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Columbia Southern University | University Catalog 7
ADMISSIONS
Columbia Southern University (CSU) has an open admission policy. Applications and enrollments are accepted throughout the calendar year.
Admission Requirements Undergraduate Programs Unconditional admission requires applicants to self-certify on the CSU application for admission and provide evidence of graduation from an approved high school program, or the equivalent, deemed acceptable to CSU. Acceptable evidence includes a copy of an official high school transcript indicating the date of high school graduation, a GED certificate indicating state required passing scores or score sheet indicating state required passing scores, a DD-214 indicating successful completion of high school or a post-secondary transcript indicating the date of graduation from an approved high school program. To meet Federal Student Aid (FSA) eligibility requirements at CSU, applicants must be admitted unconditionally.
Conditional admission allows applicants who have self-certified graduation from an approved high school program, or the equivalent, on the CSU application for admission to enroll in a program for twelve (12) semester hours pending the receipt of evidence of high school completion as required for unconditional admission.
• Homeschooled students must demonstrate successful completion of homeschooling at the secondary level as defined by state law. A detailed guide for meeting the CSU admission requirements is available in the CSU Homeschooled Admission Guidelines located at http://www. columbiasouthern.edu/admissions/homeschool.
• International students must self-certify as to successful completion of the equivalent of Grade 12 in a U.S. secondary school and provide an appropriately authenticated official transcript issued by a governmental authority that attests to the successful completion of a program considered to be equivalent to an accredited high school diploma or GED certificate. A detailed guide for meeting the CSU admission requirements is available in the CSU International Admission Guidelines located at http:// www.columbiasouthern.edu/admissions/international.
Verification and Exceptional Cases All documents submitted for review to determine admission status are subject to verification. If an applicant is selected by CSU to verify successful high school completion, the applicant must provide evidence of high school graduation deemed acceptable by CSU. Applicants may use the CSU Transcript Request Service and CSU will request the transcript on behalf of the student. Verification may also be required if the U.S. Department of Education selects a student for verification and requests validation of high school graduation.
In the event that an applicant is not able to obtain an official high school transcript due to natural disaster, the Registrar will review an admission petition to determine admission eligibility. In these cases, the student may be admitted conditionally as a non-degree seeking student and must successfully complete twelve (12) semester hours approved by the academic advisor before officially admitted into a degree program. Please submit supporting documentation to [email protected].
Master’s Programs Applicants are required to submit an official transcript issued by a post-secondary institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education indicating a conferred bachelor’s degree. International students must provide an appropriately authenticated official transcript issued by a governmental authority that attests to the successful completion of a program considered to be equivalent to an accredited bachelor’s degree. A detailed guide for meeting the CSU admission requirements is available in the CSU International Admission Guidelines.
Doctoral Program Applicants are required to:
• Submit an official transcript issued by a post-secondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education indicating a conferred bachelor’s and master’s degree
• Have a master of business administration degree, or a business-related master’s degree with two years of business- related professional experience post-baccalaureate
• Submit a professional business resume
• International students must provide, in addition to a resume, appropriately authenticated official transcripts issued by a governmental authority that attests to the successful completion of a program considered to be
Admissions
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ADMISSIONS
equivalent to an accredited bachelor’s degree and master of business degree, or a business-related master’s degree with two years of business-related professional experience post-baccalaureate. A detailed guide for meeting the CSU admission requirements is available in the CSU International Admission Guidelines located at http://www. columbiasouthern.edu/admissions/international.
Other General Requirements Per-Course Enrollment Programs/System Conditional Admission These programs are designed for adult students with commitments, obligations and schedules that require additional flexibility beyond that offered in standard cohort online programs with weekly deadlines. Because of the additional flexibility, these programs are not eligible for FSA and students must be disciplined and committed to a rigorous study schedule to ensure successful course completion with the ten weeks allotted. All students enrolling in these programs for the first time at CSU are admitted conditionally and in a provisional academic status for twelve (12) semester hours to demonstrate successful academic progress. Upon continuation in the program beyond 12 semester hours, the student may be admitted unconditionally into the declared academic degree program if all other requirements are met.
