Message From the President
Amridge University has been providing quality education programs and services to students
for forty years. Although the University and the programs and services have
grown over the years, and continue to grow, our commitment to providing a
quality education has not wavered. Because of this commitment and the
dedication of our faculty and staff that our students not only meet their
initial educational goal of obtaining a degree in their field of study but like
Amridge University so much that they stay or return for a second degree. In fact,
a recent analysis of Amridge University student records shows
that 42% of those students who completed an undergraduate degree at Amridge
University went on to complete a second and higher degree at Amridge University.
Likewise, there are other equally
important characteristics of our students that help illustrate that both Amridge University and our students are unique. A sampling of these characteristics is as
follows:
·
During a recent survey, 97.9% of our students surveyed indicated
that they would recommend Amridge University to others.
·
Approximately 81% of the Amridge University distance learning
students are employed.
·
Approximately 50% of our students are enrolled in undergraduate
courses and 50% are enrolled in graduate courses.
Chances are that you
will be able to relate to our students as described above and will benefit from
the programs and services offered at Amridge University – especially our
programs and services offered via distance learning.
An important fact to
note is that our University has more experience in the distance learning arena
than most of the nation's other institutions. We are able to provide our
students with programs that are of high quality and ensure that they get the
necessary content and individual attention that will meet each student's
needs. What this means is that we provide higher educational opportunities in
a format that helps each student achieve his or her highest academic potential
and goals from the student’s home or workplace
at a time that meets personal schedules.
In closing, I encourage you to join the Amridge University community – a community of professionals who are dedicated to providing
you with a quality education in a format and approach that allows you to
continue to work and attend to your personal needs or the needs of your
family. We believe that Amridge University – where traditional and online
education merge – is the University that can help you obtain your degree.
Best Regards,
Rex A. Turner,
Jr., Ed.D.
President
Message From the VICE PRESIDENT OF
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Welcome to Amridge University, an independent, coeducational
institution dedicated to providing quality education in a Christian
environment. The University offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral
programs, which prepare individuals to grow professionally, socially and
spiritually. Our students become more responsible and effective citizens,
family members and Christians. Many of our graduates are leaders in their
fields as Christian ministers, church leaders, teachers, counselors, scholars
and business professionals. Students are prepared for careers and professions
that provide services for the well-being of individuals, families, and society.
Admission is open to all persons of good character whose educational
backgrounds and abilities qualify them for the degree program to which they
wish to apply. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, age, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, or disability in the
administration of its educational policies, programs and
activities. Courses are provided through on-site instruction,
live-streaming Internet instruction and web-based instruction. Our
dedicated faculty members have solid academic credentials and extensive
experience in their areas of instruction. Amridge University is committed to
meeting the educational needs of the student regardless of time or location
constraints of the student. We look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
Stanley Douglas Patterson, Ed.D.
Vice President of
Academic Affairs
This section includes important student
services and other general information about University policies and procedures
affecting all students at Amridge University. Exceptions may be noted in the
respective sections for a specific school within Amridge University, noted in
later editions of this publication, and/or published addenda (paper- and
web-based) [Version 1.0, Effective 2.5.2008].
HISTORY OF
THE UNIVERSITY
Amridge University is one of three
educational institutions that have their roots in Montgomery Bible School, which was founded just over a half century ago. In 1942 Rex A. Turner, Sr.,
Leonard Johnson, and Joe Greer became co-founders of Montgomery Bible School in Montgomery, Alabama. This institution, which originally offered both high
school and first year college courses, was quickly developed into a junior
college with an elementary and secondary department. In 1949 the curricula
were expanded to include a third year of Bible and related courses, and in 1953
the first bachelor’s degrees were granted. In 1954 the name of the school was
changed to Alabama Christian College.
In 1966 the governing board of Alabama Christian College voted to discontinue the upper‑level program in religious
studies in order that the college might seek accreditation as a junior
college. At the same time, it recommended that a separate corporation be
formed to assume the upper‑level program. In 1967 the new corporation
was formed under the name Alabama Christian School of Religion, and classes
were offered in the new facilities of the College Church of Christ.
As a result of growth and years of
expansion of the old Montgomery Bible School, the original high school
department is now Alabama Christian Academy, a regionally accredited
elementary and secondary school. The original college department, Alabama Christian College, has become Faulkner University. Although the
pioneering effort in Christian education has become three separate
corporations, each owning its own property and operating under its own board of
directors, these three complement one another in their respective areas of
service and cooperate together in various ways for the common good.
Dr. Turner, Sr., who had served as
co-president and then president of Alabama Christian College from its
beginning, continued to serve both institutions, Alabama Christian College and
Alabama Christian School of Religion, as president until 1973—a total of
thirty-one years. At that time, Dr. Turner, Sr. began to devote his full
energies to administration and teaching in the Alabama Christian School of Religion—now Amridge University.
