General Requirements
Requirements for admission to Columbus State University are designed to
admit and place students in a manner that will ensure them a reasonable
chance of success in college. The Office of Admissions reviews all
examination scores and academic records. Applicants are notified if an
interview is required. A student is considered for admission without
regard to race, creed, sex, marital status, age, or national origin.
Application forms may be obtained in the Admissions Office or on the web
at
https://www.colstate.edu/future/apply/applications.asp.
When more applicants are eligible for admission than can be accommodated
in programs with limited instructional space, such as nursing, applicants
with higher probabilities of success are given preference. In addition,
admission to the BA in communication, to the Schwob School of Music major
programs and to teacher education programs is based on criteria beyond
those stipulated for entrance to the University. Refer to the catalog
section covering undergraduate academic programs for admission to specific
programs.
Acceptance or denial of admission for each application is determined by
the Office of Admissions, and is subject to the right of appeal as
provided in the bylaws of the University and the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia.
Every applicant must submit a formal application to the Admissions Office
along with a $25, non-refundable, application fee. Georgia residents 62
years of age or older and soldiers serving on active duty are exempt from this fee. Documentation will be required when the application is submitted.
All applicants, with the
exception of foreign nationals, must provide Social Security numbers (for institutional purposes only) that
can be obtained at any Social Security office . As required under the University System of Georgia policy, a completed certificate
of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), tetanus and varicella must be
received before enrollment. Hepatitis B is required if the applicant is 18 years of
age or younger at the time of enrollment. Forms are available in the Admissions Office.
Admission credentials must be filed on or before May 1st for fall semester, November 1st for
spring semester, and March 15th for summer term. Official consideration is given
to an application only after all credentials are received. Ordinarily,
application processing requires two to four weeks. Applicants who wish to
delay their date of entry to the University should notify the Admissions
Office in writing. After a year has elapsed, a new application, application fee, and
credentials must be submitted.
Students furnishing Columbus State University with false, incomplete, or
misleading information relating to their application or academic record
will be subject to denial or dismissal.
Entrance examinations. An applicant who has fewer than 30
semester hours of transferable credit from a regionally accredited college
or university must submit either an official SAT score report produced by
the College Board or an official ACT report produced by the American
College Testing Program. An official score report is secured by placing
the Columbus State University code (5123 for the SAT and 0807 for the ACT)
on the appropriate section of the SAT/ACT registration form.
Applicants whose high school class graduated five or more years ago, as
well as applicants seeking admission to the certificate program in
criminal justice, are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, but may
have to take placement exams in English, reading and mathematics. These
exams are administered by the Columbus State University Testing Center,
(706) 568-2226, at no cost to the student.
The Admissions Office must approve a student to take these exams before
the student can schedule an appointment with the Testing Center.
Official transcripts. Official transcripts of previous
academic work are required. Applicants should request that the registrar of each college and university attended mail
transcripts to the Admissions Office, Columbus State University.
Applicants seeking admission as entering freshmen and transfer students
with fewer than 30 semester hours of transferable credit (excluding
non-traditional sources) must also request an
official transcript from their high school verifying the date of graduation and the
type of diploma awarded. Transcripts received from
other institutions become the property of Columbus State University and
will not be released to the student or a third party.
General Educational Development (GED). A General Educational
Development (GED) test certificate will be considered in lieu of a high
school transcript. Applicants whose high school class graduated fewer
than five years prior to the semester of enrollment must meet additional
requirements as a traditional entering freshmen.
Entering Freshmen
Admission to Columbus State University. An entering freshman is one who has graduated from high school and has not previously attended a regionally accredited college or university. The minimum admission requirements for entering freshmen whose high school class graduated within the previous five years are:
- High School Academic Grade Point Average of 2.5
- 16 units in the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC)
- SAT scores
of 490 Critical Reading and 460 Math, or ACT scores of 20 English and 19
Math
- Freshman Index of
2200 or higher
College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC). The following curriculum is required for students whose high school
class graduated within the previous five years and who plan to enroll in
programs leading to the baccalaureate degree. The curriculum must be
completed at a high school accredited by a regional accrediting
association or the Georgia Accrediting Commission, or at a public school
regulated by a school system and a state department of education:
- Four
College Preparatory Carnegie units
in English with emphasis in grammar and usage, literature (American,
English, World), and
advanced composition
- Four
College Preparatory Carnegie units
in mathematics including Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and one upper level mathematics course.
- Three
College Preparatory Carnegie units in science including one life science laboratory course and one
physical science laboratory course.
- Three
College Preparatory Carnegie units in social science including one course focusing on United States
studies and one course focusing on world studies.
- Two
College Preparatory Carnegie units
in one foreign language emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and
writing
Applicants who have not completed the College Preparatory Curriculum may
satisfy this requirement by taking the appropriate SAT II subject tests and obtaining the
required scores as follows:
- English Writing with a minimum score of 520; and
- English Literature with a minimum score of 530; and
- Math Level IC with a minimum score of 500; or
- Math Level IIC with a minimum score of 570; and
- American History and Social Studies with a minimum score of 560; and
- World History with a minimum score of 540; and
- One foreign language test (*); and
- Biology with a minimum score of 520; and
- Chemistry with a minimum score of 540; or
- Physics with a minimum score of 590.
Students who
successfully complete the above SAT II tests in all required areas will
be considered for admission to Columbus State University. The SAT II is administered through the College Board. An
official score report is secured by placing the Columbus State
University code (5123) on the appropriate section of the SAT II registration
form.
*
The CSU
Department of Language and Literature will assess student competence in
foreign language.
Freshman
Index. The Freshman Index (FI) is based on a combination of an
applicant's SAT I or ACT scores and High School Grade Point Average (HSGPA).
