Current Students

Orientation & Registration Information

Classes begin Wednesday, August 28, 2013!

Please download and review the following information:

This notification is intended to acquaint you with a number of important items concerning the fall semester. Please familiarize yourself with this information, especially the information about online registration.

This correspondence does not imply acceptance into a program at Biola University.

Orientation

Orientation is required for all new graduate students including those who earned a bachelor's degree at Biola University, unless otherwise indicated. Some students may be required to complete the Talbot or TESOL and Applied Linguistics Writing Proficiency Examinations and/or the proficiency exams in Greek and Hebrew (see details below). If you are required to take the Talbot Writing Proficiency Exam (TWPE) you will be notified in your acceptance letter.

Talbot School of Theology

The Talbot New Student Banquet will be Monday, August 26, 6:00-9:00 p.m., on Metzger Lawn, in front of Metzger Hall and Calvary Chapel Auditorium. All new Talbot students and one guest (spouse or significant other) are invited and encouraged to attend (sorry, no children). This Banquet is a highlight of the seminary experience for most students, so you won't want to miss it! Meet your faculty members and their spouses, begin to form new friendships and support relationships with fellow students, and hear a word of encouragement from Talbot's Dean, Dr. Clint Arnold. Please join us for this fun evening of rich fellowship.

The Banquet is complimentary, but you will need to RSVP online by midnight on Monday, August 19. Please fill in all requested information on the RSVP form, including the name of your guest, (if applicable).

Enrollment

Enrollment for new and readmit graduate students is being conducted on line from Monday, July 29th at 9:00 am through Thursday, August 15th at 4:00 pm. To avoid a late enrollment fee all steps including down payment must be completed by the deadline. Late enrollment begins Friday, August 16th at 10:00am with a charge of $200. Classes will be dropped Thursday, August 26th, 2013 if all Enrollment steps are not complete.

Classes begin Wednesday, August 28th, 2013. Online registration can be found at my.biola.edu (new students will receive their BSI [Biola Student id number] when they are accepted and NET ID's/passwords (for validated students) will be available the day after you validate your acceptance at my.biola.edu – new students click on "First time logging in". This will also link you to the class schedule and curriculum charts.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TALBOT STUDENTS ONLY: There is a 12-unit limit for Talbot grad students. If a student wishes to go above the 12-unit limit, the student will need approval and should contact the Talbot department contacts for assistance (list was supplied in registration mailing and/or accept letter)

Enrollment Deposit

All accepted students must submit an Enrollment Deposit of $100, unless otherwise indicated in your acceptance letter/notice to approved applicants. (International students are required to submit a total of $2,000 in order to issue the I-20). The deposit allows the admissions office to transfer electronic data to other offices on campus. Submit the deposit as soon as possible upon acceptance. The deposit is not a fee. The funds stay on your account until you graduate or leave the university. At that time it will be refunded or credited toward your school bill. However, if you do not attend after submitting your deposit, the $100 is non-refundable.

Those who do not submit the deposit before the start of on line registration, may experience a significant delay in registration.

Finances and Payments

Please familiarize yourself with the information regarding finances and payments in the Catalog in the General Information section or the online inserts. It will assist you as you consider tuition payments.

Financial Aid

If you have not already done so, apply for financial aid immediately. Finances exist but we cannot help you without an application. The information about financial aid is now online at http://www.biola.edu/grad/financial_aid/. Time is a factor so begin immediately. (For domestic students only.) Not all programs qualify for financial aid assistance. International students apply for financial aid by petitioning the International Admissions Counselor. Details are on line, you may visit their website Please note: Aid award on the financial aid insert is an estimate only. Please check with financial aid for your award.

International Students

International Student Orientation is held in the fall only and is mandatory for all international students. Additional information will be sent electronically by the International Student Services Department.

The Biola English Placement Examination (BEPE) is required of International Students unless you have scored above 600/250/100 internet based on the TOEFL.

The BEPE will be held on Friday, August 23 2013 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm in BUSN 103. The ELSP Orientation meeting is Monday, August 26 from 9:00-12:00am. This exam is required of all non-native English-speaking students with no TOEFL scores or TOEFL scores below 100 IBT/600 PBT. Contact the International Student Education/English Language Studies Program (ISE/ELSP) office for details regarding this exam. Please be prepared to pay a $25 fee (cash or check) on the day of the exam. The $25 fee will be refunded later in the semester. Should you choose not to complete the semester, the fee is non-refundable.

Course work in English may be required as a result of this exam, and these courses must be taken every semester until exiting the department. The BEPE results will be issued at the Orientation meeting and will indicate if you need to add English classes and drop classes in other departments. English classes may affect your eligibility for financial aid.

Exams

The Talbot Writing Proficiency Examination (TWPE)

Advanced compositional skills, commensurate with graduate-level theological studies, are foundational and indispensable, both in terms of educational and ministerial success. Based on objective criteria, some new students will be required to take the Talbot Writing Proficiency Exam (TWPE) prior to registration for the first semester. TWPE results will determine whether enrollment in TTSS 520 Theological Writing will be required. If required, this course must be taken following TTSS 510 in conjunction with ENGL 161. Students who receive a grade of “NC” (No Credit) in TTSS 520 must repeat the course (the course is graded on a Credit / No Credit basis).

If you are required to take the Talbot Writing Proficiency Exam (TWPE), you will be notified in your acceptance letter. If you are not so notified, you are not required to take the TWPE.

The TWPE, if required, will be administered Monday, August 26, at 8:00 a.m. in Myers 106. TWPE results determine whether the student must enroll in the Talbot course TTSS 520: Theological Writing. That is, if you do not pass the TWPE, you are required to enroll in TTSS 520. You may not request to retake the exam.

Greek and Hebrew Exams

For Talbot students wishing to challenge first year Greek and/or Hebrew or who are required to validate a transfer of these courses, these exams are held on Monday, August 26, in Myers 106. The Greek exam is from 10:00-11:15 a.m. The Hebrew exam is from 11:30-12:30 p.m. Please call Sandra Orr at (562) 903-4829 after Monday, August 5th, noon, to reserve your spot.

We look forward to having you study with us! Contact your Graduate Admissions Counselor in the Office of Graduate Admissions at (800) 652-4652 if you desire further assistance.

Talbot School of Theology