Academic Calendar and Critical Deadlines

Students are expected to know regulations and policies found in this catalog and the Student Handbook. Keeping abreast of the school calendar, critical deadlines, as well as all University communication is also the student’s responsibility.

Undergraduate Day Calendar | Professional Studies Calendar

Undergraduate Day and Evening Students*

Semester System

Samford University operates on the semester (4-1-4) system, consisting of two four-month semesters (fall and spring), and a three-week term in January (Jan Term). The fall semester begins in late August and ends in mid-December. The spring semester begins in late January and ends in mid-May. For undergraduate students, a maximum of 18 credits may be taken during the semester without additional approval of an academic dean.

Jan Term

Samford University offers a short term consisting of three weeks in the month of January called Jan Term. The major intent of this interterm is to give the student a wider world view, a richer experience in integrating knowledge from a variety of specialties, and a deeper consciousness of the relevance of the student’s studies to one’s life and career. Some courses emphasize interdisciplinary cooperation, using teaching faculty, guest lecturers, and student research and participation. Others are intended to give the student an opportunity for intensive study and observation in a setting involving a potential career. Interterm opportunities include research in libraries or laboratories, contacts with visiting scholars, internships, externships, field trips, and other useful activities. A number of courses are offered at the Daniel House, Samford’s London Study Centre. Regular courses are offered for those who wish to accelerate progress toward graduation or to make up for underload in earlier semesters. The maximum class load allowed in the Jan Term is two courses, not to exceed a total of six credits.

Summer Terms

Summer term classes are split into two five-week terms, one 10-week summer term, and one 14-week summer term. A maximum of 16 credits can be taken during the summer terms, with a maximum of eight in each five-week term.

Undergraduate Evening Students

Classes for undergraduate evening students meet for two eight-week terms in the fall and spring (A/B Terms), a three-week Jan Term, and two five-week summer terms. All programs offered through Professional Studies follow this format.

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 * Not all programs offer Jan Term courses.

Calendar for Academic Year 2020-2021 for
Undergraduate Day Programs

Calendar dates/deadlines are subject to change.

NOTE: The end of semester exam requirement for courses is suspended for Fall 2020 only. In addition, no university-wide study day or exam week will be scheduled. Faculty should plan their concluding exam or assignment within the regularly scheduled course meeting times prior to end of in-person instruction for undergraduates on November 24. Final academic assessments for graduate programs will be organized on a program by program basis. 

Note about Graduation Application Deadlines: All students must complete the Application for Graduation to assure timely assessment of their graduation requirements. The form is accessible online through the Samford Portal.

Important Note: See the Financial Information  section for payment due dates for each semester/term. Students who register AFTER the payment due date MUST make their payments IMMEDIATELY upon registration.

Inclement weather or other events beyond the control of the University that might cause risk or danger to students, faculty, and staff may occasionally result in changes to normal University operations, including cancellation of classes or events; the calendar schedule may be adjusted.

For the Beeson School of Divinity Academic Calendar, use the following link: http://www.beesondivinity.com/academiccalendar

For the Cumberland School of Law Academic Calendar, use the following link: https://www.samford.edu/departments/registrar/academic-calendar-law

For a calendar with dates specific to the McWhorter School of Pharmacy, use the following link: http://www.samford.edu/pharmacy/student-services/

Calendar for Academic Year 2020-2021 for
Professional Studies (Undergraduate Evening)

NOTE: The end of semester exam requirement for courses is suspended for Fall 2020 only. In addition, no university-wide study day or exam week will be scheduled. Faculty should plan their concluding exam or assignment within the regularly scheduled course meeting times prior to end of in-person instruction for undergraduates on November 24. Final academic assessments for graduate programs will be organized on a program by program basis. 

Note about Graduation Application Deadlines: All students must complete the Application for Graduation to assure timely assessment of their graduation requirements. The form is accessible online through the Samford Portal.

Important Note: See the Financial Information  section for payment due dates for each semester/term. Students who register AFTER the payment due date MUST make their payments IMMEDIATELY upon registration.

Inclement weather or other events beyond the control of the University that might cause risk or danger to students, faculty, and staff may occasionally result in changes to normal University operations, including cancellation of classes or events; the calendar schedule may be adjusted.

For the Beeson School of Divinity Academic Calendar, use the following link: http://www.beesondivinity.com/academiccalendar

For the Cumberland School of Law Academic Calendar, use the following link: https://www.samford.edu/departments/registrar/academic-calendar-law

For a calendar with dates specific to the McWhorter School of Pharmacy, use the following link: http://www.samford.edu/pharmacy/student-services/