Who Should Apply?
Applicants should evidence strong Christian character and commitment, potential for effectiveness in Christian ministry, and the scholastic achievement, communication skills and intellectual ability needed for graduate studies.Our student body includes a blend of people fresh out of college, well into their careers, single and married persons, and transfer students. The student body includes people of diverse ages, geographical and cultural backgrounds, personal and family backgrounds, and denominational affiliations. This diversity adds to the richness of the CIU educational experience.
Prospective students are encouraged to discuss plans, goals and questions with our concerned and experienced admissions staff. Within the United States, call our toll-free number 1-800-777-2227. Outside the United States, please call (803) 754-4100. Fax us at (803) 786-4209 or e-mail us at yesgrad@ciu.edu .
Admissions Procedures
- Complete the online application . Or request a paper copy from the Graduate Admissions Office by calling 1-800-777-2227 ext. 3335, emailing yesgrad@ciu.edu or by writing the office at Columbia International University, P.O. Box 3122, Columbia, South Carolina 29230-3122.
- Provide
- Completed application form and the $35.00 application fee.
- Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution. Transcripts should show date of graduation, grade-point average, and all courses taken. Remember, all transcripts must be sent directly from the school to CIU. Personal copies are not official.
- References from pastor and two other persons on forms provided. Note: Completed reference forms should be mailed directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
- Documentation of any program-specific admissions requirements. Any test scores (GRE, Praxis I:PPST, PRAXIS II 0014) or other documentation required should be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office as soon as possible. Score reports must come directly from the testing agency.
- Confirm intention to enroll within 21 days from receipt of
acceptance letter by sending the $100 enrollment deposit and, if
planning to live on
campus, the $75 security deposit for students starting in the fall or
spring semesters. Graduate education students in the summer-only
program should submit a tuition deposit of $50 and, if desiring to live
on
campus, a housing deposit of $50 with their summer registration form.
These are not extra charges. The tuition deposit is a confirmation of
intention to enroll and is applied toward the student’s tuition at the
time of enrollment. The housing deposit reserves space in the dormitory
and is applied toward room and board costs at the time of enrollment.
For more details on refunds, see the financial information section of
this catalog. The enrollment deposit is waived for the spouse of a
full-time Graduate School student.
- A medical packet will be sent from the Health Services Office after acceptance. The completed immunization verification, physical exam by a physician and insurance information must be received by health services before the student may register for classes.
General Admissions Requirements
Race, ethnic origin, nationality, sex or disability are not factors in our selection process. Applicants who have been divorced will be considered for admissions on a case-by-case basis. Columbia International University reserves the right to deny or revoke the admission of any candidate whose behavior or lifestyle is inconsistent with biblical principles or with the ministry standards of the CIU community. The basic criteria for selection of students include the following:- Evidence of Christian conversion (normally at least one year prior to enrollment) and development in Christian character.
- Evidence of Christian character, submission to the will of God, and willingness to accept the administration’s authority and guidelines.
- Evidence of good physical health and the ability to carry out cross-cultural, church, market place, and/or ministry roles.
- Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program. Requirements for individual degree programs are listed in the Specific Requirements for each degree (see also Probationary Acceptance ).
- Evidence of effective use of English (international students should see the section International Applicants for information on specific requirements).
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. (Students holding a baccalaureate degree from a non-accreditation institution may in some cases still be eligible for admission. See Non-Accredited Degrees for more information.)
- Agreement with the Doctrinal Standard. An applicant will not be admitted who denies any teaching expressed in the Doctrinal Standard. (Exception: Students are not required to affirm the pre-millennial position expressed in Section 8 of the Doctrinal Standard.) Applicants who hold to doctrines that have historically caused division may be accepted into a degree program only on the basis of a signed commitment not to propagate that teaching in any way. Examples of these doctrines include the following: speaking in tongues as the sign of the Spirit’s baptism, repentance unnecessary for salvation, limitation of the universal offer of salvation and the extent of God’s love for all people, annihilation of the wicked dead, universal salvation, errant Scripture, or any challenge to the teaching expressed in the Doctrinal Standard, Sections 1-7.
