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Classification of Students
The undergraduate student body is divided for class organization on the basis of academic classification:
Freshman: a high school graduate or one who presents satisfactory scores on equivalency examinations
Sophomore: a student who has completed 30 to 62 semester hours
Junior: a student who has completed 63 to 94 semester hours
Senior: a student who has completed at least 95 semester hours
Commencement Participation
All requirements for graduation must be met before the student may participate in the commencement exercises (possible
exceptions listed below). Attendance at commencement is expected of all resident students who have applied for a degree to
be conferred at the end of the Spring or Fall term. Since commencement is held only twice per year, August graduating
students may appeal to participate in May commencement if a student has no more than nine credits outstanding at the time of
a commencement ceremony and can demonstrate how those credits can be completed before the next awarding of degrees.
Under no circumstances may a doctoral student participate in a commencement ceremony prior to completing all degree
requirements.
See “Graduation” for additional information.
Competency/Proficiency Examinations
Competency examinations at the undergraduate level correspond to proficiency examinations at the graduate level.
Undergraduate-level:
A student, when authorized by the student’s advisor, the instructor of record, and the dean, may prove
competency in the knowledge and/or skills of designated courses within the curriculum, similar to the structure established
for CLEP or DSST. If the student passes the instructor’s comprehensive “competency” exam with a minimum of a 2.0 (“C”)
grade or above, the student may either accept the credit for the course based on established proficiency or have the course
waived so that a more advanced course or a Faculty Directed Study may be substituted within the program. For a list of
qualified courses students should contact their academic dean’s office. Students will pay a testing fee whether or not they are
granted credit. All examination scores and documentation must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar before
credit can be granted. No credit can be earned through a competency examination if the student has started a designated
course and/or finished and failed said course at CIU. No more than 12 semester hours of Competency Exam credit can be used
in an undergraduate degree program (see “Standardized Testing” for information regarding CLEP and DANTES exams).
Gr duate-level:
COC, COE, and CICS: Competency/proficiency exams are not accepted.
SSM: Although the SSM does not accept transfer credit from unaccredited institutions without special approval, a student may
request advanced standing with credit through a proficiency examination for courses completed at an unaccredited
institution. Advanced standing may be awarded either with or without credit. Advanced standing without credit entitles the
student to replace a curricular requirement in a field previously studied at an unaccredited school with an advanced course at
CIU’s SSM in the same field. Advanced standing with credit satisfies the graduation requirement for which advanced standing
is awarded and is awarded only on the basis of a written or oral examination administered at CIU’s SSM. Advanced standing
with credit may not be applied toward graduation requirements in the Program 2 M.A. (Theological Studies) degree.
Advanced Standing is available under the following conditions:
•
With the exception of internship courses, advanced standing with credit may be granted for any course offered at
CIU’s SSM appropriate to the student’s degree program, including free electives.
•
Application for advanced standing must be made within one year of matriculation into CIU’s SSM.
•
No more than ¼ of the requirements of any degree program may be credited through advanced standing.
•
An approved Proficiency Exam Authorization form must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar with
evidence that the student has paid the non-refundable examination fee.
•
Competency must be demonstrated by scoring at least 77 percent on a one-time-only written and/or oral assessment
to be administered by the professor of record of the given course, with final approval granted by the dean.
•
Students may not receive advanced standing credit for courses they have audited at CIU’s SSM.
Diplomas
Graduates are issued a diploma bearing the corporate name, Columbia International University. Diplomas, certificates, and
final transcripts will not be issued if the student has any remaining financial obligations to CIU. Graduates, upon request, may
receive a Columbia International University replacement diploma, dated with the original graduation date and containing a
marginal subscript indicating “Replacement Diploma: [date of issue].” (A diploma with the new school name is also available
for pre-1994 graduates.) There is a fee for a replacement diploma.
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Academic Policy