Samford University
Samford University was founded in 1842 under the name of Howard College. Originally located in Marion, Alabama, it was moved to the East Lake area of Birmingham in 1887. When master’s degrees were first offered in 1965, Howard College became Samford University. Today, its 180-acre campus is situated in Homewood, just outside of Birmingham. The institution is privately owned and affiliated with the Alabama Baptist Church. Currently, 4,298 students are enrolled there in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs, while the University employs approximately 280 faculty members.
Academic offerings at Samford University provide students with a complete range of degrees, starting with associate’s degrees in administrative and community services and extending all the way up to the professional level, where doctorates are available in the areas of ministry, education, pharmacy, nursing, and various disciplines of law. Several bachelor’s degrees are offered at Samford, with an extensive selection of majors to choose from. Bachelor’s of arts are available in majors such as education, language and the political sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are also available for those interested in the fine arts, music, science, business administration, science in education, interdisciplinary studies and nursing. Graduate programs are offered to students of biology, business, divinity, education, law, music and nursing. Samford University maintains an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Samford University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. SACS provides accreditation to institutions within an eleven-state area, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Some accreditation is also extended to parts of Latin America. (SACSCOC, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033 – (404)679-4500 – Fax: (404)679-4558).
