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Committee will review the candidate’s performance in previous educational, work, or military training and determine if
provisional admission may be appropriate.
Graduate-level Policies
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 that have chosen to offer quality instruction and training without the benefit of accreditation by an
organization approved by the United States Department of Education. Generally students graduating with a bachelor’s degree
from such institutions are not eligible for admission to graduate programs at CIU. 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 admission. Applicants in this
category must satisfy the general admissions requirements 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 the minimum GPA in
undergraduate study required by the program to which they are applying. 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 inter-national 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 program based on a degree from a non-accredited institution are admitted with provisional
acceptance. Therefore, after one regular semester (minimum of nine hours), the student’s work is evaluated to
determine whether the provisional status should be removed, extended for an additional semester, or withdrawn
from the program. Generally probationary status is removed for students who achieve the requisite GPA.
Although Columbia International University Seminary & School of Ministry does not accept transfer credit from unaccredited
institutions without special approval, a student may request advanced standing through a proficiency examination for courses
completed at an unaccredited institution. For more information regarding advanced standing, see Competency/Proficiency
Examinations in the Academic Policy section of this catalog.
OLUMBIA NTERNATIONAL NIVERSITY
DMISSIONS