Raised in the Primitive Baptist Church, Beulah Buchanan at age 16 marries the much older deacon Ralph Rainey to escape from her oppressive parents, thus jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Over the next six years, Beulah works in her domineering husband's cafe all day and cooks him dinner at home every night, dutifully attends church, and falls into an affair with the preacher. When she embarasses her husband by not cooking enough food for the ravenous visiting revival preacher, Ralph "chastises" Beulah with his belt. When he tries to beat her again on another occasion, she fights back and locks him in the cooler at his cafe, where he freezes to death. This sounds like and is a Southern Gothic tragedy, but it is told in Beulah's voice, which is innocently hilarious. Beulah is an original, but readers who liked Clyde Eagerton's Raney and Mark Childress's Crazy in Alabama will hear familiar echoes of those Southern women protagonists.
Raised in the Primitive Baptist Church, Beulah Buchanan at age 16 marries the much older deacon Ralph Rainey to escape from her oppressive parents, thus jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Over the next six years, Beulah works in her domineering husband's cafe all day and cooks him dinner at home every night, dutifully attends church, and falls into an affair with the preacher. When she embarrasses her husband by not cooking enough food for the ravenous visiting revival preacher, Ralph "chastises" Beulah with his belt. When he tries to beat her again on another occasion, she fights back and locks him in the cooler at his cafe, where he freezes to death. This sounds like and is a Southern Gothic tragedy, but it is told in Beulah's voice, which is innocently hilarious. Beulah is an original, but readers who liked Clyde Eagerton's Raney and Mark Childress's Crazy in Alabama will hear familiar echoes of those Southern women protagonists.
Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol Inside the Baptist Church, Why Beulah shot her pistol inside the Baptist Church / Clayton Sullivan
A solid liberal arts education has long proven to be the best preparation for most professions and positions of leadership. Through a strong education in the arts and sciences, Samford University students develop intellectually and personally, acquiring the broad understanding and diverse skills that modern society requires.
Samford seeks students who have demonstrated high standards of scholarship, outstanding personal character, and serious educational aims. Admission standards are competitive and selective. The Admission Committee selects the entering class from among those whose academic performance gives the strongest promise of success in college. It is Samford’s intent to maintain an undergraduate student body with diverse backgrounds, interests, and abilities.
Students who wish to attend Samford University should complete an application for admission. Submit applications and related documents to the address listed below or
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus. To schedule your visit, contact: Office of Admission, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229, or telephone (205) SAMFORD [726-3673].
The information that follows is general policy and pertains to undergraduate programs. Graduate and professional degree programs may have different policies. For information about these, contact the administrator with responsibility for the program in question.
Academic Renewal Student-An undergraduate student who has dropped out, withdrawn, or has been suspended because of academic deficiencies but has demonstrated sufficient maturation to be considered for re-enrollment.
Early Entrance to College-An exceptional high school student who meets specific qualifications to be admitted to Samford University prior to completing a traditional four-year high school diploma program.
Evening Student-A student who has been out of high school for at least three years and is unable to enroll in a day program.
Freshman-A student who is a high school graduate and has not enrolled in any accredited college or university.
Readmission Student-A student who previously attended Samford, left, and desires to return to Samford, including students who were required to withdraw.
Transfer Student-A student who has attended another accredited college or university and desires to attend Samford to pursue a degree.
Transient Student-A student who is regularly enrolled in another college or university but desires to take a course(s) at Samford.
Applicants are encouraged to complete the process as soon as possible. Delays in the admission process could also adversely affect other processes important to eventual enrollment, including financial aid and residence life. Also, if transcripts are being sent to us from other institutions, please allow for the time it takes for us to receive them. See Admission Procedures below.
Once students have been notified of admission to Samford, a $250 Enrollment Confirmation/Housing Deposit must be submitted to the Office of Admission to reserve a place in the entering class. The deposit is nonrefundable and is applied to first semester costs. The entering class must be limited to support an optimum living and learning environment. Deposits will be accepted until May 1 (the National Candidate Reply Date), after which eligible students will be placed on a wait list and selected as space becomes available.
All application materials received by the Office of Admission are considered confidential. Application materials will remain active for one year for students who wish to defer admission and enrollment. Only materials provided directly from an applicant can be released.
The Admission Office coordinates Orientation sessions for new students and their parents. Orientation provides parents and students the opportunity to learn more about the campus, faculty, and staff, and the opportunity to talk to current Samford students. New students will register for their fall classes. Orientation is required for all new students enrolling at Samford. Students who fail to register for an orientation session are subject to being charged the orientation fee and will have a class registration hold until the orientation requirement has been satisfied. More information on New Student Orientation, including how to register, can be found on the Admission website: www.samford.edu/admission.
