We pride ourselves on our quick administrative response to students’ needs. By scheduling timely courses, we work to provide quality education that is both useful and accessible and meets the needs of full-time, part-time, and nontraditional students.

Dr. Phil Norris
Director

The University of South Alabama established a branch campus in Baldwin County in August, 1984. The Baldwin County area is one of the fastest growing and most diverse counties in the state. The branch campus offers convenient access to the University’s programs and services. USABC offers upper-level undergraduate courses, graduate courses, non-credit programs and serves the University’s mission of public service by working cooperatively with community organizations.

Curriculum

USABC is accredited as a branch campus by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been approved as a branch campus by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Each semester, upper-division courses are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the Mitchell College of Business, the College of Nursing and the Adult Interdisciplinary Studies Program through the School of Continuing Education and Special Programs.

The College of Nursing began offering nursing courses at the branch campus in the fall of 2002. It is now possible for students in Baldwin County to complete their last two years of nursing course work at USABC. Students meet clinical requirements through a cooperative arrangement between the University and Thomas Hospital. USABC classrooms have been renovated with specialized equipment to meet the needs of the nursing program and administrative space is available for College of Nursing faculty and staff. Other new degree programs began in the fall of 2006. These include bachelor’s degrees in elementary education, general business, communication (public relations), and criminal justice. Students who have completed the first two years of general education requirements can finish their degrees in these areas at USABC. Graduate degrees offered include master’s degrees in elementary education, special education, educational leadership, and school counseling.

Courses Scheduled For Adults

Many students at USABC are working adults. Most classes are therefore scheduled in the late afternoons and evenings, meeting once a week, with the exception of nursing and elementary education classes which are taught during the day. Classes are taught by USA faculty, who are hired through USA’s academic departments and scheduled for classes at USABC. Most faculty at USABC hold terminal degrees.

During the summer term, a number of graduate education courses are offered in a short, intensive format during the day. These courses are available for schoolteachers who are working on advanced certification. USABC staff members who are also on the College of Education faculty are available to assist branch campus students.

USABC offers course work for students in USA’s adult degree program, Adult Interdisciplinary Studies. AIS is a bachelor’s degree program which offers the student flexibility in content. The AIS student works with an advisor to plan a field of study which meets personal and professional goals. An advisor is available in the USABC office to assist AIS students.

A computer laboratory and library services are provided at USABC. The computer lab is open during the day and evenings, and for limited hours on weekends. Students may access USA library holdings in Fairhope and arrangements can be made to have books and other materials brought to USABC. A member of the USA library faculty is part of the USABC staff and is available to assist students and faculty with their library and research needs.

In addition to credit courses, USABC offers noncredit courses. These courses are open to interested adults in the community without admission to the University. Non-credit courses are designed to enhance professional skills and encourage personal enrichment. Non-credit courses meet during the day and at night.

University materials such as bulletins, schedules of courses, financial aid forms, and admission forms are available at the USABC Administration Building. Each semester, students may register for USABC courses in Fairhope and textbooks for USABC courses may be purchased at the branch campus at the beginning of each term.

Scenic Location

USABC is located in downtown Fairhope just two blocks from the public pier on Mobile Bay. Classrooms are located on a tree-lined campus in the heart of old Fairhope. The Administration Building is located at 10 North Summit Street and the classroom complex is on the corner of Summit and St. James Streets.

A performance center is located at the classroom complex where numerous community events are scheduled. USABC and the M. W. Smith, Jr. Foundation sponsor the Fairhope Film Series at the performance center. The Fairhope Film Series is open to anyone in the community and offers the opportunity to see films not usually shown in area commercial movie theaters.

USABC and Baldwin County United sponsor Leadership Baldwin County. The leadership program is a countywide program to enhance leadership skills and meets monthly from September through May. Adults from throughout the county are encouraged to apply for the program.

Other community and university groups utilize USABC’s facilities for meetings, special events, and staff development retreats. USABC staff is active in community organizations and facilitate the work of several public service organizations.

USABC brings the University’s programs and services to nontraditional students and to the growing community of Baldwin County.