SMU campus with rose garden in foreground

About

The SMU Lyle School of Engineering strives to have a measurable positive impact in all of the dimensions it chooses to work in and on all of the people it touches.

A Message From Dean Marc P. Christensen

Today, perhaps more than ever, the world needs engineers. We are facing extreme challenges on every continent, ranging from clean air and drinking water to energy, medicine, the design of modern, smart cities, and the navigation of vast collections of data. The next generation of engineers must be equipped with not just the technical skills to tackle these challenges, but also the drive and passion to make a difference and the leadership abilities to turn ideas into reality. At Lyle, we are educating the next generation of engineering leaders. We engage with students to help them learn the technical skills they need, strategize with them to accelerate their development as leaders and provide a unique environment that helps them flourish as innovators. Companies looking for the next generation of leaders look to Lyle with good reason. Armed with both exceptional technical and leadership skills, our students and faculty stand out.

Person diagramming engineering work on a whiteboard

The Lyle School is changing the way people think about engineers. Through innovation and hands-on experiences, we attract a diverse mix of talented students interested in making a difference in the world through engineering. With our bold vision and assertive attitude, we continue to enroll extraordinarily talented undergraduate and graduate students from around the globe.

AT&T Center for Virtualization at SMU

As the technology in support of virtualization evolves and matures, research is required to forecast and optimize its utility and its social, economic and ethical impact. In the new AT&T Center for Virtualization Technologies at SMU, researchers from across the university conduct interdisciplinary research to address these technical, economic and social issues.

Learn More

Graduate students reviewing diagrams on a whiteboard

Mission & Vision

The mission of the Lyle School of Engineering is to:

Create engineers and engineering leaders that are competitive in new and emerging technologies and markets by teaching them to think critically, plan strategically, communicate effectively and be adaptable to social changes.
Conduct basic and applied research with the ultimate goal of the betterment of humankind.
Encourage the engineering, technology and industrial communities to stay abreast of changing technology by providing opportunities for life-long learning.

In addition to providing the highest-quality traditional engineering education, the Lyle School emphasizes the study of technology, leadership, engineering management and entrepreneurship in basic engineering areas. We also provide exposure to the new areas of e-technology, information engineering and knowledge engineering.

This educational process prepares graduates to be highly valued engineers with the appropriate interdisciplinary knowledge to create a sustainable and resilient world that enhances the global quality of life. Our graduates are ready to serve others competently, collaboratively and ethically as designers, managers or leaders. They demonstrate mastery and leadership as builders, planners, environmental stewards, innovators and advocates for public health, safety and welfare while obtaining licensing as professional engineers.

SMU Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering main building

Research at Lyle

Faculty and students at Lyle carry out research in a wide range of areas of engineering and applied science funded by government agencies, foundations and private companies. Students interested in research can contact the academic department they would like to focus their research on.

Get Involved

Computer Science

As part of our mission to equip graduates with the knowledge and expertise to contribute significantly to the information industry, we perform research in many diverse subjects within the Computer Science discipline. Below is a list of the current areas of research in which our Computer Science faculty and students are involved:

Data Sciences and analytics
Hardware algorithms/electronic design automation
Net-centric software systems
Disaster tolerance
Cyber security and high assurance
Creative computing

Engineering Management, Information and Systems

Engineering Management, Information and Systems faculty research programs focus on the broad area of advanced analytics with a particular emphasis on operations research and its applications. The unifying theme is the application of scientific management and engineering principles and methodologies to enhance system/organizational performance in a variety of practical settings arising in industry, business, government and nonprofit operations.

Caruth Institute for Engineering Education at the Lyle School

The Caruth Institute for Engineering Education (CIEE) is a national center of excellence focused on research, development, delivery and evaluation of new and innovative K-16 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and engineering education programs. The Institute strives to increase the number and diversity of students interested in pursuing the study of engineering or technology to meet the ever-increasing demand for a well-educated high-tech workforce. To make this possible, the Institute sponsors a variety of programs designed to familiarize students with engineering-focused STEM activities that also spark science, technology and mathematics learning.

Learn More