Samford University seeks to enroll students who are capable of success in a challenging academic environment and who demonstrate a commitment to the Christian mission and purpose of the university. Every application is individually evaluated from a holistic perspective, which includes consideration of the applicant’s personal integrity, moral character, academic preparation, achievement and potential, leadership of and participation in extra-curricular activities including school, church, para-church and community organizations, and likelihood to make the most of the opportunities and resources that are available to Samford students.
In addition to the traditional evaluation of transcripts, the Admission Committee also takes into account standardized test scores, autobiographical essays, and letters of recommendation, as well as the rigor of an applicant’s high school or college curriculum and how he or she has participated in and contributed to those academic settings. This process is indicative of Samford’s competitive admission environment and level of selectivity, which will likely increase for each ensuing class. With limited offers of admission, the Admission Committee endeavors to measure an applicant’s particular interest in Samford, both academically and as a potential contributor to the university community. An applicant’s FAFSA information is not considered in the admission process, and, accordingly, the university does not provide the scholarship assistance that will be required by all who receive an offer of admission.
The university reserves the rights to reject any application without explanation and to rescind an admission if (i) between the date of an application and the start of classes there is a change in the condition or status of any information provided by the applicant that would have been a basis for denying the application when it was reviewed by the Admission Committee or (ii) any information provided by an applicant proves to be untrue at the time of its submission.
Samford University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, or national origin. Religious institutions such as Samford University may be exempt from certain provisions of federal laws concerning non-discrimination. All inquiries and complaints should be directed to the University Legal Counsel at 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229.
Samford scholarships and university aid are awarded to students who have distinguished records of achievement. The university believes the lives and commitments of such students hold great promise for addressing the vital issues of the future. The Scholarship Committee seeks students who intentionally use their exceptional talents, abilities, and personal commitments to better society. Due to limited resources, the committee utilizes the funds available to impact affordability for as many students as possible. At all times, it is understood that recipients of these funds will maintain high standing in academic, social, and residential areas of campus life. For more information on scholarships, including deadlines and recipient guidelines, visit: www.samford.edu/admission/scholarships
An official high school transcript of your academic work should reflect a strong scholastic history. Successful applicants for admission should emphasize the following units in their secondary coursework: four units of English, algebra I and II, geometry, two laboratory sciences, two units of history (not including state history), and two units of a foreign language. Successful scholarship applicants typically present a curriculum that includes outstanding performance in four units of English, four units of math, three laboratory sciences, three units of history, and two units of a foreign language.
Applicants who have the GED (General Educational Developmental) diploma may present an official score report in place of the high school diploma. The ACT or SAT will be required unless the applicant has been out of high school for at least five years. Nursing applicants are required to submit standardized test scores.
Complete an application form online at www.samford.edu/admission or submit a Common Application available at www.commonapp.org, and include a $40 nonrefundable application fee.
Request two official transcripts from your high school to be sent to the Office of Admission. One should be sent at the time of application. The second one should be sent at the completion of the senior year certifying graduation. Transcripts must be mailed by the school to the Office of Admission in order to be considered official or be submitted electronically via other approved methods.
Official test scores, sent to Samford directly from the American College Testing Program (ACT) and/or the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT I: Reasoning Test, or SAT) are required. Samford’s institutional codes are: 0016 (ACT) and 1302 (SAT). Scores received via other means may not be accepted as official.
Arrange for submission of the School Recommendation Form provided on the online SU application and the Common Application.
Write an essay of approximately 500 words. In your own words, respond to one of the essay questions in the admission application form online.
Samford welcomes applications from exceptional students prior to their high school graduation when, in the opinion of the applicant, the applicant’s parents, and school officials, enrollment at Samford University will enhance the educational experience beyond that available in high school.
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. Professional Studies is the administrative office that serves evening students. (See the Professional Studies, Evening and Online section of this catalog.) Professional Studies staff can assist you with academic advising, admission, and other areas of concern. Contact them at (205) 726-2898.
Have an official transcript with three years of secondary school of all academic work, including mark sheets, examination results, certificates, diplomas, etc., sent to the Office of Admission. This includes any college credit earned in a university not in the United States. Certified copies of all academic work not completed in an English-speaking school should be submitted to the World Evaluation Service (WES), or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), requesting a Course-by-Course Evaluation. Information regarding WES and ECE is available from the Office of Admission.
