephone: 305-273-1616
Fax: 305-273-1338
E-mail: info@jsilny.com

The above services' evaluations should include an explanation that the institution is recognized by the ministry of education in the home country and is generally considered to offer at least the equivalent of U.S. higher education credit. In addition, it should include an explanation of the credits, the grading system and course levels, as well as a course-by-course evaluation. 

The expertise and reliability of a professional evaluation report is recognized worldwide and is likely to be accepted by other academic institutions, employers and state licensing boards. However, the report is not binding to SMU and it will be considered a recommendation for SMU's independent decision of the credit to be given. Information and applications from the agencies are available online.

Please request that the Evaluating Service mail the evaluation and all supporting documents directly to:

Graduate Application Processing
PO Box 518
Dallas, TX 75275-0518

Or email to gradappmaterials@smu.edu.