Specific Requirements: MABT
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements for the CIU Graduate School, students applying to the Master of Arts in Bible Teaching program must satisfy the following:- Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program. Students must have a 2.7 GPA minimum in undergraduate study or scores above the 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination.
- Appropriate undergraduate background. It is generally agreed that
the best preparation for classroom teaching is a well-balanced
undergraduate program that includes courses in the humanities and
sciences. Specifically in Bible teaching situations, the teacher is
often called upon to integrate the Bible with literature, history and
the social sciences. An applicant whose academic background is lacking
in any of these areas will be required to remove the deficiency before
being assigned a student teaching placement. Therefore,
applicants to this program must demonstrate reasonable competency, as
evidenced by satisfactory college level study, in the following
areas:
- literature
- history
- Social Studies in the Bible Curriculum
- Foundational knowledge in Bible and theology. This requirement is
satisfied by one of the following:
- an undergraduate degree in Bible (either from a Bible college or Christian liberal arts college or university)
- a Bible certificate (see Prerequisite Policy )
- a total of thirty (30) hours of coursework in Bible and theology (see Prerequisite Policy )
Specific Requirements: MACNS
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements for the CIU Graduate School, students applying to the Master of Arts in Counseling program must satisfy the following:- Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program. Students must have a 3.0 GPA minimum in previous study in psychology or scores above the 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination in Psychology.
- Appropriate academic undergraduate background. Previous
background in
psychology is expected of students entering the MACNS program (see Prerequisite
Policy ). Students must have one of the following:
- an undergraduate major in psychology
- at least 15 hours of psychology coursework, including:
- General Psychology or Introduction to Psychology
- Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Personality Theory
- Research Design & Statistics or Statistics
- Testing. Students must receive satisfactory results on the MMPI-2.
- Interview. Students must interview with a counseling faculty member.
Specific Requirements: MAT
Early Childhood and Elementary Education
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements for the
CIU Graduate School, students applying to the Master of Arts in
Teaching (MAT) program must meet four conditions as part of being
accepted into the MAT program.- Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program. (This must be met prior to acceptance into the MAT program.) Students must have a 2.7 GPA minimum in undergraduate study or submit verbal test scores above the 50th percentile and analytical writing scores above 3.5 on the Graduate Record Examination.
- Demonstrate Basic Academic Proficiency. (This must be met prior
to acceptance into the MAT program.) Proficiency may be demonstrated by
one of the following:
- Submitting prescribed minimum scores on the PRAXIS I:
Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). (Minimum scores are 175 on the
Reading test, 173 on the Writing test, and 172 on the Math
test.)
OR
Submitting a PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) composite score of 522 which includes at least the prescribed minimum scores on the reading and one other subtest. To compute the composite score for the PPST the individual scores for all three tests are summed.
The PRAXIS I can be taken in a paper-pencil or computerized format. Information on test sites and registration is available directly from ETS (www.ets.org). CIU code is 5116.
- Submitting prescribed minimum scores on the PRAXIS I:
Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST). (Minimum scores are 175 on the
Reading test, 173 on the Writing test, and 172 on the Math
test.)
- Appropriate undergraduate background. (This must be met prior to
enrolling in MAT Blocks I and II. [See catalog for description.]) It is
generally agreed that
the best preparation for classroom teaching is a well-balanced
undergraduate program that includes courses in the humanities and
sciences. An applicant may provide evidence for this requirement in one
of the following methods:
- Demonstrate reasonable competency in content areas by
completing at least 36 semester hours that include courses from each of
the following areas:
- Language Arts (e.g., Literature, Composition, Speech)
- Science (e.g., Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth
Sciences)
- Social Studies (e.g., American History, World Civilizations,
Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)
- Mathematics (e.g., College Math, Algebra, Geometry, Analysis,
Calculus)
- Language Arts (e.g., Literature, Composition, Speech)
"Competency" is demonstrated by having received a grade of "C" or higher in these courses. CIU faculty and staff evaluate transcripts submitted as part of the admissions process. If an applicant's transcripts are deficient in any of these areas, the deficiency may be remedied by presenting transcripts of approved courses in the area of deficiency. Students not meeting all undergraduate course requirements may complete the courses through the CIU Bible College division or another accredited four-year institution.
