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[[Image:UAB seal.gif|right]]
The '''University of Alabama at Birmingham''' (known locally as '''UAB''') is a public, coeducational university located on the [[Southside]] of [[Birmingham]]. The university is part of the three-member [[University of Alabama System]], which also includes the main [[University of Alabama]] campus in [[Tuscaloosa]] and the University of Alabama in Huntsville ('''UAH''').  UAB currently has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students. The school's president is [[Carol Garrison]].
The '''University of Alabama at Birmingham''' (known locally as '''UAB''') is a public, coeducational university located on the [[Southside]] of [[Birmingham]]. The university is part of the three-member [[University of Alabama System]], which also includes the main [[University of Alabama]] campus in [[Tuscaloosa]] and the University of Alabama in Huntsville ('''UAH''').  UAB currently has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students. The school's president is [[Carol Garrison]].


Revision as of 09:41, 24 July 2006

UAB seal.gif

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (known locally as UAB) is a public, coeducational university located on the Southside of Birmingham. The university is part of the three-member University of Alabama System, which also includes the main University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). UAB currently has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students. The school's president is Carol Garrison.

UAB offers programs of study leading to bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degrees in various fields, including social and behavioral sciences, liberal arts, business, education, engineering, health-related fields (such as medicine, dentistry and nursing) and public health. The school is highly renowned for its medical research and natural sciences programs. UAB received over $390 million in federal grants during the past fiscal year for research purposes. This places the school as one of the larger research institutions in the Southeast. UAB Hospital also sponsors residency programs in various medical specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, radiology, and anesthesiology.

History

The history of UAB began with the relocation of the University of Alabama School of Medicine from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham in 1945. The existing Jefferson Hospital and Hillman Hospital were combined to create UA's Birmingham teaching hospital. Three years later a School of Dentistry was established.

In 1958 the school acquired 8 and a half city blocks from the Birmingham Housing Authority for future expansion. In 1966 the University of Alabama at Birmingham was established as a separate campus, rather than merely an extension center, of the University of Alabama. A College of General Studies was created to serve undergraduate students from Birmingham who would have trouble travelling to Tuscaloosa for classes. A School of Health Services was established and the School of Nursing was relocated from Tuscaloosa. in 1969, UAB became an autonomous university within the UA system and Dr Joseph Volker was named the first President of UAB. During that year new Schools of Community and Allied Health Resources and Optometry were added. A Graduate School was created in 1970 and, the following year the College of General Studies was reorganized as the University College with Schools of Business, Education, Engineering and Arts and Sciences.

In 1973 the School of Arts and Sciences branched into separate Schools of Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. In 1975 the campus grew by 30 blocks using Urban Renewal funds from the State Legislature. Volker was named chancellor of the UA System in 1976 and S. Richardson Hill succeeded him as President of UAB.

In 1981, UAB established a School of Public Health. In 1995 the school formally established the UAB Health System. In 1999 a formal relationship with Southern Research Institute was initiated.

Accolades

The schools of Nursing and Medicine at UAB are among the nation’s best, according to the 2005-2006 U.S. News & World Report ranking of graduate schools. The School of Nursing is ranked 19th. The School of Medicine is ranked 23rd, two spots higher than the previous year's ranking. Five medical specialties at UAB are ranked in the top 20 nationally by the magazine: AIDS, 4th (up one ranking); women’s health, 8th; internal medicine 18th (up one ranking); geriatrics, 19th; and pediatrics, 19th. The school’s primary care program was ranked 34th, up four spots.

Two programs in the School of Health Related Professions are ranked; the master’s degree program in health services administration is ranked 10th, and the master’s program in physical therapy ranked 25th.

The School of Engineering’s biomedical engineering program is ranked 40th. Doctoral programs in the biological sciences are in the top 50.

UAB also has its own police department of state certified peace officers. The department has reached CALEA standards and has a Special Operations unit (bicycle patrol, mounted patrol, etc.) as well as over 75 sworn officers and detectives.

Athletics

UAB's green-and-gold-swathed athletics teams are nicknamed the Blazers. UAB is a member of Conference USA and participates in Division I of the NCAA. Watson Brown coaches the football team, which plays at 71,594-seat Legion Field. The school's men's basketball team plays in 8,508-seat Bartow Arena. While the football team entered post-season play only recently (2004 Hawaii Bowl), the men's basketball program has a long history of success. Since their inaugural season (1978-79), the Blazers have made 12 appearances in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and have had nineteen winning seasons. In 2004, the school gained national attention when it upset the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

In addition to football and basketball, UAB also has programs in mens' sports for baseball, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's sports programs include softball, basketball, golf, soccer, synchronized swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. UAB also has a program in the coeducational sport of rifle.

The UAB mascot is a green dragon named "Blaze".

References

  • "University of Alabama at Birmingham." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Mar 2006, 01:14 UTC. 28 Mar 2006, 20:35 [1].

External links

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