Application
The Graduate School application process, which is required for the M.A. and graduate diploma programs, is described at this link.
Application Requirements
Before enrolling in a class for M.A. or graduate diploma credit, you must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in any field of study
If you already have your Bachelor’s degree, you can submit your application online. Be sure to have the following details available when completing your application:
- Contact information;
- A writing sample of any kind – e.g., an essay you wrote as an undergrad, a blog entry, a piece of professional writing, etc.;
- The name of the institution that issued your Bachelor’s degree, your graduation year, and your GPA (if educated in the United States);
- A scanned copy of a government-issued photo ID, such as a state driver’s licence or ID, a federal greencard, or a passport;
- A scanned photo of themselves, recently taken, which clearly and indisputably matches the person depicted on the photo ID;
- A short personal statement regarding your interests.
Note that since our classes are delivered in English, students must be able to speak and write English as well. Application responses and writing samples must be written in English.
An official undergraduate transcript is also required, and Signum must receive your official undergraduate transcript no later than the end of your first semester in the program.
Application Process
Upon submission, your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Team and processed appropriately.
- If your application is accepted, you will receive instructions by email about how to register for your first course and an invitation to the student orientation Google Classroom.
- If there are any issues or questions, the Admissions Coordinator will reach out to you to discuss your application with you.
Once your application has been processed, you can browse our course catalog and choose the course(s) you want to attend.
Registration
Each individual course page contains a link to Goldberry, Signum’s registration system, where students will register and pay tuition. Registered students will receive classroom access information shortly before classes begin. Students can add classes through Friday of the second week of the semester. Credit students should plan their course schedules with their Advisors, possibly in consultation with the Academic Mentor.
Financial Information
One of the most difficult aspects of receiving a college education today is dealing with the cost. Even those students who receive financial assistance through scholarships, grants, and loans can often be left holding mountains of debt after they graduate, with immediate pressure to start paying it off.
At Signum University, we never want the cost of education to be a barrier to learning. With that goal in mind, we work hard to keep tuition prices low by:
- Using cutting-edge online technologies that scale to accommodate most class sizes;
- Eliminating the hefty administrative and maintenance costs associated with traditional universities with physical campuses;
- Relying on the support of generous donors to pay for the bulk of our infrastructural expenses.
In addition, our Stewardship Division is always looking for ways to create even more efficient and cost-effective processes to deliver a first-rate educational experience.
For students and auditors, there are two primary costs related to taking classes at Signum University: tuition and required materials (primarily texts).
Tuition
The tuition paid for each course taken is the largest cost involved. Signum takes pride in the fact that the vast majority of tuition paid by credit students and auditors goes toward faculty salaries. This allows us to offer students an opportunity to learn from world-class scholars and recognized experts in their fields, at a fraction of the cost for a similar course at a traditional institution.
Please see the Finances page for the current tuition and fees.
Required and Recommended Technology
Since Signum’s courses are only offered online, students will need to have access to certain technology in order to be able to participate in our courses. All students are required to have a reliable computer and Internet access. Modern Windows and Mac systems are supported, and other operating systems may be used so long as they meet the technical requirements listed below.
Minimum Technical Requirements
Student computers must have the ability to play audio and video and must have a functional microphone to participate in preceptor discussion groups. At minimum, we recommend:
- A desktop or laptop computer with at least 4GB of RAM
- A 1Mbps or faster internet connection
- A microphone and speakers OR a headset with microphone.
Specific Software
Students will need the most recent version of a modern web browser to access online classrooms and resources. Google Chrome is recommended, but other modern browsers such as Safari or Firefox will work with most systems.
Our classes utilize Google Classrooms and Zoom. For information about requirements for each of these apps, refer to the following:
Through their Signum student account, students will also have access to Google productivity apps, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Third-party applications such as Microsoft Office are not required, but they may be allowed. Students should contact their preceptors if they have questions about how to deliver assignments for a particular class.
Books and Required Course Materials
As with any university course, most Signum classes require students to obtain books and, occasionally, other required materials. The costs for these materials can vary from class to class. Texts that students are required to obtain are listed on the catalog page for the course, so that students know ahead of time what materials they may need to purchase.
In general, there are several ways that we keep down the costs of books and other materials:
- Certain required readings (such as short texts or excerpts) are provided as downloads on the course page in our digital campus.
- The Signum Library offers credit students access to selected materials through sources such as Project MUSE of JSTOR’s Language and Literature collection for class and research purposes.
- When possible, instructors will often provide links to where the text may be legally obtained online freely or for little expense.
To help keep down costs, students are also encouraged to find alternatives to purchasing books for their course, such as borrowing from a library or exchanging texts with friends who have the required book already.
In addition, some courses may have suggested texts or materials, which are not required but may provide additional insight or supplementary information about the course topic. These texts will be clearly marked as optional, and students should exercise discretion with regard to their personal finances before purchasing them.
Payment Plan
Signum University offers a convenient payment plan that allows students to pay their tuition in installments before the beginning of each term. Failure to pay tuition by the third week of classes will result in loss of access to the course classroom. Students with unpaid balances after the end of a term may not enroll in courses or attend classes in subsequent terms until their debt is paid in full.
Financial Assistance
At this time, Signum University does not have any scholarship, grant, or loan programs to make available to students.
However, one way that we can offer assistance to students is through our work-study program, which offers tuition remission in exchange for part time work on the Signum administrative team. If you are interested in participating in the work-study program, send an email to [email protected] or use our contact form. Also, see Student Services at Signum University for further details.
Updated 9/24/2020
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