Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.

November 2025January 2026

December 2025 Modules

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Academic Writing, Research & Scholarly Publishing Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Struggling to express your ideas clearly? Wondering why your papers aren’t landing the way you’d hoped? Whether you're just starting out or preparing for publication, this tutorial is designed to help you write with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Our preceptors offer individualized support tailored to your goals—whether you're crafting a research paper, polishing a thesis, developing a conference proposal, or navigating the peer review process. We'll help you transform rough ideas into strong arguments, untangle writer’s block, and craft compelling prose that says exactly what you mean (yes, with grammar that sings).

Sessions may include guidance on structure and organization, revision strategies, citation practices (MLA, Chicago, etc.), research methods, and even engagement with literary theory. Our goal is to help you become the academic writer you want to be—ready to participate fully in scholarly conversations and share your work with confidence.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Biblical Foundations: Genesis 1-11
 Spotlight  Confirmed

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, (skip 25), 30
The premise for this course is that the Primeval History (i.e. Genesis 1-11) provides the key conceptual roadmap for how to understand the rest of the biblical narrative (especially the OT, but pertaining to the NT as well). Once the reader begins to see these connections, an entire world is opened up, because subsequent biblical authors continue to build on the foundational elements introduced in the early chapters of Genesis.

This course is designed for a reader to learn how to see these elements for themselves so that the student can continue to explore them in the future in the rest of the biblical literature and in literature outside the Bible as well. This course would deal with topics pertinent specifically to Genesis 1-11. For example: is Genesis 1-11 properly classified as "history," or "myth," or something else? And on the spectrum of literal versus non-literal interpretation of texts, what should be applied? Are there any textual indicators for these things, and if so, how do we recognize them?
Precepted by Dr. Joel D. Ruark

Book Club: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
 Candidate

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, (skip 24), 29
A 2020 winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Hamnet is a retelling of Shakespeare’s lost years that focuses on his relationship with Anne Hathaway. At times magical and surreal, it has hues of magic realism and a unique style. We will discuss the themes, imagery, character development, and many allusions to different plays of Shakespeare in a relaxed and interactive way.
Precepted by Pilar Barrera

Christmas Carols in Latin!
 Spotlight  Candidate

Meeting Mondays at 5:00 PM Eastern for four 1-hour sessions on December 1, 8, 15, 22.
In this mini module of four one-hour sessions, we will have fun with Latin Christmas Carols. Any "homework" is optional, texts will be provided, fun shall be had!!! Come and enjoy!

Note: This mini module is a special group experience designed for a small and intimate group of 3 to 4 students for the cost of 1 Token.
Precepted by Dr. Larry Swain

Creative Writing: Workshop
 Spotlight  Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, (skip 25), 29
We will meet to blend learning, discussion, and playing games with reading, appreciating, and commenting on one another’s work as it is submitted for peer review. Writers are encouraged—but never required—to submit new pieces in any state of draftiness or readiness up to 2,000 words each week for peer reading and feedback. Our Collaborative Feedback method, developed here at Signum University, asks us to comment at the author's comfort level through a structured reader (not editor) response. We gather to encourage the story that the author wants to tell. Our philosophy of kindness first might just turn around your previous experience of writing groups.





A seat has been reserved in this module for any writer (especially a beginner) of marginalized identity to support them finding their voice. Please simply write to [email protected] to identify yourself if you wish to join the class.





Note: For more information about the Collaborative Feedback Method in SPACE, please check out our video here.
Precepted by Sparrow F. Alden

Creative Writing & Worldbuilding Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Whether you're just starting a story or refining a full manuscript, Signum’s Creative Writing Tutorials offer individualized support tailored to your stage in the writing journey.

For fully grown Tree projects—those in advanced stages of revision—we offer developmental editing guidance, reader feedback, and coaching on self-editing strategies. If your project is ready for professional copy editing, we can arrange a special match with a tutor who provides that service.

For projects in earlier stages—those in active drafting or early revision—we provide writing exercises, focused feedback, and skill-building support to help you grow your craft. These tutorials also make an excellent companion to our Creative Writing modules in SPACE, our adult continuing education program: Explore SPACE Creative Writing Modules.

Wherever you are in your writing process, your tutorial sessions will adapt to your goals—and help you take the next step with confidence.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Digital Humanities & Media Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Blend technology and the humanities in a personalized tutorial designed for the digital age. Whether you’re exploring how digital tools can support literary research, learning data visualization or coding for scholarly projects, or analyzing media forms like film, podcasts, and games, this tutorial adapts to your goals. Engage with fields such as digital text analysis, online publishing, digital archives, adaptation studies, or interactive storytelling. These tutorials are ideal for students building digital portfolios, launching public humanities projects, or investigating how media and meaning converge in modern scholarship.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