Alabama Christian School of Religion
originated in an upper‑division undergraduate program training people for
ministerial causes. The Churches of Christ had a strong need for people to
know the Bible, but it was also established that to just know the Bible was not
sufficient for these times. There was a need to have trained workers who are
strong in English, Science, History, Christian counseling, human development
skills, communication skills, leadership skills, and competency in community
public/safety services, such as prison ministry and victims of crime. This was
reflected in the words of Christ when He encouraged all Christians to visit the
fatherless, widows, and those in prison.
The institution’s founder, who had a law
degree and erudite biblical knowledge, emphasized the basic inherent moral
principle of God’s justice and that for God to be a true just God all sin
demands penalty, and that there was one single way that God’s justice could be
requited. Justice could be requited only through the blood bought grace of
Christ. The need for man to obey Christ is the mission of this institution, to
train followers of Christ to go and share this important gospel message of
redemption to the entire world.
As a result of these needs, the
rationale of this institution was liberal in scope, not just a pastor system
approach, but a method that is established through well-prepared people who are
well trained to serve in dissimilar community settings in today’s world. The
Christian ministerial cause must be adapted for a changing world community.
This Christian cause, especially in the United States, must address a
well-educated society, and for this reason the church needs well trained
articulate Christian men and women who can serve in several communities.
Individuals are needed who are well trained to address the intellectual
apprehension and unbelief of a prosperous society, but also to lift up a
hurting humanity. Thus, Amridge University students need various options of
training in one or more academic areas such as: the basic arts, communication
skills, family counseling, community public/safety services, human behavioral
leadership, and, of course, biblical knowledge. In 1972 the institution
extended the academic areas beyond the undergraduate program to include
graduate degree programs.
This was followed by a move in 1974 to
new facilities jointly purchased by Alabama Christian School of Religion and
the Landmark Church of Christ at 6020 Atlanta Highway in Montgomery. In 1977 Alabama Christian School of Religion expanded its curricula to include a three‑year
graduate program terminating in the Master of Theology degree. To conform to
standard nomenclature and practice, in 1988 the school replaced the M.Th.
degree with the Master of Divinity degree, which is generally recognized as the
first professional degree in ministry.
Over several years of development, Alabama Christian School of Religion outgrew its facilities. The school sold its interest
in the jointly owned property to the Landmark Church of Christ and built its
own new facilities on nine acres of land well situated on Interstate 85
contiguous with the campus of Auburn University at Montgomery. The School of Religion moved to this new campus in the summer of 1987.
In 1985 the Board of Regents made a
commitment to seek accredited membership in the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools. In 1989 the institution received accreditation by the
Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS) to grant degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
On October 25, 1991, the Board of
Regents officially approved the change of the name of the institution to
Southern Christian University. The new name reflected the widened geographical
area served by the institution and emphasized the academic level and the
emerging direction of the institution.
In its meeting on May 25, 1992, the
Board of Regents approved an expansion in the curricula of the University, and
in 1994 the University was reaffirmed by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with two substantive changes: (1)
the Doctor of Ministry Degree; and (2) the distance learning program.
The period of the nineties served as an
era of tremendous change for the University. The fall of communism opened the
way for the bible faculty to go teach the Bible in the former communist Russia. The impact of this spiritual contact had enormous effect on the institution: (1)
many friends of the University used the institution’s educational contacts to
go throughout Russia; and (2) the University gained many new friends and new
donors as a result.
The close of the nineties ushered in two
important events: (1) The State of Alabama enacted for the first time a new
family therapy counseling licensure law; and (2) The United States Department
of Education chose several institutions of higher education to be pilot
Distance Education Demonstration Program Participants to assess distance
education and its effect on financial aid.
Since the University had received a
substantive change in distance education with the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1994, the University had
fine-tuned its distance education program and as a result was one of fifteen
institutions originally chosen in 1999 to serve in a groundbreaking pilot
Distance Education Demonstration Program. This recognition, which had no
financial grant considerations, had a major impact on the growth of the
University. It forced the institution in the context of distance learning to
review, reconfigure, and fine-tune its academic programs. Distance education
was beginning to be an accepted academic practice and the Commission on
Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools asked all of its
member schools to report if they were teaching by distance education and if so
what degree programs they were teaching.
The rapid student growth of the
University can be traced to three important events: (1) substantive change in
distance education in 1994 with SACS; (2) being chosen by the United States
Department of Education for the Distance Education Demonstration Program; and
(3) the new State of Alabama licensure law in Family Therapy.
The new State of Alabama licensure law
in Family Therapy grand-fathered the institution into a new opportunity, which
caused a review and a reconfiguring of the University’s counseling program.
Counseling is such an important part of ministry and of the University’s
mission, and the new requirements for licensure had a compelling impact on the
institution both in increased student enrollment and in expanding its courses.
The influence of the new licensure law on the institution’s academic program
ultimately caused the University to reflect on the need for a Ph.D. degree
program in Family Therapy, and caused the University to make a formal request
to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools for a substantive change for this new degree program. This request was
approved and the University began its Ph.D. degree program in Family Therapy
fall semester 2003.
In the fall semester 2005, the
University was authorized by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools to offer Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration – General Business, Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration – Information Communication, and Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration – Information Systems Management degrees.
In 2005, the University was authorized
by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools to offer the Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies degree. The
following year, 2006, the University was authorized to offer the Associate of
Arts degree.