Have official scores on the ACT or the SAT sent to the Office of Admission by the respective agency. If official ACT or SAT testing agencies are not available, students may have official scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Office of Admission. A competitive score of 575 (paper) or 90 (Internet) is expected for TOEFL and 6.5 for IELTS.
Supply a copy of your official Government documentation (visa or passport) to the Office of Admission.
International students interested in Samford aid should submit a financial affidavit of support, supplied by Samford, in order to be considered.
The maximum aggregate total credit an entering freshman may bring to Samford through dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), or International Baccalaureate (IB) is 30 credit hours.
The Core Curriculum is a distinctive of a Samford education. As part of the Core Curriculum, only UCCA 101 Communication Arts I is eligible for dual enrollment, AP, CLEP, or IB credit. All other Core Curriculum courses, including UCCA 102 Communication Arts II , UCCP 101 Cultural Perspectives I , UCCP 102 Cultural Perspectives II , UCFH 120 Concepts of Fitness and Health , and UCBP 101 Biblical Perspectives must be taken at Samford and cannot be satisfied through dual enrollment credit or credit by examination.
UCCA 101 credit may be met by a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam for either English Language or English Literature, a score of 5 or higher on English A1 for IB, or a dual enrollment composition course at the equivalent level.
English Composition II, Western Civilization and World History courses taken as dual enrollment may be considered for elective credit. English Composition II will not satisfy UCCA 102 credit. Elective credit for Western Civilization and World History may satisfy a general education humanities requirement, depending on the student’s major. They will not satisfy the requirements for UCCP 101 or UCCP 102.
AP, CLEP, DSST, and IB credit is awarded with the minimum exam score reported from the College Board, Prometric, or International Baccalaureate. Please refer to the Credit by Examination Policies section below for more information.
* Students who successfully meet the minimum score for both Advanced Placement English Literature & Comp and English Language & Comp can receive credit for UCCA 101 plus 4 credit hours of general elective credit.
** Students who successfully meet the minimum score (4) for language at the intermediate level, receive a maximum of 8 credits for 201-202 and do not receive an additional 4 credits for exceeding the expectations of the 102 elementary level.
*** A score of 3 or higher on the BC exam earns credit in MATH 240 and MATH 260 , regardless of the AB subgrade.
† The Division of Music will allow Music Theory as AP credit pending the student’s successful evaluation regarding that subject at Samford University.
NOTE: Credit earned with the minimum score required will be applied with a grade of “P.” No letter grade is applied. Credit hours are earned, but no grade or quality points will be included in the GPA calculation.
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 the Registrar before scheduling any CLEP examinations. With the sole exception of UCCA 101 , CLEP credit is not acceptable for University Core Curriculum courses.
* Students who score a minimum of 50 on French, German, or Spanish CLEP tests receive a maximum of four (4) credits at the elementary level (102); students who score 62 (French), 63 (German), or 63 (Spanish), or higher receive a maximum of eight (8) credits at the intermediate level (201-202). No more than 8 credits are awarded for the language CLEP test. No credit is given for FREN 101 /GER 101 /SPAN 101 .
Samford University recognizes the quality of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program and welcomes application for admission from students who have taken coursework in the IB program. Credit is given for the IB Higher Level Examinations passed with grades of 5, 6, or 7. No credit is given for the IB Subsidiary Examinations. In cases of ambiguity, the dean of Howard College of Arts and Sciences, in consultation with the Office of the Registrar, will determine the credit to be awarded.
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) are evaluated on a case-by-case basis upon acceptance to the University. All scores of 50 or above will be considered.
Samford recognizes the rigor of the GCE (General Certificate of Education) examinations and will review results on a case-by-case basis. Approved credits may be granted for each A-level exam with a passing grade. No grades are posted for A-level or AS-level exams.
General elective credits in the subject area will be awarded unless the discipline’s academic department has previously approved course equivalencies. If equivalent courses are needed for a specific major, students will need to consult the academic department once they arrive on campus to have the chair evaluate the syllabus/content of the A-level or AS-level exam.
Duplicate credit for the same subject taken on different exams like A-level, ASlevel, AP, or IB will not be granted.
Advanced credit policies are reviewed on a regular basis and are subject to change. They cannot exceed the maximum aggregate total credit an entering freshman may bring to Samford.
Samford awards credit for students who successfully pass a National League for Nursing (NLN) RN challenge exam. Contact the School of Nursing for more information.
The aggregate of credit earned in dual enrollment, extension, correspondence, AP (Advanced Placement), 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. For a minor, a minimum of nine credits in the minor field (with six at the 300-400 level) must be taken at Samford.