East Asian Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Explore the languages, cultures, and histories of East Asia in a flexible, student-guided tutorial. Whether you're developing your proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (including work with characters, kana, or hanja), or delving into literature, philosophy, or cultural traditions, this tutorial supports both focused projects and open-ended inquiry. Your preceptor will help you identify next steps, recommend tailored resources, and support your growth—whether you’re practicing conversation, studying classical texts, analyzing a film, or preparing a research paper. Ideal for language learners, culture enthusiasts, or anyone looking to engage deeply with East Asia's rich intellectual and artistic legacy.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

History, Culture & Civilization Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Travel through time and across cultures in a tutorial designed to deepen your understanding of the past and its relevance today. From ancient civilizations to modern revolutions, from folklore and foodways to empire and migration, these tutorials support students in historical research, cultural analysis, and interdisciplinary exploration. Work with a preceptor to develop your historical writing, prepare a presentation, or structure a long-term project. Whether you’re focused on a specific region, era, or theme, this tutorial helps you bring clarity, context, and curiosity to your study of history and culture.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

The Bovadium Fragments: Tolkien and Satire
 Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 9:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, (skip 24), 29
Tolkien had an incisive sense of humor, and it comes through remarkably well in stories like The Hobbit and Farmer Giles of Ham. Tolkien also occasionally put his humor to pointed satirical uses, and perhaps the most serious of these satires is the forthcoming Bovadium Fragments being published in November (in the US). Join us in the lead-up to Christmas as we read through one of the most curious and tongue-in-cheek stories Tolkien ever wrote.
Precepted by Patrick Lyon

The Hunger Games Book Club (Book 4: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)
 Confirmed  Hybrid

Pre-recorded lectures will be supplemented by live meetings Thursdays and one Monday at 9:00 AM Eastern for four 60-minute sessions on December 4, 11, 18, Monday the 29th.
This module explores the fourth book in the series: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020).

Series Outline:

What lessons do the Capitol and Districts have to teach us? What warnings should we heed? What road leads from here to Panem? Over the course of five months, participants in these SPACE modules will read and discuss a modern classic of dystopian storytelling, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

In this hybrid series, each week will include one lecture and one live discussion. The lectures will examine the inspirations behind, allusions in, and questions posed by that month's novel. In live discussions, participants will share their insights on, interpretations of, and reactions to the story. Together we will consider why this series has spoken to so many readers and explore how its messages remain relevant today.

Students will be asked to read one book over the course of each month in whatever format they choose. All of these novels are available in print, ebook, and audio format.

(Warning: The Hunger Games series include descriptions - for a young-adult audience - of substance abuse, physical abuse, violence, and death.)

Series Outline:
  • Module 1: The Hunger Games (2008)
  • Module 2: Catching Fire (2009)
  • Module 3: Mockingjay (2010)
  • Module 4: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
  • Module 5: Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)
Precepted by Dr. Amy H. Sturgis (Lecturer)

Japanese Through Lyrics
 Confirmed

Meeting Saturdays at 7:00 PM Eastern for four 2-hour sessions on December 6, 13, 20, 27
The goal of this course is to study Japanese by analyzing song lyrics. While there will be an initial list of songs, students will be invited to either choose or vote on songs they would like to analyze (depending on number of students), and then we will spend each class studying the vocabulary and grammar contained in those songs.
Precepted by Sam Roche

J.R.R. Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas
 Candidate

Meeting Tuesdays & Fridays at 9:00 PM Eastern for six 1-hour sessions and two 90-minute sessions on December 2, 5, 9, 12 for 90 minutes, 16, 19 for 90 minutes, 23
Join Ms. Elise for a cozy, relaxed Book Club setting and discuss the joy of Tolkien’s beloved Christmas tale.
Precepted by Elise Trudel Cedeño

Language Learning & Philology Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Whether you’re beginning a new language, reviving a dormant one, or diving deep into the history and structure of how languages work, this tutorial offers personalized guidance for your journey. With one-on-one support from experienced preceptors, you can build practical language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking), pursue advanced grammatical or syntactic analysis, or explore historical linguistics and philology. From modern languages to ancient tongues, from Quenya to Latin, this tutorial supports projects in translation, language acquisition, comparative linguistics, and the cultural contexts that shape language use. Bring your goals—scholarly or conversational—and let your linguistic curiosity flourish.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Literature & Storytelling Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Explore the craft, impact, and meaning of literature through a personalized tutorial in Literature & Storytelling. Whether you're analyzing a classic novel, developing a comparative study of myths and epics, or researching contemporary fiction, our preceptors will help you deepen your understanding of narrative, genre, theme, and interpretation. Tutorials can focus on literary analysis, theory, close reading, or creative-critical intersections. Whether you’re preparing for graduate school, crafting a paper, or simply diving deeper into your favorite texts, this tutorial invites you to read widely, think critically, and grow as a literary thinker.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Music, Performance & Applied Skills Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Bring your skills and passions to life with a hands-on, project-based tutorial in Music, Performance & Applied Skills. Whether you're composing, performing, researching music history, developing educational workshops, or exploring connections between music and literature, your preceptor will support your creative or academic goals. These tutorials may include performance coaching, guided practice, composition feedback, or structured reflection on process and technique. This space also supports interdisciplinary learners blending music with language, culture, or storytelling. Whatever your background, this tutorial celebrates your craft and helps you grow.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Old English 4
Continuing Series  Candidate

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:00 PM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, (skip 24), 29
Ready to begin learning Old English? This series of modules introduces students to the vocabulary and structure of the earliest recorded form of the English language. One year of modules prepares the student to read texts from over a thousand years ago! Each one-month module builds on the previous one, so students ready to learn Old English will communicate with our Director and Professor Swain to make the right placement for everyone.

