Evening College

Go to Departments and Program Offerings | Go to Evening College Tuition and Fees Table

Administration

Chris J. McCaghren, Executive Director, Evening College
Sherry Gotlieb, Director of Academic Services
Stacy Harrison, Evening College Coordinator

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors

Criminal Justice, B.S. 
Liberal Studies Major, B.A. 
Organizational Leadership Major, B.A.  
Paralegal Studies Major, B.A.  
Youth Studies Major, B.S.  
 

Samford University’s Evening College provides opportunities for personal and professional growth through rigorous academic programs and relationships in a Christian community. The program acts as a bridge between the community and Samford University, identifying and addressing the educational needs of the local workforce and introducing the values and meaning of the University to those with whom we connect.

Through the Evening College, the bachelor of arts degree with majors in liberal studies, organizational leadership, and paralegal studies, and the bachelor of science degree with majors in criminal justice and youth studies are awarded.

A minimum of 64 credits must be taken at Samford University in order to meet residency requirements for the 128-credit bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.

Most programs offered through the Evening College have two options for completion: 1) as a four-year program, with most, if not all, of the degree requirements (general education, major, and general electives) being taken at Samford, or 2) as a degree completer program, where a student who has previously earned an associate of arts or associate of science degree can bypass the general education requirements and need only take the 68 hours within the major. The bachelor of science in criminal justice is only offered under the degree completer option-students pursuing this major must have completed an associate or arts or associate of science degree prior to beginning this program.

These programs are the most flexible of all awarded by the University and are designed specifically for adult students. The responsibility for determining the suitability of these majors and their applicability to particular conditions rests with the individual student. Students planning to pursue post-baccalaureate studies should review the requirements of the targeted graduate program to determine whether undergraduate-level prerequisites exist.

Courses for all programs are conveniently scheduled in the evenings and online. Students may be admitted to begin courses in fall, spring, or summer. The program faculty is composed of members chosen from the full-time Samford faculty and practitioners who are experts in their fields.

Portfolio Credit

Because adults often have achieved competencies beyond those of traditional undergraduate students, the Samford University faculty may award up to 30 credits for college-level learning. This nontraditional learning may come from military training or other professional experiences. This may be presented to faculty through a portfolio that is prepared by the student or evaluated through credit recommendation reference guides such as the American Council on Education’s National Guide for Educational Credit for Training Programs. Both methods are coordinated through the Evening College. Students should apply for this credit during the first term at the University. Program staff will provide guidelines for portfolio preparation to all interested students. Portfolio credit does not count toward the residency requirement at Samford University. Students must earn at least 50 percent of their total credit hours through courses taken at Samford.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

College-level credit is awarded for scores of 50 or higher in most subject areas; however, students should consult with their advisors or the Office of Student Records before scheduling any CLEP examinations. See the CLEP  table for more information.

Credit Limitations

The aggregate of credit earned through portfolio and CLEP may not exceed 30 credits. At least 50 percent of the credit in each degree program must be earned from Samford, with none of the credit mentioned in the previous sentence counting toward this residency requirement. Also, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (with nine at the 300-400 level) must be taken at Samford.

Academic Regulations

Unless stated otherwise, Evening College students are bound by the same academic regulations as other undergraduates; these regulations are found in the Academic Policies and Regulations  section of this catalog.

* Submission of FAFSA and completed application by this date guarantees financial aid consideration for the current term.
** Applicants applying for admission after this date may be eligible for financial aid through the submission of the FAFSA. Due to possible timing issues or time constraints, financial aid may not be available for disbursement by the first day of class. Students must secure other funding in the mean time to guarantee their continued enrollment.

Admission Procedures for Evening College

It is expected that students who enter this program have been out of high school for at least three years and are unable to enroll in the day program due to work schedules, family concerns or other reasons. The Evening College is the administrative office that serves these programs and students. Applications for admission are accepted each term.

Please complete the following steps to apply for admission to the Evening College.

Please visit www.samford.edu/eveningcollege/ to apply online or to download a copy of the Application for Admission. All application materials should be addressed to the Evening College, Samford University, Birmingham, AL, 35229.

