Undergraduate Academic Catalog 2012-2013

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2012-2013 Undergraduate Programs
The library will ship books and other research
materials anywhere in the world to students taking
distance education courses and the online data-
bases make full-text scholarly articles and other
resources just a click away. CIU’s distance educa-
tion courses have won more than a dozen awards
from ACCESS, the Christian Distance Education
Association. For a list of courses currently available
in the online format, visit
Online courses are offered during regular semes-
ters and may be taken as part of a semester
courseload or separately. Students taking online
courses receive their course materials, review
instructor commentary and lectures, engage in
topical discussions, and exchange projects and
assignments through CIU’s online learning plat-
form at . Some course materi-
als are also available on CD for offline
convenience.
Online courses taken as part of a semester load
will count toward residency requirements and they
may qualify for financial aid. In order to qualify for
residency and financial aid, all assignments must
be completed by the last day of the semester.
There is no tuition discount for online courses
taken on the semester system.
No more than 15 semester hours of non-resident
distance education courses from CIU or any other
accredited institution may be applied toward an
associate degree at the college. No more than 30
semester hours of non-resident distance educa-
tion courses from CIU or any other accredited
institution may be applied toward a bachelor’s
degree at CIU. For more information about
distance education at CIU, visit
or call (800) 777-2227,
ext. 5033.
Distance education courses are specifically
designed to serve distance-learning students.
Juniors and seniors studying on campus with at
least a 3.00 GPA may register for distance educa-
tion courses to alleviate schedule conflicts and/or
to accelerate progress toward graduation. Any
resident student who is not classified as a junior
or senior may petition for distance education
courses; however, significant evidence of one’s
ability to function as a self-starter and significant
evidence of personal discipline will be required in
addition to reasons why this delivery system is
needed.
Summer Courses
Core and elective courses are offered every year
in intensive formats during the months of May
and June (Summer Studies Program) at the
undergraduate level. The abbreviated format of
these sessions provides unique opportunities for
students to accelerate their programs and for
people involved in ministry, missions and other
vocations to fit education into their schedules. For
dates, see the calendar at the end of the catalog.
Information is available from the undergraduate
Columbia International University Admissions
Department Office (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024 or
from the Columbia International University
Registrar’s Office (803) 754-4100, ext. 5033.
Graduate and Seminary programs also offer
selected courses during the summer. For more
information, please contact the Admissions Office
at ext. 5335.
CIU grants credit through these organizations:
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Language (ACTFL)
• College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)
For incoming students, refer to the AP section
under admissions. A list of accepted AP and
CLEP exams and scores is at the end of this cata-
log. All examination scores and documentation
must be submitted directly to the Office of the
University Registrar to determine credit.
Competency Examinations
A student, when authorized by (1) the student’s
advisor, (2) the instructor of record and (3) the
dean, may challenge the knowledge and/or skills
of designated courses within the curriculum similar
to the structure established for CLEP. If the stu-
dent passes the instructor’s comprehensive “com-
petency” exam, with a minimum of a 2.00
(“C”) grade or higher, the student may either (1)
accept the credit for the course based on estab-
lished proficiency or (2) have the course waived so
that a more advanced course or an FDS may be
substituted within the program. For a list of