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
Precepted by Dr. Isaac Schendel

Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Delve into the big questions that shape our understanding of the world—across traditions, thinkers, and texts. In a tutorial on Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies, you’ll engage with classic and contemporary ideas in metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, or theology. Explore religious texts, spiritual traditions, or the interplay between philosophy and literature. Whether you're preparing for seminary or graduate study, developing an academic paper, or pursuing your own intellectual inquiry, this tutorial offers personalized guidance as you reflect, reason, and wrestle with the deepest dimensions of human thought.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.

Readings in Middle High German
 Confirmed

Meeting Fridays at 7:00 PM Eastern for four 2-hour sessions on December 5, 12, 19, 26
This series will help introduce students to the breadth and depth of texts available for study in Middle High German. Each month, Dr. Isaac Schendel surveys the group to see which text students are most interested in exploring next.

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
Precepted by Dr. Isaac Schendel

The Dark is Rising Sequence: Silver on the Tree
 Confirmed

Meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays at 11:00 AM Eastern for eight 1-hour sessions on December 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 30
Susan Cooper’s classic fantasy series takes us into a world where the forces of the Light battle against those of the Dark, but these are also coming-of-age stories in which children are at the forefront of the conflict. Deeply rooted in the folklore of the British landscape, the narratives are often set in spaces encoded in ancient wisdom and traditions and employ, as Tolkien did in his legendarium, songs and verse that pass on those traditions.
    ‘Until the Lady comes,’ Merriman said. ‘And she will help you to the finding of the sword of the Pendragon, the crystal sword by which the final magic of the light shall be achieved, and the Dark put at last to flight. And there will be five to help you, for from the beginning it was known that six altogether, and six only, must accomplish this long matter. Six creatures more and less of the earth, aided by the six Signs.’

In this book, the fifth and final of the series, we return to Wales where Will Stanton, the Drew children, and the mysterious Bran must find the Lady who will enable them to complete their quest. All the Arthurian elements that have been evident in the previous four books now come together as the Six of the Light battle back the Dark to save the world. In this class, we will explore all the themes and ideas in the story and consider what it still has to say to us in the 21st century.
Precepted by Dr. Sara Brown

The Inklings: Lewis, Tolkien, Barfield, and Williams
 Spotlight  Confirmed

Meeting Mondays & Wednesdays at 2:00 PM Eastern for five 1-hour sessions on December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, and two 90-minute sessions December 17, 22.
What did the creators of Middle-earth, Narnia, a philosophy of consciousness, and spiritual shockers have in common? Answer: they were all part of a group called The Inklings who met in Oxford between the 1930s and 60s to discuss their ideas and work.

We will spend a week on each of the four main members of The Inklings, discussing samples of their work and the ways their imaginations and ideas overlapped. By the end of the course, we will understand how this group of writers influenced each other and helped create the genre of fantasy literature.
Precepted by Dr. Gabriel Schenk

Tolkien & Inklings Studies Tutorials [ST]
 Candidate

As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your Blackberry availability up to date!
Embark on a personalized journey through Tolkien's legendarium with our Tutorial in Tolkien Studies, where you'll explore the depths of Middle-earth alongside expert mentors who share your passion. Whether you're delving into Tolkien’s work for the first time or building on years of scholarship, our tutorials adapt to your goals—supporting everything from foundational reading to advanced academic projects.

Work one-on-one with a preceptor to analyze the linguistic foundations of Quenya, to develop a paper on the ethical dimensions of The Silmarillion, or to prepare a presentation for Mythmoot. Possible areas of focus include language and philology, narrative theory, theology, adaptation studies, or the broader mythic and historical influences that shaped Tolkien’s work.

Through personalized guidance, thoughtful feedback, and collaborative exploration, you'll learn to apply diverse literary lenses, engage meaningfully with existing scholarship, and develop compelling arguments—perhaps even toward publication or conference presentation. These tutorials build on Signum’s long-standing commitment to Tolkien scholarship and connect you with a vibrant, global community of fellow explorers in the world of Middle-earth.

Interested in expanding your focus to the wider circle of the Inklings? Our tutorials also welcome projects on C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and related authors. If you're examining themes like friendship, mythopoeia, theology, or imaginative fiction across the Inklings’ works, we’d love to support your journey.

Simply click the blue "vote to reserve your seat" button to set aside a token here: This confirms your interest in working with a tutor/mentor and secures your spot in this tutorial. After you vote, our team will follow up by email and help you get matched to a tutor at a time that works for you.