Copies/Official Documents CSU must receive official transcripts from post-secondary institutions previously attended in which transfer credit is considered. Students may send copies of transcripts or documents during the initial admission period and enroll as a student on conditional status (FSA ineligible). The student must provide official transcripts prior to completing twelve (12) undergraduate or seven (7) graduate credit hours. Official transfer credit will not be awarded until official transcripts are received by the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts from universities or programs not accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency will not satisfy transfer credit criteria.
All documents provided to CSU for admission become the sole property of CSU and will not be returned at any time, nor is CSU permitted to forward them to a third party.
Denial/Conditional Admission Decision and Appeal CSU reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who do not meet admission requirements. Applicants may be admitted conditionally and in a probationary status in order to demonstrate their ability to successfully complete college level course work. Factors considered in admission decisions may include, but are not limited to, past academic performance or excessive course withdrawals. Applicants who wish to appeal the admission decision have the right to do so by providing supporting documentation which demonstrates extenuating circumstances during the period of substandard performance to [email protected].
Technical Requirements Curriculum at CSU is delivered completely online using the Blackboard learning management system. CSU students must
have access to the Internet and an appropriate individual (non- shared) e-mail account in order to complete a program of study at CSU. If personal Internet service is unavailable, students are encouraged to contact local libraries, schools or a public business to locate access to the Internet. The course syllabus, study guide, and examinations are all provided within the online course.
Computer Requirements • Operating System: Windows XP or later; Mac OSX10.6
or later (for a list of OS/browser compatibility, visit help. blackboard.com)
• Internet Connection: Minimum Download Speeds of 128Kbs, Minimum Upload Speed of 128Kbps
• Software: Software: Students must have software capable of creating, editing, and saving Microsoft Office document files (.doc, .docx), Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files (.xls, .xlsx), and Microsoft PowerPoint presentation files (.ppt, .pptx).
• Students may access a 60-day trial version and/or purchase the required Microsoft software at http://technet.microsoft. com/en-us/evalcenter/jj192782.aspx. NOTE: The Microsoft trial version can only be downloaded one time.
• Plug-ins: Java, Acrobat Reader, Quick Time, Flash Player
• Internet Browser: A list of certified and compatible browsers can be found at the following site: help.blackboard.com
Admission Status Students may enroll at CSU under one of the following:
• Temporary: Application submitted but has not been approved and evaluated for transfer credit.
• Conditional:
1. Twelve semester-hours have not yet been successfully completed.
2. All official documents have not yet been received.
3. Student is required to meet qualitative/quantitative measures during first 12 semester hours approved by Academic Advisor.
Note that any one or more of the above will place the student at
Conditional status until all requirements are met.
• Unconditional: Application approved, transfer credit evaluated, all required official transcripts on file and academic requirements of Conditional status have been fulfilled.
Students who wish to begin enrolling in courses immediately after submitting their application may do so under “Temporary” Admissions Status unless they are planning to utilize Federal Student Aid or Veterans Benefits. While “Temporary,” students may complete up to 12 undergraduate semester hours or 7 graduate semester hours. All transcripts are subject for review, courses previously completed must meet quantitative and qualitative factors. If the evaluation has been completed using copies of transcripts, “Conditional” status will be granted. Once all official transcripts are received, quantitative and qualitative factors have been met and 12 semester hours approved by the academic advisor have been successfully completed, the status will be changed to “Unconditional.”
Columbia Southern University | University Catalog 9
ADMISSIONS
When enrolling in courses while on “Temporary” status, the student is responsible to select courses that he/she will not transfer to CSU and that will fulfill the requirements of his/her selected program of study. Information on CSU program course requirements can be found on the CSU website. For assistance on course selection, students may contact the CSU Admissions Department at 800-977-8449 or admissions@ columbiasouthern.edu.