1. Admission application, completed in full, including reference forms and essay.
2. One official transcript from each college that you attended. Transcripts must be mailed directly from your former institution’s records office to the Evening College office.
3. One reference. See guidelines below.
4. Admission essay. See guidelines below.
5. Résumé.
6. Application fee: $35 (nonrefundable).
7. If you earned fewer than 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of credit at other institutions, you must also provide the Evening College Office with an official copy of your high school transcript.* This must be mailed from the high school directly to the Evening College Office.

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*If you have a GED, please review the High School Equivalency  information in the Admission Procedures and Policies section of this catalog.

Reference Considerations

The reference form should be completed by a nonfamily member well acquainted with your capabilities, motivation, and initiative. Employers, former employers, or former instructors are recommended.

Essay Considerations

In two typed pages or less, please tell us about yourself, your academic background, and collegiate ambitions. We are particularly interested in why you are applying to Samford University. Please attach the essay to the application.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Because Evening College students commute to and from classes, do not receive meal plans, and do not have access to the full range of degrees designed for traditional day students, the tuition fee is substantially below the day rates. Courses taken during the day carry the full-tuition rate.

Although University scholarships are not available to Evening College students, they should apply for non-University scholarships. Also, residents of the state of Alabama are eligible to receive the Alabama Student Grant if they meet the eligibility requirements. Evening students may also apply for other types of federal financial aid programs such as Pell grants and student loans. Financial Aid Applications may be requested by calling the Office of Financial Aid at (205) 726-2905.

There are few additional fees associated with evening classes aside from the cost of textbooks. Most major credit cards are accepted. (See the General Miscellaneous Fees  chart for a list of additional fees that may apply.)

Parking

All evening students must register their automobiles with Transportation Services. There is a minimal annual charge for parking on campus.

Class Registration and Policies

Evening College students are limited to 14 credits per fall or spring semester and 10 credits per summer term without the director’s approval.

NOTE 1: Click here  for a list of General Fees (Vehicle Registration/Decal, ID Replacement, etc.) that apply to ALL students.
NOTE 2: Fees are subject to change without notice. See the Bursar’s Office Web site for the latest tuition and fee info: www.samford.edu/bursar

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment is not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedule tables above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation.  

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements

All bachelor degree programs require a minimum of 128 total credits that include 40 credits of upper-level (300-400) coursework, 3 credits of computer literacy, and 18 credits of upper-level coursework in the major. Specific requirements for each major are outlined in the tables linked below. Credits within the degree are divided as follows: 45-46 credits fall under General Education, 68 credits fall within the chosen major, and 14-15 credits of General Electives round out the overall 128 credits required. ECEN 101  and ECEN 102  should be taken as part of a student’s first 18 credits at Samford. Unless otherwise specified, credits that have been used to satisfy general education requirements may not be counted as part of any major.

Evening College Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

* Students who have earned a transferrable two-year degree from a state institution may apply 60 hours of credit toward the 128-hour requirement for the award of a bachelor’s degree. This transferable degree will satisfy all General Education requirements and will waive the General Electives requirement. See General Education Requirements  table for required/applicable courses.
** See individual major tables for required/applicable courses.

*** Criminal Justice is only available as a degree completer program. Students pursuing this major must have already completed an AA or AS degree.

† General Elective credits (if required) may be chosen from courses listed in the Evening College General Education table  or from select upper-level courses outside the student’s declared major.

Course Offerings

PARALEGAL STUDIES: See the Paralegal Studies  section for PARA course listings.

World Languages and Cultures

Many additional language courses are offered in the evenings. See the World Languages and Cultures  section within the Howard College School of Arts and Sciences for more information.

Departments and Program Offerings

Programs

• Criminal Justice, B.S.
• Liberal Studies Major, B.A.
• Organizational Leadership Major, B.A.
• Paralegal Studies Major, B.A.
• Youth Studies Major, B.S.

• Evening College General Education Requirements (B.A. or B.S.)

Courses

• ECYS 340 - Working with Youth in Groups
• ECYS 349 - Basic Psychopathology
• ECYS 350 - The Adolescent Learner
• ECYS 360 - Sociology of Children and Youth
• ECYS 401 - Counseling Children and Youth
• ECYS 481 - Human Services Administration