Undergraduate Academic Catalog 2012-2013

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2012-2013 Undergraduate Programs
Defining Academic Credit
An academic unit of credit within undergraduate
studies at Columbia International University is
based on the following criteria: (1) a defined aca-
demic plan for study exists; (2) a unit (called a
semester hour) reflects the equivalent of one aca-
demic hour of study (50 minutes) per week for at
least 15 weeks (equivalent of 45 clock hours of
instruction) plus learning activities outside the
classroom; (3) a qualified and approved instructor
supervises student learning activities; (4) a defined
set of objectives, activities and assessment pro-
cedures have been established; (5) any study is
formally registered in advance of the study with a
specific academic prefix and course number; and
(6) the faculty member of record submits grades
to the Office of the University Registrar upon the
completion of the study. Most courses will be
designed in three unit structures.
Enrollment Information
Registration
Entering students register for courses via CIU’s
Online Registration module. Prior to registering,
students receive instructions on the registration
process and guidance concerning a course of
study from their faculty advisor.
For returning students, registration materials are
available online approximately six weeks prior to
the end of the current term for the semester regis-
tered. Students can register online at
All financial obligations
from the preceding semester must be met before
the student may register for another term.
Students using college housing should register for
a minimum of 12 hours each semester. The dean
of Student Life may make exceptions.
A minimum of 12 semester credit hours consti-
tutes a full academic load. The normal load for a
full-time student is approximately 16 semester
hours. (A student needs to average 16 semester
hours to graduate within eight semesters.) The
full-time tuition fee for a semester pays for 12 to
19 hours. Students who take more than 19 hours
must pay additional tuition.
To register for more than 20 semester hours, an
entering student must score above the 85th per-
centile on the SAT verbal test. All other students
should have a 2.75 or better grade point average
for the previous semester. Any student wishing to
take 20 or more semester hours must file a peti-
tion with the Academic Dean’s Office. Students
are not permitted to register for credit courses
after the drop/add deadline without specific per-
mission from the academic dean.
Ministry Skills Development (MSD)
Normally all students, during their first and second
years, are required to register for Christian Service
Learning. To this end, the focus of the first two
years of a student’s bachelor degree program
emphasizes biblical studies, general education
courses and Christian Service Learning (CSL)
opportunities. The goal in these two years of CSL
is to encourage students to build service-oriented
relationships within the local church.
Associate and Bachelor degrees require two MSD
courses, MSD 1120 Evangelism and Discipleship
and MSD 2230 Communicating God’s Word. All
required MSD courses and field experiences are
graded following normal academic structures with
a balanced emphasis on knowledge, dispositions
and competencies. MSD credits are calculated
into a student’s grade point average. Furthermore,
a student must be able to demonstrate proficien-
cy in the knowledge, dispositions and competen-
cies to gain a waiver for specific requirements.
Concerning the Christian Service Learning defined
above, at least eighty (80) clock hours of Christian
Service is required over the first two years.
Practical Skill Development
Normally, all students during their third and fourth
year are required to complete at least three (3)
units of practical skill development. Each program
will determine the requirements within the profes-
sional programs. At least fifty (50) clock hours of
practical skill development are required for each
unit of credit. Some programs may require stu-
dents to complete multiple credit practicum and
internship experiences built upon prerequisite
character, knowledge and skill requirements as
Academic Life