Samford After Sundown

Professional and Personal Development

Administration

Suzanne Montgomery, Director of Samford After Sundown

Noncredit Programs and Requirements

Noncredit Programs

Alabama Naturalist Certificate
Healthcare Interpreter Training Certificate
Pharmacy Technician Certificate
Photography Certificate
Miscellaneous Online and On-Campus Courses

Mission

Samford After Sundown creates a bridge between the Birmingham community and Samford University, identifying and addressing the educational needs of our local workforce and introducing the values and meaning of the University to the individuals we serve. Samford After Sundown contributes to the fulfillment of the mission of Samford University by offering noncredit programs that respond to the educational needs of individuals, businesses, industries, and government agencies in the community, as well as to professional groups within the region.

Noncredit Curriculum

The noncredit curriculum encompasses two programmatic thrusts: professional development and personal/intellectual enrichment. Programs are offered on a quarterly basis and include courses, conferences, workshops and seminars. Most programs are open to everyone without entrance restrictions and a few programs require the completion of prerequisite courses. Instructors include full-time Samford University faculty members and community members with significant expertise in a particular field.

Noncredit programs employ a variety of methods to deliver learning material. Many courses are offered on campus, taking advantage of Samford’s state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facilities. Other courses are available online, offering convenient twenty-four hour access to virtual classrooms. Samford After Sundown works with local businesses and non-profit organizations to design and administer customized training programs onsite to satisfy specific learning needs and objectives.

Noncredit courses offered as a means of personal development span a wide array of topics. There is something for everyone at Samford After Sundown including painting, drawing, linoleum block printing, paper marbling, numerous photography courses, languages (including Italian, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole for Aid/Missionary Workers), metal arts, yoga, improvisation/comedy, antiques, knitting, cake decorating, financial planning and Alabama naturalist courses. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded to each person who satisfactorily completes a noncredit activity. One CEU corresponds to ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience. A permanent record of CEUs is maintained and a transcript of CEUs earned at Samford University may be obtained upon request.

Noncredit Certificate Programs

Samford After Sundown offers noncredit certificate programs that provide comprehensive professional training. These include the Alabama Naturalist Certificate Program, Healthcare Interpreter Training Certificate Program, the Pharmacy Technician Certificate Training Program and the Photography Certificate Program.

The Alabama Naturalist Certificate Program is the first of its kind offered in Alabama. The mission of the program is to raise awareness and develop an appreciation of the diversity of wildlife and their habitats in Alabama. Participants are trained in the fundamentals of natural history, nature interpretation and teaching, and are instilled with an appreciation of the importance of responsible environmental stewardship. Students in the Alabama Naturalist Program are required to complete nine core courses including Alabama Ecosystem, Birds, Fishes/Aquatic Environments, Flowering Plants, Geology and Soils, Insects and Butterflies, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians, and Trees and Flowering Plants of Alabama, as well as an approved volunteer naturalist project in association with an Alabama nonprofit organization. The Alabama Naturalist Certificate Program also assists in the development of a core of highly trained, qualified volunteers to assist government agencies, schools, and nonprofit organizations with research, outdoor recreation development, and environmental education and preservation. Upon completion of the nine basic core classes and the volunteer project, participants receive a final certification diploma. Alabama naturalists may keep their certification current by successfully completing a minimum of two elective classes through Samford After Sundown annually.

The Healthcare Interpreter Training Certificate Program is designed to train bilingual and bicultural students to develop the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary for effective language interpretation in healthcare settings. Through academic preparation, practical skills training, and service in community-based healthcare settings, certificate candidates learn the roles and responsibilities of a healthcare interpreter, basic knowledge of common medical conditions, treatments and procedures, language and cultural nuances for specific communities, and advanced interpreting skills. The nine-month program consists of over 200 hours of coursework taught one evening each week and two weekend days each month. To qualify for admission, prospective students must have completed at least a high school diploma and must be bilingual in English and Spanish, as determined by verbal and written pretests.

The Pharmacy Technician Certificate Training Program prepares students to become part of the fastest-growing profession in the healthcare industry. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with technical tasks and are employed in community and hospital pharmacies, prescription processing companies, home health care organizations and other pharmaceutical industries. Samford University’s Pharmacy Technician Certificate program is taught by Samford University pharmacy faculty and registered pharmacists and introduces the necessary clerical, business, and technical aspects of the industry. The program includes hands-on experience in sterile compounding and processing prescriptions. Students are prepared to take the national certification examination offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

The Photography Certificate Program is designed to enable students to function at a high level in the photographic market. The program requires students to complete a core curriculum of courses consisting of Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Photography; Artificial Lighting; Post Processing and Professional Portfolio Development; and three electives; plus successful submission of a portfolio for evaluation. Students select an advisor from among the photography instructors to guide them through the process. Students who successfully complete the requirements will be awarded the Photography Certificate of Achievement at award ceremonies held twice annually each year.

For more information about Samford After Sundown, visit the following Web site, www.samford.edu/sundown, or call (205) 726-2739.