Before enrolling under “Temporary” status, the student should make certain he/she meets the CSU Admissions Requirements of a High School transcript or GED for Undergraduate Programs and an accredited Bachelor Degree for Graduate Programs.
CSU only accepts transfer credit from institutions accredited by agencies that are recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or, for non-U.S. institutions, an accepted foreign equivalent that is listed in the International Handbook of Universities.
A CSU transcript cannot be issued while a student is on “Temporary” status. A CSU transcript may be issued for students on “Conditional” status but will not list transfer credit. A CSU transcript may be issued for students on “Unconditional” status listing all institutional credit after completion of three credit hours.
Admission Process 1. Submit the application for admission located online at
www.columbiasouthern.edu/apply. Please submit your academic transcripts along with your application. Military transcripts and professional licenses and certificates should also be included if applicable. You may fax corresponding documentation to 251.224.0540. Please indicate on your application if you are eligible for tuition assistance through Military TA, DANTES, or VA.
2. CSU will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your application and provide you with a detailed evaluation report. This report will outline courses you need to complete, transfer credit accepted, and any additional information or documentation deemed necessary.
3. You can request priority evaluation service for a $25 fee to guarantee that your completed application packet be evaluated within 48 hours after your required documents are received. Otherwise, applications may take between 7 to 10 days to evaluate based on the volume of applications received by CSU at that time. Please note that documents submitted for evaluation following the initial evaluation and prior to enrolling will be subject to an additional evaluation fee of $25.
4. Contact the admissions department or visit our website to enroll. Our open enrollment allows you to begin your program at anytime. The CSU Admissions Department will walk you through the process of enrolling in your first course. Even if we are still missing copies of the transcripts we need to complete your evaluation, you can enroll immediately under Temporary Admission Status. As a Temporary student, you may complete up to 12 undergraduate semester hours or seven graduate semester hours. Once all transcripts are received and evaluated, an
Application Evaluation Report will be issued and your status will be changed. For more information, please refer to the Admissions Status Policy.
Enrollment Programs/ Systems The CSU Admissions Department is available to guide you through the process of enrolling and registering for courses. We offer three convenient enrollment systems—the Term Enrollment Program, Per-Course Enrollment Program and Flexible Enrollment Program for Veterans.
Term Enrollment Programs CSU Term Enrollment Program courses are 8 weeks in length and have set start and end dates coinciding with the Academic Term Calendar. This enrollment option provides a more structured framework that facilitates on-time course completion while allowing the student flexibility throughout the week for assignment completion. Weekly, substantive interaction is required through submission of discussion board postings and other assignment types. Each week begins on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday. Discussion board assignments are due on Saturday and Tuesday. All other weekly assignments are due by Tuesday each week. All assignments are due by midnight Central Standard Time (CST) on the respective day. A term begins almost every month of the year allowing students to begin courses at a time that is convenient to them. The full academic term calendar and term course schedule can be viewed on the CSU website. Students utilizing Title IV Federal Student Aid are required to enroll in Term Enrollment Programs.
Per-Course Enrollment Programs CSU Per-Course Enrollment Program courses are 10 weeks in length and are designed with student flexibility in mind. Coursework is completed through an independent study model that allows students the flexibility to create study-time around other life commitments. This enrollment option offers added flexibility beyond what typical online programs offer. Per-Course Enrollment Programs have no semester start dates; therefore, students can begin courses at a time convenient to them. Students can progress through course assignments at a comfortable pace by creating a schedule for on-time course completion.
An application for admission is required for all students; in addition, all applicable admission requirements apply. Per- Course Enrollment Programs are not eligible for Title IV Federal Student Aid (FSA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. All of the online programs offered at CSU are available in the Per-Course Enrollment Programs option.
