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2012-2013 Undergraduate Programs
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(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 his-
torically caused division at Columbia
International University may be accepted into a
degree program but are encouraged to maintain
evangelical unity. Students who create a divisive
stance are subject to dismissal.
• A student will not be accepted as a candidate
for a degree who denies any of the doctrines as
stated in the Doctrinal Standard, who affirms
error in Scripture or who believes in the ultimate
salvation of all men. (Exception: Candidates
need not affirm the premillenial position
expressed in Section 8 of the Doctrinal
Standard.)
Columbia International University reserves the
right to deny or revoke the admission of any can-
didate whose behavior or lifestyle is inconsistent
with biblical principles or with the community
standards of CIU.
Policy Regarding Academic Requirements
for Admission
Admission to CIU is more than simply one’s ability
to achieve high scores on standardized tests.
While academic excellence is demanded, the
institution understands that our primary mission is
adequate preparation of men and women for vari-
ous types of ministry. Thus, calling provides moti-
vation for training that may be outside the
traditional scope of academic expectations. Over
the years, CIU has learned that traditional college
testing standards are not the best measure of
ministry success of alumni even though standard-
ized tests do provide some degree of predictabili-
ty for academic success in college. Thus, we use
two admission options attempting to provide dif-
fering levels of academic support if one meets
academic admissions criteria. The following two
types of admission are listed with guidance prac-
tices related to each.
Types of Admission Status:
1. Regular Admission:
The student has no aca-
demic restrictions (though entrance exams may
demonstrate developmental needs in English or
Mathematics or grades that demonstrate less
than consistent high marks). An advisor is free to
guide the student based on normal academic
advising in the first semester.
2. Provisional Admission:
Entering students
who evidence deficiency in academic qualifica-
tions may be admitted on a provisional basis.
Normally, such students are restricted to a maxi-
mum of 15 semester hours of coursework and
should achieve a grade point average of at least
2.0 by the end of their second semester in resi-
dence at CIU to continue in school. Students
accepted on academic provision are also normally
required to take SOC 0100, College Study Skills.
Provisionally admitted students may also be
required to take ENG 1000, Basic Writing Skills,
depending on their test scores on the COMPASS
writing test administered during New Student
Orientation and/or their SAT or ACT scores in
English.
The admissions committee does not make admis-
sion decisions solely on academic data.
Academic criteria provide one component in the
admission evaluation. A student’s walk with God,
character references, maturity and experiences in
life and ministry opportunities and a personal
essay provide other important aspects that are all
considered in admission selection.
As a general rule, no more than five percent (5%)
of any admissions class will be accepted at the
provisional level collectively in the undergraduate
programs. The table on the next page gives
requirements for both types of acceptance. Any
applicant who cannot meet the academic require-
ments specified below can petition the Academic
Dean’s Office for consideration. Such a petition
would require both a written explanation why the
student should be admitted and an on-campus
interview with academic and admissions person-
nel. Such a petition should include substantive
evidence that was omitted and/or not considered
in the normal application process.