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 | Continuing Studies Calendar

Undergraduate Day and Continuing Studies Students

Semester System

Samford University operates on the semester system, consisting of two four-month semesters: fall and spring. The fall semester begins in late August and ends in mid-December. The spring semester begins in January and ends in late April. For undergraduate students, a maximum of 18 credits may be taken during a fall or spring semester without additional approval of an academic dean.

Fall and Spring Semesters and A/B Terms

For students in the online Continuing Studies program, the fall and spring semesters are split into two eight-week terms: A and B. The typical mid-semester point for fall is mid-October and for spring is mid-March. For Continuing Studies students, the normal course load for the fall or spring semester (A and B terms combined) is 15-18 credits without additional approval of the Continuing Studies director.

Summer Terms

Summer term classes are split into one three-week May Term and, in the summer, two five-week terms (Summer I and Summer II) and one 10-week term (Summer III). (12-week and 14-week summer terms are also available but are typically reserved for specific graduate programs.) An overall maximum of 22 credits can be taken during the summer: six in May Term plus 16 credits in the traditional summer terms, with a maximum of 8 credits in each five-week term.

May Term

As noted above, Samford University offers a three-week interterm called May 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. Several 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 an underload in earlier semesters. Most classes will meet daily. The maximum class load allowed in the May Term is two courses, not to exceed a total of six credits.

Calendar for Academic Year 2025-2026 for
Undergraduate Day Programs

(excluding Continuing Studies/Samford Online)

Calendar dates/deadlines are subject to change.

Note about Graduation Application Deadlines: All students must complete the Application for Graduation to ensure 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.samford.edu/beeson-divinity/academic-calendar

For the Cumberland School of Law Academic Calendar, use the following link: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/calendars-and-schedules

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 2025-2026 for
Continuing Studies/Samford Online (Online Only)

Note about Graduation Application Deadlines: All students must complete the Application for Graduation to ensure 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.samford.edu/beeson-divinity/academic-calendar

For the Cumberland School of Law Academic Calendar, use the following link: https://www.samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/calendars-and-schedules

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