Transfer students generally receive favorable admission review when they present a minimum cumulative 2.50 grade point average on all college-level coursework, provided they have attempted at least 24 credits, or 36 quarter credits, at institutions accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies. If a student has attempted less than 24 credits of college-level coursework, an official high school transcript and official test scores must also be submitted in order to be considered for admission.
Samford University strives to offer a distinctive curriculum that challenges students to their fullest potential and employs innovative teaching techniques. All students should complete their General Education Requirements, including the Core Curriculum, in residence whenever possible. Transfer students with 18 or more semester credits earned at another institution may be able to substitute coursework taken elsewhere for the interdisciplinary courses of the General Education Requirements, if those courses meet 75 percent of the required credits in each course. Only one Core Curriculum course (UCCA 101 ) may be applied as a core course for transfer students who have earned less than 18 transfer credits from accredited institutions and credit by examination. Students will only receive the credit they earned (not the credit of the course being replaced) and must meet the total number of credits required for their degree program (128 credits minimum). Natural and computational science courses must have a laboratory component.
Samford University accepts for transfer credits earned at institutions that have regional accreditation and in which the student has earned a grade of C- or higher.
Transfer students are required to earn at least 50 percent of the credit for a first undergraduate degree in each degree program from Samford. Also, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (with nine at the 300-400 level) must be earned at Samford. For a minor, a minimum of nine credits in the minor field (with six at the 300-400 level) must be earned at Samford.
Students may transfer up to 64 semester credits or 96 quarter credits of work completed at two-year institutions, where such coursework is comparable to Samford courses offered at the 100 and 200 level.
Individual transfer courses may satisfy a major, minor, or concentration requirement if they meet 75 percent of the required credits for the course. Transfer courses that do not meet the 75 percent rule may still apply, but additional credits may be required to satisfy the requirement.
Samford University welcomes transfer students at the beginning of any term. Transfer students must present academic records that reflect serious academic aims and mature progress toward those aims. Transfer applications will be reviewed up to 10 days prior to the beginning of the academic term in which a student desires to attend.
Complete an application form at www.samford.edu/admission or submit a Common Application available at www.commonapp.org, and include a $40 nonrefundable application fee.
Have one official transcript from each college attended mailed directly from your former institution’s records office to the Office of Admission at Samford. Samford can also accept official transcripts online, but only through National student Clearinghouse, Docufide, E-Script, or Credentials. No other online service can be accepted. If you earned fewer than 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits in total at other institutions, you must also meet the requirements of an entering freshman (providing an official high school transcript and official ACT or SAT score).
Write an essay of 250-500 words. In your own words, respond to the essay question in the admission application form online.
All transfer students under the age of 21 and/or under 80 completed hours/credits are required to attend new student orientation before registering for classes.
The transfer credit process for international students includes the above transfer process as well as the following:
As part of the admissions process, an international credential evaluation is required reporting prior university study, including translated course-by-course examinations. Samford accepts evaluations from World Education Services (WES), found at www.wes.org or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) at www.ece.org.
An official international credential evaluation should come directly to Samford University electronically or through the mail in a sealed envelope. Transfer credit will be applied according to information reported on the official evaluation. Courses that are reported as comparable to courses from a U.S. regionally-accredited institution will be accepted according to Samford’s transfer credit policies.
Pass/fail courses graded as “P” or “S” will not be initially accepted unless written documentation is received from the awarding institution that the grade represents at least a “C-.”
Samford course equivalencies may be met with 75% of the required credits; however, they will only receive the actual credits earned toward the degree.
To earn a first undergraduate degree at Samford University, at least 50 percent of the credits for that degree must be earned from Samford. Additionally, a minimum of 15 credits in the major field (9 at the 300-400 level) and 9 in any declared minor field (6 at the 300-400 level) must be earned from Samford. (See the Transfer Student Applicant section for more details.)
Initially, elective credit will be awarded until such time that verifiable course descriptions or syllabi with English translation are provided to the Transfer Credit Analyst in the Office of the Registrar for evaluation. If it is determined by the academic department that a transfer course is comparable to a Samford course, equivalent credit will be applied. Providing course information is not a guarantee that equivalent credit will be awarded. Course information only provides the information needed to make a determination for credit.
Course descriptions or syllabi should come from the transfer institution on the institution’s official letterhead and include contact information. To receive the most accurate evaluation of international credit, course information should include: title of course, course level (1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, etc.), course objectives, outline of course content, type of course (i.e. independent study, lecture, seminar, laboratory), description of how student is evaluated for the course, and reading references.
