Seminary & School of Ministry (SSM)
In addition to satisfying the general admissions requirements listed above, students applying to a Seminary & School of
Ministry program must demonstrate the following:
a) Ability to be successful in a graduate academic program. Generally this requirement is satisfied by completing
undergraduate studies with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (see the “Probationary Acceptance” section for exceptions). A 3.0
GPA in M.Div. study is required to enter the Doctor of Ministry program.
b) Adequate undergraduate academic preparation. The best preparation for CIU’s SSM is a well-balanced
undergraduate program that includes courses in the humanities and sciences. Undergraduate studies should include:
English (grammar and composition), six semester hours; philosophy, three semester hours; social sciences (especially
psychology or sociology), three semester hours; natural sciences, three semester hours; history, six semester hours;
speech, three semester hours.
An applicant whose academic background does not include one or more of these areas may be requested to remove the
deficiency prior to admission. In addition to the requirements listed above, the Program 2 track of study has other specific
entrance requirements that must be met (see the Seminary & School of Ministry section of this catalog).
H
O W T O
A
P P L Y
1.
Complete the online application at
www.ciu.edu/applynow
. Applicants to an online only degree must complete a different
application:
http://onlinestudies.ciu.edu
.
2.
Submit the application fee ($45.00).
3.
Provide reference form(s) to references as directed on the application and ensure they are submitted to the Admissions
office. Applicants to online programs only need to submit one Spiritual Authority reference.
4.
Contact all previously attended academic institutions and have official transcripts from each institution sent to the
Admissions office at CIU.
5.
Have standardized test scores sent to the Admissions office. See “Transcripts and Standardized Tests” below for more
information.
Once your application is complete and all materials have been received, CIU can then make a decision about a student’s
admission. Prospective students are generally notified of admission decisions within two to four weeks of receiving all
application materials. College of Counseling students are generally notified two to four weeks after their group interview.
Accepted students will be asked to confirm their intention to enroll by sending a non-refundable $100 enrollment deposit and,
if planning to live in the residence halls, an additional $100 housing deposit. The enrollment deposit will be applied toward the
student’s first semester’s tuition. The housing deposit reserves space in the residence hall and will be applied toward room
and board costs for the student’s first semester.
Exceptions:
Doctor of Ministry students: no enrollment or housing deposit required
Hybrid students: no housing deposit required
Online only students: no housing deposit required
Spouse of a full-time graduate program student: no enrollment deposit required
T
R A N S C R I P T S A N D
S
T A N D A R D I Z E D
T
E S T S
Undergraduate Applicants
Undergraduate applicants should have official high school and/or college transcripts or General Education Development
(G.E.D.) scores sent to Columbia International University. High school transcripts should show, as applicable, class rank, date
of graduation, grade point average (GPA), and all courses taken. Transcripts must be sent from each school attended beyond
high school. Request College Boards (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or the American College Testing Program (ACT) test results to
be sent to Columbia International University. CIU’s SAT school code is 5116 and the ACT school code is 3848. Minimum test
and GPA standards are provided below:
Regular Admission
Provisional Admission
Standardized Test Score
ACT: 18 minimum
SAT 1: 860 minimum
SAT 2: 1290 minimum
ACT: 17 minimum
SAT 1: 810 minimum
SAT 2: 1210 minimum
10│ Columbia International University
Admissions