Also, in December 2005, the University’s
accreditation was reaffirmed by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for another 10-year period.
Finally, on January 31, 2008, the Board
of Regents of Southern Christian University changed the institution’s name
to Amridge University.
With respect to the preceding and the
requirements of the Commission on Colleges, the Institutional Mission
Statement, Purpose, and Goals have been developed and are reviewed annually and
updated as needed. The current Institutional Mission Statement, Purpose, and
Goals are as follows:
INSTITUTIONAL
MISSION STATEMENT
Amridge University is an independent,
coeducational institution dedicated to the spirit of its Christian ideals and
heritage. Amridge University’s mission is to prepare men and women,
through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the
undergraduate and graduate levels, for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and
service to the professions, society, church, and family.
INSTITUTIONAL
PURPOSE
In keeping with its Christian heritage, Amridge University provides educational opportunities through five schools: (1) College of Business and Leadership, (2) College of General Studies, (3) School of Human Services, (4) Turner School of Theology, and (5) School of Continuing Education. Each of
these schools has its own special purpose within the overall purpose and
institutional goals of the University.
Purpose of
the College of Business and Leadership
The purpose of the College of Business and Leadership is to provide instruction and training on the
undergraduate and graduate levels as well as prepare students for careers and
professions that provide support and services for the well-being of
individuals, family, or society. Within this purpose, the College of Business
and Leadership provides bachelor-level degree programs that include the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – General Business
Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information
Communication Concentration, and the Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration – Information Systems Management Concentration as well as
graduate-level degree programs that include the Master of Science in Leadership
and Management and the Master of Arts in Behavioral Leadership and Management.
All of these programs are designed within the mission of the University for
preparing men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and
spiritual vitality, so that they can serve in their chosen vocations in the
church, community, or society. Also, the programs in the College of Business and Leadership provide a foundation that prepares undergraduate students for graduate
study and graduate students for advanced study.
Additionally, the University
provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing degrees.
Purpose of the College of General Studies
The purpose of
the College of General Studies is to provide instruction and training on the
undergraduate level for Christian ministers and religious workers as well as
prepare students for careers and professions that provide support and services
for the well-being of individuals, family, and society. Within this purpose
the College of General Studies provides degree programs in a variety of areas
including Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Science in
Ministry/Bible, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Bachelor of Science in
Management Communication, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Criminal
Justice, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Homeland Security, Bachelor
of Science in Public Safety and Business/Organization Security, Bachelor of
Science in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Human Development, and the
Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Leadership, . All of these programs are
designed within the mission of the University for preparing men and women,
through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the
undergraduate level, so that they can serve in their chosen vocations in the
church, community, or society. Also the programs in the College of General Studies provide a foundation that prepares students for graduate or advanced study.
Many of the Amridge University graduates of the College of General Studies choose to continue their studies at the Amridge University School of Human
Services or the Amridge University Turner School of Theology.
Additionally, the University provides a program of continuing
education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for
those who are not pursuing degrees.
Purpose of the School of Human Services
The purpose of
the School of Human Services is to prepare students for careers and professions
that are dedicated to providing support and services for the well-being of
individuals, family, church, and society in the spirit of Christian services.
This purpose will be accomplished by providing students with an
interdisciplinary learning and serving experience with core courses and focused
knowledge and skills in several disciplines that include, but will not be
limited to, family therapy, business, and human communications. Degrees
offered include the Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling, Master of Science
in Ministerial Leadership, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy,
Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, Master of Divinity in Marriage and
Family Therapy, Master of Divinity in Professional Counseling, Master of
Divinity in Pastoral Counseling, Master of Divinity in Ministerial Leadership,
Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy I, Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy
II, Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Doctor of
Philosophy in Professional Counseling.
Additionally,
the University provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge
University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing
degrees.
Purpose of the Turner School of Theology
The Amridge
University Board of Regents chartered the Turner School of Theology in 1999 in
profound appreciation of Rex and Opal Turner, founders of the University. The
Board deemed it appropriate to establish a School of Theology in their name to
honor and recognize the personal labors and sacrifices made by Rex and Opal
Turner for the cause of Christ. Dr. Rex Turner, Sr. was an avid student of the
word of God and well known for his biblical scholarship, administrative acumen,
tireless efforts, and commitment to training church leaders, ministers, and
Bible teachers for a world that needs Christ.
The purpose of the Turner School of Theology is to provide
for the educational development of qualified persons to be effective Christian
ministers, church leaders, teachers, and scholars who will use their gifts and
knowledge in proclaiming the gospel, strengthening the church, and serving
humanity. To accomplish this purpose, the School seeks to prepare
students for the ministerial and teaching professions and for effective
voluntary Christian service through both academic and practical studies on the
graduate level. The programs of instruction are biblical in orientation,
scholarly in intellectual preparation, and relevant to contemporary life in
application. These programs include a strong emphasis in biblical studies,
supported by studies in such fields as biblical languages, church history,
systematic theology, homiletics and communication, religious education,
professional ministerial studies, and missiology.
Degrees
offered include the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in
Practica