Flexible Enrollment Programs for Veterans CSU Flexible Enrollment Program courses for Veterans are 8 weeks in length and have set start and end dates coinciding with the Academic Term Calendar. A term begins almost every month of the year, allowing students to begin courses at a time that is convenient for them. This enrollment option was designed for students using Montgomery GI Bill or Post 911 GI Bill benefits and provides a flexible structure for course completion. Between the scheduled start and end date, students can progress through coursework at their own pace. A suggested course schedule is provided, upon enrollment, as a guide for course completion. Attendance verification is required by week 4 of all enrolled
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ADMISSIONS
courses to maintain enrollment in Flexible Enrollment Programs for Veteran courses. All of the online programs offered at CSU are available in the Flexible Enrollment Programs for Veterans option.
Non-Federal Student Aid Programs Non-Federal Student Aid programs include all Certificate programs and the Associate of Arts in General Studies. Due to accreditation and/or U.S. Department of Education program eligibility regulations, the specified programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid (Title IV). Students enrolled in these programs may choose to take the programs as a Per-Course Enrollment Program or a Flexible Enrollment Program for Veterans.
Transcript Request Service CSU will obtain domestic transcripts, including high school transcripts and GED scores, on your behalf! We will contact the prior colleges and/or universities you’ve attended to secure all the transcripts needed to make sure you receive maximum transfer credit.
You may download the following forms to start processing your transcript request(s):
Request for Official Transcript Forms
**CSU is unable to order copies or officials of the following
transcripts:
• Military Transcripts (with the exception of JST)
• CLEP Scores
• International Transcripts
Transfer Credit CSU allows transfer of credit hours for prior academic credits, training, and relevant professional licenses and certifications. Up to 75 percent of undergraduate courses and 50 percent of graduate courses can be transferred into your degree program.
Students are allowed to transfer in 15 percent of coursework into the DBA program.
Academic Credit CSU accepts transfer academic credit from institutions accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/ or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). For prior undergraduate academic credit to be eligible for transfer grades earned must be a “C” or higher. However, a maximum of three courses in which a “D” was earned may be considered during the admission process. “D’s” are not accepted as transfer credit for English Composition I, II or their equivalent. For prior academic credit to be eligible for transfer at the master’s degree level, grades earned must be a “B” or higher. However, a maximum of one course in which a “C” was earned may be considered for acceptance.
Professional Licenses, Certificates, and Training Programs CSU uses guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE) to determine if certain training programs, certificates, professional licenses, and/or military training warrant awarding academic credit. The following ACE publications are used.
The National Guide to Education Credit for Training Programs For 30 years, this guide has been a trusted source of information on thousands of educational courses offered by business, labor unions, schools, training suppliers, professional and voluntary associations, and government agencies. These course recommendations provide academic credit to students for learning acquired at leading organizations. Each entry in the comprehensive National Guide provides: course title; location of all sites where the course is offered; length in hours, days, or weeks; period during which the credit recommendation applies; purpose for which the credit was designed; learning outcomes; teaching methods, materials, and major subject areas covered; and college credit recommendations offered in four categories (by level of degrees) and expressed in semester hours and subject area(s) in which credit is applicable.
Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces This three-volume set of guidebooks is the standard reference tool used by most U.S. colleges and universities to award academic credit for military learning. The guidebooks contain more than 8,000 courses offered by the U.S. armed services and defense department between January 1990 and the present.
The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces is updated every two years. Every six months, ACE publishes a Handbook to the Guide.
The National Guide to Education Credit for Training Programs, the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces, and the Handbook are available at most public libraries. The Guide (Armed Forces) and the Handbook are usually available at military education services offices.
Credit by Examination CSU accepts credit by examination from the following:
• The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education (DANTES)
• Excelsior College Examination
Almost all institutions of higher learning, including CSU, restrict the acceptance of credits from other colleges and universities. This is also true of many agencies, companies and organizations. It is, therefore, recommended that you seek prior approval of your CSU credits if you want to transfer them at a later date, or if you anticipate using your CSU credits for credentialing, reimbursement or similar reasons.