If English is not the native or official language of the student’s home country, all course information must be officially translated into English and accompany the original course documents. The name and contact information of the translator is to be included.
Full-time Samford students (registered for 12 or more credits in a given term) are required to satisfy a convocation requirement. For transfer students, the number of convocation credits required is prorated based on the number of transfer hours accepted. Failure to satisfy the convocation requirement will prevent graduation.
Undergraduate students who have withdrawn or have been suspended because of academic deficiencies at Samford may request to be considered for academic renewal after re-acceptance.
Academic renewal may be used by a student who has sat out two contiguous semesters, not including Jan Term or summer terms, and whose cumulative Samford GPA is less than 2.00.
Any grade of D+ or less will have its GPA hours set to 0, up to a maximum of 32 credits. The grades remain on the academic transcript; however, they no longer count towards the cumulative Samford GPA. The GPA hours erased are separate from the University’s repeat procedure and are not counted against a student’s repeats.
Students who wish to take advantage of academic renewal must inform Admissions upon re-acceptance to Samford.
Students who accept academic renewal will have a transcript notation indicating their readmission under this policy.
Upon notifying Admissions of their desire to be considered for Academic Renewal, a committee composed of the university registrar and academic advising staff will review the application.
Students should be aware that academic renewal does not pertain to accumulated financial aid history. Accumulated semester and award limits include all semesters of enrollment. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the Office of Financial Aid to determine their eligibility for financial assistance.
Students are cautioned that many undergraduate professional curricula, graduate, and professional schools compute the undergraduate GPA over all credits attempted when considering applications for admission.
As an alternative to full participation in a credit course, students may audit the course. Audit students do not receive grades and do not usually participate in examinations; however, instructors have the option of establishing requirements for a satisfactory audit. Students are not permitted to audit courses numbered above 400.
Audit as Credit Student-Students choosing this option must be admitted to Samford either as a Regular or Special Status Student. Students should enroll in the course to be audited using registration procedures and paying the same tuition as regular enrollees. Provided the instructor’s requirements are met, the course will appear on the credit transcript with the notation AU and zero credits. If these requirements are not met, a W will be entered on the transcript.
From a Grading/Credit Basis to an Audit Basis-A student can change from a grading basis to an audit basis any time prior to the deadline for withdrawing from a class without academic penalty. There will be no financial refunds made as a result of change in grading basis.
From an Audit Basis to a Grading/Credit Basis-An audit student may not receive regular credit for a course begun as an audit, unless the change is made by the last day to add a course for the semester or term.
Former students desiring to return to Samford University after attending another college must file a readmission transfer application. The $40 application fee is not required.
a. Student’s evaluation of previous academic performance, including an analysis of what factors led to his/her dismissal/withdrawal.
d. Description of activities during absence from Samford, such as work, marriage, military service, etc.
Former students on academic dismissal may be considered for readmission after an absence of at least one semester. If a student attends another institution during that absence, Samford will not accept transfer credits for the semester the student was required to take off. An application for readmission is available through the Office of Admission and the $40 application fee is waived. Readmit applications should be completed six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester/term the student would like to return.
Former students on indefinite academic dismissal may appeal for readmission consideration after an absence of one year. The process is the same as for the first academic dismissal mentioned above.
Special status is a classification for students that are non-degree seeking, although credit is given for completed courses. Special status applications are available from the Office of Admission. No transcripts or recommendations are required.
If you are currently under suspension from another institution you may not attend Samford University until the suspension period imposed by the previous institution has expired.
You are ineligible to receive federally funded financial aid until your admission status has been changed to a degree-seeking category.
A maximum of 18 credit hours earned as a special status student will count towards a Samford degree program. Each academic department reserves the right to determine the acceptability of credits earned under this classification.
Transient students are students who are regularly enrolled in other colleges and universities yet desire to take courses at Samford. A transient student must submit a transient application and have all coursework authorized by the student’s primary institution. The application form is available in the Office of Admission.
Currently enrolled Samford students who take one or more classes at another institution are considered transient students at that college/university. See the Transfer Policies section for more information.
Refer to the academic departments/schools sections of this catalog and/or publications from the individual departments or schools offering graduate degrees. More information may be found at Samford University’s website: www.samford.edu.
This relaunching of a Marquez's celebrated short-story collection presents the stories in the chronological order of their publication in Spanish from three volumes: "Eyes of a Blue Dog, Big Mama's Funeral, " and "The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Erendira and Her Heartless Grandmother."