OR
- Submitting a score of 150 or higher for the PRAXIS II Exam:
"Elementary Education: Content Knowledge Exam (0014)." This exam tests
content in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Information or test sites and registration is available online at www.ets.org (CIU code is
5116).
- Demonstrate reasonable competency in content areas by
completing at least 36 semester hours that include courses from each of
the following areas:
- Foundational knowledge in Bible and theology. It is recommended, but not required, that these courses be taken before admission to the Graduate School. This requirement must be met prior to a student being enrolled in MAT Block IV (Student Teaching).
A minimum of nine (9) semester
hours of specified foundational Bible/theology courses (see Prerequisite Policy).
Students may satisfy this requirement by one of the following:
Students may satisfy this requirement by one of the following:
- completing the nine (9) hours through specific courses taken at CIU, either on-campus or through Distance Learning
- have earned a Bible certificate (see Prerequisite Policy)
- have earned a total of thirty (30) semester hours of coursework in Bible and theology (see Prerequisite Policy)
Specific Requirements: MATEFL/ICS
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements for the CIU Graduate School, students applying to the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language/Intercultural Studies must satisfy the following:- Evidence of ability to successfully pursue an academic program. Students must have a 2.7 GPA minimum in undergraduate study or scores above the 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination. International Students whose first language is not English must score 600 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Foundational knowledge in Bible and theology. This requirement is
satisfied by one of the following:
- an undergraduate degree in Bible (either from a Bible college or Christian liberal arts college or university)
- a Bible certificate (see Prerequisite Policy )
- a total of thirty (30) hours of coursework in Bible and theology (see Prerequisite Policy )
Specific Requirements: MED
The Master of Education degree offers two different areas of concentration: Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration, and the admissions requirements vary slightly depending on the concentration desired. In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements for the CIU Graduate School, students applying to the Master of Education must satisfy the following requirements:- Evidence of ability to pursue successfully an academic program. Students must have a 2.7 GPA minimum in undergraduate or graduate study or submit verbal test scores above the 50th percentile and analytical writing scores above 3.5 on the Graduate Record Examination. International Students whose first language is not English who are applying to the English as a Second Language concentration must score 600 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Previous experience in education. Students applying to the MED
program can satisfy this requirement by verifying either two years
classroom experience, a
current teaching certificate, an undergraduate degree in education, or
a minimum of two years educational administration. A limited
number of students without one of these experiences, who otherwise meet
the
requirements and who display exceptional leadership qualities, may be
accepted on
the basis of specific coursework. While expertise in all disciplines is
not expected, students must demonstrate reasonable competency in
content areas by completing at least 36 semester hours that include
courses from each of the following areas:
- Language Arts (e.g., Literature, Composition, Speech)
- Science (e.g., Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth Sciences)
- Social Studies (e.g., American History, World Civilizations,
Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)
- Mathematics (e.g., Algebra, College Math, Geometry, Analysis,
Calculus)
- Language Arts (e.g., Literature, Composition, Speech)
- Foundational knowledge in Bible and theology. This requirement is
satisfied by one of the following:
- an undergraduate degree in Bible (either from a Bible college or Christian liberal arts college or university)
- a Bible certificate (see Prerequisite Policy )
- a total of thirty (30) semester hours of coursework in Bible and theology (see Prerequisite Policy )
- a minimum of nine (9) semester hours of specific Bible/theology courses (see Prerequisite Policy ). It is recommended, but not required, that these courses be taken before admission to the Graduate School, but they must be completed prior to application for graduation.
- Evidence of leadership skills. This information should be included in the supervisor’s reference completed as part of the application packet.
