Signature Experience
More making, inventing, researching, experiencing.
It’s time to reimagine higher education and refocus on building the skills and understanding you’ll need to take on whatever challenges lie ahead. The Gustavus Signature Experience (SigX) is that change.
- Guaranteed experiential learning chosen by you
- The edge you’ll need for your resume
- Personalized guidance & mentorship
- Up to $3,000 in additional aid for your SigX
100% of students will do research, intern, study away, or complete a community-engaged course– and know how to talk about it.
Four experiential pathways to choose from
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Internships On or off campus, internships give you hands-on experiences and a head start in your career.
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Research Student/Faculty research and creative inquiry takes place in laboratories, studios, theatres, and the community.
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Community-Engaged Courses Individualized course-based experiences are developed with faculty to dive deper into your specific interests.
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Study Away Explore full semester or summer term opportunities across the country and around the world.
Connecting Gustavus to your career
With SigX, we’re connecting classroom learning with hands-on, real-world experiences – giving you the time, and perspective, to transform your future.
Before Prepare for SigX with a group of other Gusties, so you have the professional skills employers want. During Learn how to tell your SigX story, so you stand out to employers. (You might think this is easy, but employers tell us that few people do it well; our students will know how.) After Show off your digital credential, so you can build your online presence.Get more with The Gustavus Advantage
Inspired by student feedback, The Gustavus Advantage introduces academic program changes – like SigX – that give you more flexibility and choice.
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Fewer required courses
You’ll have the flexibility to explore your academic interests with fewer general education requirements.
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Easier to double major
The process to declare a major is simple and you’ll have space in your schedule to fit in additional majors or minors.
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Protected time for your activities
Over 27% of Gusties are involved in varsity athletics and 40% in the performing arts, so we protect that time with no classes during the week from 3:30-5:30 p.m., making it easier to pursue your passions.
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Personalized mentoring
Regular academic and career planning meetings and events will help guide your success, including a college-wide Advising Day each semester.
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Built in breaks
The academic calendar includes a week-long fall break and spring break and three weeks between semesters, as a time for work, relaxation, or college-sponsored trips.
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May Term
We’ve created an optional May Term. Gusties can use May to study away or focus on one course or to get their summer started sooner with an internship or job.