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199 │COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2017-2018 │ACADEMIC POLICY
Registration
New students receive instructions on the registration process and guidance concerning a course of study from a faculty
advisor prior to registering. For returning students, registration materials are available online during the posted pre-
registration period and at the beginning of each term. All financial obligations of the preceding semester must be met before
the student may register for another term.
Residence Requirements
Undergraduate-level: Associate degree students, regardless of previous undergraduate credits earned, are required to
complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of coursework at CIU. Bachelor degree students, regardless of previous
undergraduate credits earned, are required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework through CIU. While
no statutes of limitations for undergraduate degree completion exists, CIU requires that the final 15 semester hours of
coursework must be CIU credits unless defined otherwise in a cooperative program.
Graduate-level: A majority of credits toward a graduate degree must be earned at either CIU or a CIU site. SSM programs*
permit a maximum of 2/3 of the degree to be earned through online courses. (This limit also applies when two degrees are
earned concurrently.)
* M.A. (Theological Studies), Bible and Theology Certificate, and the Biblical Ministry Certificate are exempt from this
restriction.
Standardized Testing
Undergraduate-level: All standardized testing must be completed within one calendar year of a student’s matriculation to
CIU. CLEP and DANTES credit must be earned prior to the student’s graduating semester. For additional information
regarding Advanced Placement Exams (AP Exams), Foreign Language Proficiency Testing Program, College Level
Examination Program (CLEP), and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), see the “Standardized Test Acceptance
and Test Score Criteria” available from the Office of the University Registrar.
Graduate-level:
CoE, CICS, SSM Clinical Counseling: Standardized test credit can be utilized to satisfy prerequisite requirements for
graduate-level programs if documented on the student’s undergraduate transcript. Scores of 3-5 on AP courses, a score
of 50 on the CLEP or 55 on the DANTES examinations can be credited to satisfy M.A. in Counseling, M.A. in Teaching,
and Master of Education undergraduate prerequisites. Standardized test credit is not accepted for SSM graduate-level
programs.
Student Assessment for Institutional Improvement
In order to assess and improve our academic programs, periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual
growth must be obtained. Students may be required to participate in one or more evaluative procedures, including
examinations in general academic development and/or a major field of study. Data obtained through evaluative
measurements are collected and used solely to improve the quality of the educational experience of future students.
Suspension (See “Probation” in the Student Life Section of this Catalog)
Transcripts
Official transcripts are maintained by the Office of the University Registrar. Students must provide written authorization for
the release of transcripts, even to themselves. Transcript requests and payment are made online at
Unofficial transcripts can be printed by current students at CIU Online with no
associated cost.
Transfer Credit
Applicants who have completed work in an institution that is accredited regionally or nationally (CHEA recognized) may
receive transfer credit for courses in which they received a grade of “C” (2.0) or above. Transfer credit may apply to a
student’s program at CIU in one of the following ways:
 Courses that are parallel to required courses in the curriculum of the student’s program may be received as
meeting the requirement.
 Courses that do not parallel any required course may be received as elective credit up to the limit of electives
for the particular program in which the student enrolls.
To obtain an estimate of transfer credit, applicants must submit transcripts for postsecondary study, an application for
admission, and a request for a transcript assessment. The Office of the University Registrar will provide an initial assessment
of transfer credit, but a final assignment will be applied at matriculation. After matriculation, requests for transfer credit must
be approved by academic petition by the student’s advisor and dean.