Prerequisite Policy
In general, the degree programs in the Graduate School are designed to
build on students' previous experiences and study. Therefore, most of
the programs have specific areas of study that should have been
addressed in the students' undergraduate coursework. For students
without this foundational knowledge, prerequisite courses are outlined
in the specific requirements for each program. In some cases, they
refer solely to content directly related to the professional field
("content prerequisites"), and, in other cases, prerequisite courses
are used to satisfy Bible and theology requirements ("Bible/theology
prerequisites"). All courses used to satisfy prerequisite requirements,
including those in a Bible certificate, must be from an accredited
institution. Content Prerequisites: Courses satisfying these requirements are available at many accredited colleges and universities nationwide. All are also available on CIU’s campus through the Bible College division.
Bible/Theology Prerequisites: While the Bible is considered foundational to all study at CIU, some Graduate School programs are designed to build on previous Biblical studies while others integrate the necessary Bible study into the program. Careful attention should be paid to the specific requirements for the desired degree program. Of course, advanced Biblical study is highly recommended and opportunity for further study is readily available at the Columbia Biblical Seminary .
- Bible certificate. This option is available for the MATEFL/ICS, MABT, MAT and MED degrees. The certificate must be from an accredited institution. Bible certificates on the undergraduate and graduate levels are available at many Bible colleges and seminaries and usually consist of approximately thirty hours of coursework in Bible and theology. The Bible College division of CIU offers an undergraduate Bible certificate program on campus or through the Distance Education Center (independent learning). Columbia Biblical Seminary at CIU also offers a Certificate in Biblical Studies program at the graduate level with courses available either on campus or through the Distance Education Center.
- Thirty (30) hours of coursework in Bible and theology. This option is available for the MATEFL/ICS, MABT, MAT and MED degrees. The coursework must be from an accredited institution.
- Nine (9) semester hours of specific Bible/theology courses (three
hours from each category listed below). This option is available for
the MAT and MED degrees only. Courses may be at either the
undergraduate or the graduate level. Courses numbered 1000-4000 are
undergraduate-level courses and are offered on campus through the CIU Bible College division. Courses
numbered at the 5000 level are graduate-level courses and are offered
on campus through the Columbia
Biblical Seminary. Courses are available as IDL (independent
learning) courses through the Distance Education
Center. Applicants must have at least three hours of coursework
from each section:
- Bible Survey
-
- BIB 1110 Old Testament Survey (5) on-campus only
- BIB 1112 Old Testament Survey: Part 1 (2) IDL only
- BIB 1113 Old Testament Survey: Part 2 (3) IDL only
- BIB 1120 New Testament Survey (3)
- BIB 5112 Genesis-Song of Solomon (3)
- BIB 5113 Prophets (3)
- BIB 5132 Gospels/Life of Christ (3)
- BIB 5133 Acts-Revelation (3)
- Biblical Hermeneutics/Bible Interpretation
- BIB 3420 Principles of Bible Interpretation (3)
- BIB 5410 Basic Biblical Hermeneutics (3)
- Theology Course/Book Study
- THE 2110 Survey of Bible Doctrine (3) IDL only
- THE 5510 Doctrine: Survey (3)
- Various: Book study courses generally require a hermeneutics course as a prerequisite and are generally available only on campus during the regular fall or spring semesters. Contact the Graduate School Office at yesciu@ciu.edu for more detailed information on specific courses and times.
International Applicants
Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam and must score a 550 on the paper-based examination or 213 on the computer-based examination before being considered for acceptance into the Graduate School of Columbia International University. International students applying for the MATEFL/ICS or MED C&I programs must have a score of 600 on the paper-based examination or 250 on the computer-based examination. This includes internationals transferring to Columbia from another graduate school in the United States. The TOEFL Exam is available through American consular offices. CIU’s code number is 5116.International applicants must send official transcripts (or certified true copies) of all academic work beyond the secondary school level. A syllabus, course sheet, university catalog or statement should accompany records of collegiate level work by the applicant of the content of each subject covered in each examination taken. Records not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation into English. International students from non-accredited institutions outside the US will also need to provide an evaluation of their degree by the World Education Services (WES). More information on this process is available online at http://www.wes.org/.
Acceptance for study does not imply the availability of scholarship or other financial assistance.
