Samford University

Birmingham, AL

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

Performing Arts Profile


If you want to turn your calling into a career, cultivate your craft, and become a well-rounded thespian, Samford is for you.

Samford University is a premier, nationally ranked private university deeply rooted in its Christian mission. We champion a liberal arts education and are committed to providing a well-rounded educational experience. With more than 5,600 students from 47 states and 28 countries and a global network of over 52,000 alumni, Samford is the #1 most recommended university in the nation, according to The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2020.

Whether your dream is to inspire others with your words, crunch numbers in the boardroom, or lead people in the hope you share, Samford is committed to fostering your aspirations and helping you reach your goals. We offer more than 180 majors, minors, and concentrations and is committed to providing an excellent education that prepares students to make a positive impact on the world. We’re here to equip you with the skills you need for the excellence we know you’re capable of achieving.

Located in the quaint suburban community of Homewood, Alabama, Samford’s close access to downtown Birmingham gives students an energetic urban hub filled with more than one million residents, 1,300 churches, and hundreds of restaurants. Here, students find opportunities to pursue their individual passions and learn along the way. From landing your dream internship to tubing down the Cahaba River with your best friends, your college years will be full of moments that will shape the person you’re meant to become.

We know that the college experience is about more than the memorization of facts and figures—that’s why we seek connection in all that we do. Our 166 student organizations aren’t just a statistic we put on a page to impress you. These clubs, intramural teams, and honors programs are your opportunity to become known and develop friendships that will prepare you for the future.

Performing Arts at Samford
Samford’s Department of Theatre and Dance prepares actors, directors, teaching artists, designers, and production technicians for careers in the arts, while nurturing their artistry with soul. We aspire to be a leader in undergraduate theatre and dance education with a commitment to the artist as a community partner and contributor. Samford’s Department of Theatre and Dance is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

The Samford music experience is about becoming a musician of integrity through disciplined pursuit of practice, study, performance, and service, as we are committed to developing whole musicians by developing whole people. We accomplish this by fusing musical gifts with ambition, passion, integrity, and professionalism in a supportive and creative community led by highly qualified faculty. Immersive and collaborative opportunities allow students to put music into action by performing, teaching, composing and worshiping on and off campus. Samford’s Division of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

ACCOLADES

 

Ranked #1 in the Nation for Student Engagement | The Wall Street Journal, 2022 

 

Ranked #66 in the nation and #1 in Alabama for "Best Undergraduate Teaching" | U.S. News & World Report, 2022

 

Ranked #32 in the nation and #1 in Alabama among "The Best Colleges for Financial Aid" | LendEdu, 2023

 

97% of undergraduate alumni employed or in further study within six months of graduation, 2022

An Inside Look

What students are saying about us...

  • “Study abroad with Samford was more than just a line on my resume—it was a rich experience that helped me grow as a person. If you have a dream to go somewhere, the people at Samford do all they can to make it work."

    • Jansyn Gordon
      Accounting, Class of 2023
  • “People at Samford accept you as you are and love you enough to keep pushing you to grow. We’re always challenging each other to live up to Christ’s example and supporting each other’s dreams.”

    • Luna Mora
      2023 President of the Latino Student Organization
  • “Samford is what college is supposed to be. I was challenged not just to learn new ideas but to understand them. Here, we’re invited to an education that calls us, in the words of Micah 6:8, “to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.””

    • Bill Mouchette
      Economics and Finance, Class of 2023
  • “Samford gave me the confidence to know I may not have all the answers, but I can get them—and with that mindset, I can learn to do anything.”

    • Whitney O’Steen-Loehr
      Producer and Creative Director, Loehr Productions
  • “I left Samford with more than an education. I left with wisdom. Character can get you in doors that your achievements never will.”

    • Jeremy Towns, MD
      Emergency Medicine Resident, Former NFL Player
  • “I graduated in May and began working for an NFL team the next week. I couldn’t have done that without the real-world training of my Samford practicum and the inspiration of my professors.”

    • Aspen Odom
      Public Relations Assistant, Denver Broncos
  • “My professors at Samford believed in me before I believed in myself.”

    • Jon Acuff
      New York Times Bestselling Author