FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What programs are offered by AST?

• Bible/Ministry Certificate (24 units)
• Associate of Arts degree (60 units)
• Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Ministry (120 units)
• Bachelor of Science degree in Intercultural Studies (120 units)
• Master of Arts degree with a choice of concentration in Christian Leadership, Intercultural Studies, Church Planting, and Worship (36 units)

What are the admission requirements?

Freshman Admission (no previous coursework taken at the college level)

• Students may enroll in AST without any prior college coursework.  A minimum high school grade point average of 2.5 or better or a minimum or a General Education Development (GED) score of 47 or better is required.  A student who submits a GED test result must be 18 years or older, and/or his/her original class must have graduated before that person can apply for admission to the college. 

Transfer Admission to A. A. or B.S. Degree Programs

• A student must have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better for all prior academic work.
• If a student has not completed a high school diploma or GED, they can still be admitted if they have completed 12 or more units of college coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
• Students must be eligible for reinstatement to the college or university last attended.

Graduate Admission

• All applicants are required to have a bachelor’s level degree from a regionally accredited or other approved college or university with at least a 3.0 G.P.A. for full acceptance. A student with a G.P.A. of 2.5 to 2.99 may be granted probationary acceptance by the Department Chair and the Dean if other factors give evidence of the applicant’s ability to successfully complete a program. The probationary status will be removed when the student has successfully completed 9 semester units with a 3.0 G.P.A. or better. A 3.0 or higher G.P.A. is required for graduation.  Applicants seeking entry into the Master of Arts degree program in Ministry may qualify for admission if they have a minimum of seven years of full-time ministry experience. Initial acceptance will be provisional and admission numbers are limited.

International Admission

• Applicants for whom English is a second language must furnish official scores from the TOEFL examination taken within the last five years, with a minimum score of 550.

What if I just want to take a few courses and not necessarily earn a degree?

• Some students take single courses at AST for purposes of personal enrichment, earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or completing degree requirements at another college or university.  Such non-degree students complete a simple application form, enroll in the desired course, and pay the appropriate tuition fees.  There is no separate application fee for non-degree students.

What is the deadline to apply for admission?

AST will accept applications and announce admissions decisions continually throughout the year.  Sessions for the undergraduate programs begin every five weeks.  A student must have their admissions file complete one week before the next session starts in order to participate in that session.

What constitutes a completed application?

A completed admissions file includes:

• A completed application for admission
• Payment of the $40 application fee
• A Statement of Purpose (75-100 words for undergraduate and 250 words for graduate)
• Two references (for graduate students only)
• Official transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended.  In addition, if you have taken 12 or fewer units of college coursework, you must ALSO provide an official copy of your high school diploma or an official General Education Diploma (GED). 

Can I just provide a copy of my transcripts?

No, the transcripts need to be “official,” which means that they must be signed by the school’s registrar and sealed.  An opened transcript is no longer “official.”  Official transcripts are crucial for determining students’ academic classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior), the levels of financial aid for which they may qualify, and their remaining degree requirements. Without them, students may take courses they do not need, or they may pay more than necessary by losing financial aid. Accordingly, AST protects students by not allowing them to begin coursework until their application files are complete.

Do I need to provide an official transcript if I am an international student?

Yes.  In addition, foreign transcripts must be accompanied by a detailed evaluation completed by an agency specializing in foreign academic credentials (at the applicant’s expense). Applicants who submit transcripts that must be translated and evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service, without also submitting college/ university transcripts from an English-speaking institution, must furnish official scores from a TOEFL examination taken within the last five years with a minimum score of 550.

How much does it cost to attend AST?

The cost of tuition depends on the program in which a student is enrolled.

• Lower division rate (for certificates and the AA degree) -- $250 per unit or $750 per course
• Upper division rate (for the B.S. degrees) -- $445 per unit or $1,335 per course
• Graduate rate (for the M.A. degree) --  $385 per unit

Is it hard to learn how to use the online courseroom?

Not at all. Using the online courseroom is similar to using e-mail, your computer at work, or any basic software program. You will be utilizing a very user-friendly online platform, and if you have any difficulties, there will be an information technician available to answer your questions.

How do I receive and hand in assignments?

Just log into your online courseroom. The assignments are arranged in chronological order and are placed in your weekly block. If you click on the assignment, you will see a section for uploading your finished assignment. Some assignments, such as reading assignments, are not graded so they do not require uploading.  

How do I interact with my instructor and classmates?

AST students find that one of the most exciting advantages to our e-learning environment is the ongoing opportunity to interact online, by phone, email, or web conferencing with instructors and other learners.

• By e-mail: Students and instructors can exchange email addresses at the beginning of each course, which enables ongoing discussion outside of the online courseroom.
• By phone: You are free to exchange phone numbers with classmates.
• By online discussion threads: Track topical discussions or respond to questions posed by your instructor.
• By assignments: Some assignments, such as research papers, online debates, discussion threads, and some blogs, require collaboration by groups of students.
• By web conferencing: Students and teachers participate in a synchronous (live) lecture with student input. The web conferencing includes audio, multi-video, hand-raising, PowerPoint, whiteboard, and other exciting details.  

What kind of support can I expect from faculty and advisors?

Students can contact faculty members and advisors via e-mail or telephone as long as they are active in AST courses. Faculty members and advisors will respond within 24 hours from Monday through Friday.

What time are classes held?

Anytime day or night, you can access your class and participate via our online courseroom, as long as you have an Internet connection. Students should plan to log in 2-5 times each week, but there is usually no set class schedule so you can "attend class" anytime. Occasionally, classes will hold live web conferences with the professor and classmates.

Do classes have specific start and end dates?

Yes, each AST course has a designated start and end date according to the annual calendar, which is based on a total of nine five-week sessions per year. 

How long will my program take me to complete?

The amount of time you will need to earn your degree depends on several factors, including:

• The program you enroll in
• Whether you transfer in previously earned college or university credit

For a better idea of how long it will take for you to complete your degree, call 1-800-762-5990. An academic advisor can help you map out your program and estimate credits you may have already earned.

How do I enroll in online courses?

Visit the AST website at www.goAST.org.  Click on the “Enroll Now” tab at the top of the page.  Complete and submit the enrollment application and then follow the directions to finish the admissions process.