Non-Degree Students
Although students are normally accepted for study on condition that they intend to complete requirements for a degree program, other persons not applying for a specific degree program may be accepted on a conditional basis. Applicants must hold at least a baccalaureate degree and be committed to lifestyle standards that are consistent with evangelical Christians and the general ethos of CIU. Information on eligibility, limitations and application procedure is available in the Admissions Office. A maximum of 12 graduate hours may be taken as a non-degree student.Non-Accredited Degrees
The faculty and administration of CIU recognize that there are higher education institutions, both in the United States and around the world, which have chosen to offer quality instruction and training without the benefit of accreditation by an organization approved by the United States Department of Education. In general, students graduating with a bachelor’s degree from such institutions are not eligible for admission to the programs of the Graduate School. However, in a limited number of cases, it may be determined that the academic rigor required in the bachelor’s program was sufficient to merit considering the applicant for admission.Applicants in this category must satisfy the general admissions requirements for the CIU Graduate School and the specific requirements for the program to which they are applying. As evidence of ability to pursue successfully an academic program, applicants must have both the minimum GPA in undergraduate study required by the program to which they are applying and scores above the 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination required by that program. Applicants must also provide the following documents from the institution(s) where they completed their earlier study:
- an institutional catalog or other document that includes the institution’s history; information on faculty credentials; the institution’s relationship to state, regional, national or international educational agencies; the grading system; and course descriptions.
- a list of accredited institutions that have accepted students from the institution for graduate work.
- the syllabi from at least four classes appropriate to program preparation as selected by the applicant.
All students admitted to a Graduate School program based on a degree from a non-accredited institution are admitted with probationary acceptance. Therefore, after one regular semester of study, the work of the students who were admitted on probation is evaluated to determine whether the probationary status should be removed, whether the probationary status should be extended for an additional semester, or whether enrollment should be terminated. Generally, probation status is removed for students who achieve the requisite GPA (3.0 for MACNS, 2.7 for all other programs).
Probationary Acceptance
A limited number of applicants may be accepted on a probationary basis if they have received an accredited baccalaureate degree but do not meet the academic requirements for the desired degree program. Students who have not met the minimum GPA/GRE requirements for the program may be granted probationary acceptance on a case by case basis. Students applying to the MAT program must have passed all three sections of the Praxis I exam to be considered for probationary acceptance. After one regular semester of study, the work of students who were admitted on probation is evaluated to determine whether the probationary status should be removed or whether enrollment should be terminated. Generally, probation status is removed for students who achieve the requisite GPA (3.0 for MACNS, 2.7 for all other programs).Transfer Credit
A majority of credits for a degree must be completed at CIU; however, applicants who have completed graduate-level work at another accredited institution may receive transfer credit in courses for which they received a grade of “C” or better. Prior to admission, an initial evaluation of the appropriateness of possible transfer courses is determined by the Program Director, in consultation with the appropriate dean and course instructors if necessary, based on the currency of the course content and the relevancy of the course to the program; a final evaluation of transfer credits may not be completed until the end of the student’s first semester of study at CIU. Applicants may be asked to send a catalog or prospectus from the other institutions attended. After admission to a program, requests for transfer credit must be approved by the student's advisor and appropriate dean by Academic Petition.Instances of Fraud
Anyone found to have been admitted to the Graduate School on the basis of false information may be immediately dismissed and will forfeit all financial payments made and academic credits accumulated during all periods of enrollment following that admission.Veterans
Columbia International University is approved by the State Approval Agency, South Carolina Department of Education, State of South Carolina, for training veterans who are eligible for benefits under the Veterans Administration Programs. While the faculty serve as academic advisors, approval for the student's program must be cleared by the Registrar's office.Return After Absence
Students who have not been enrolled in the Graduate School for one or more semesters must apply for re-admission. An abbreviated application form is available from the Admission's Office. Students who are re-admitted after an absence of two or more semesters will be responsible to meet the academic requirements in effect at the time of their return, both for entrance into the program as well as within the program.This time frame does not apply to students enrolled in the summer-only MEd program. Students in this program who have not been enrolled for one or more summer semesters must apply for re-admission as outlined above.