The FI is calculated as:
SAT I FI = (500 x HSGPA) + SAT I Critical Reading + SAT I Math
ACT FI = (500 x HSGPA) + (ACT Composite x 42) + 88
Admission to the Department of Basic Studies. (Please refer to the
University College section for further information.)
An applicant who does not meet the above requirements may be referred to
the Department of Basic Studies in University College for further screening. To be eligible for referral to the Department of Basic
Studies, applicants must reside in one of the following counties in
Georgia: Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee, Stewart,
Talbot, Taylor, or Troup. The minimum admission requirements to the
Department of Basic Studies are:
- 13
academic units of the Technology / Career Preparatory Curriculum
- Submit SAT or ACT
scores
- GPA of 2.0 for a
College Preparatory diploma or a GPA of 2.2 for a Technical / Career
diploma
Applicants
who either score below 490 on the SAT Critical Reading (30 on ACT English) or who
have a CPC deficiency in English will be required to take the COMPASS
exam in English and reading. Those who either score below 460 on the SAT
Math (19 on ACT Math) or who have a CPC deficiency in mathematics will
be required to take the COMPASS exam in math.
Results of the COMPASS exams will determine whether or not the
applicant will be placed into learning support courses in English,
reading, and mathematics. To exempt the English subject area, an
applicant must earn a minimum score of 60. To exempt the reading subject
area, an applicant must earn a minimum score of 74. To exempt the
mathematics subject area, an applicant must earn a minimum score of 37.
Applicants whose high school class graduated five or more years ago may
be exempt from the COMPASS exam in English and reading if they have
scored 500 or above on the Critical Reading portion of the SAT or 21 or above on
the English portion of the ACT within 7 years of enrollment. To be
exempt from taking the COMPASS math exam, applicants must score 500 or
above on the Math portion of the SAT or 21 or above on the Math portion
of the ACT within the past 7 years. An
official score report can be obtained by contacting the appropriate test
agency (SAT:
www.collegeboard.com;
ACT: www.act.org).
Department of Basic Studies exit requirements. All students
referred to the Department of Basic Studies in University College for further screening and subsequent
enrollment must meet exit requirements before they are eligible to apply
to a four-year University System of Georgia institution. These include the completion of all learning
support course requirements. Traditional aged students must also
complete 30 semester hours of degree level credit with a
minimum grade point average of 2.0. Department of Basic Studies students
are limited to courses offered by University College and courses in
Areas A through F of the core curriculum.
Admission to Career Associates Programs.
Columbus State
University offers two career degree programs: Associates of Applied
Computer Science and Associates of Criminal Justice. Applicants seeking
admission to a career associate program are not held to CPC
requirements. However, applicants must have graduated from an accredited
high school and meet the regular CSU SAT/ACT score requirements. Students admitted to this program must complete all associate degree requirements before they may seek a baccalaureate degree.
Joint Enrollment/Early Admission
The High School Joint Enrollment Program is designed for
students who wish to enroll concurrently in high school and college
level courses. Applicants must:
- Be
recommended by a high school counselor or the principal
- Be granted
approval by a parent or guardian if the student is a minor
- Be
enrolled in college preparatory curriculum (CPC) courses which would
lead to completion of all requirements by the end of the senior year
in high school
- Have a
minimum SAT total score of 970 or a minimum ACT Composite score of 20
- Meet
Entering Freshman test score requirements for SAT Critical Reading
and
Math or
ACT English and Math
- Have a
minimum high school academic grade point average of 3.0, based on CPC
units
- Be in
his/her junior or senior year of high school
Seniors with
a minimum SAT Critical Reading score of 530 or a minimum ACT English score of 23
who have not completed the final unit of high school English and/or
social studies may be permitted to fulfill these high school
requirements with the appropriate courses at Columbus State University.
Additionally, students with a minimum SAT Math score of 530 or a minimum ACT Math
score of 22 who have not completed the final unit of high school
mathematics may be permitted to fulfill this high school requirement
with the appropriate course at Columbus State University. Students
should consult with their high school counselor before applying for
admission. Students who enroll in joint enrollment programs offered by
another college or university will not be awarded transfer credit for
course work completed in that program unless they would have met the admission
standards listed above at the time of their joint enrollment.
Early Admission
is designed for students who wish to enroll in college full-time following
the completion of the junior year in high school. Applicants must:
- Be recommended by a high school counselor or the principal
- Be granted approval by a parent or guardian if the student is a minor
- Have completed the junior year in an accredited or approved high school
- Have satisfied all college preparatory curriculum (CPC) requirements with the exception of one unit each in the English, social studies, and mathematics subject areas
- Have a minimum SAT total score of 1100 which includes at least 530 on the
Critical Reading portion and at least 530 on the Math portion, or a minimum ACT
Composite score of 24 which includes at least 23 on the English portion and at least 22 on the
Math portion
- Have a minimum high school
academic grade point average of 3.0, based on CPC units
Accel
Program. The Accel Program is for students classified as high school
juniors and seniors at accredited public or private high schools in the
state of Georgia and is operated in all school terms except summer. The
program allows students to pursue postsecondary study while receiving
dual high school and college credit for courses successfully completed.
Courses pursued by students under this program must come from the
approved course directory and only in the areas of the core graduation
requirements for college preparatory students: English, mathematics,
social studies, science, and foreign language. The program pays for
tuition, mandatory fees and provides participating students with a book
allowance, in keeping with the benefits provided by the HOPE program.
Credit hours paid by the Accel Program for the student will count toward
the limit of postsecondary hours paid by the HOPE program. For more
information about the Accel Program, visit the Georgia Student Finance
Commission�s website at
http://gacollege411.org. Click on "Apply for Accel".
Alternative Requirements for
Home-Schooled Students and Graduates of
Non-Accredited High Schools
Home-schooled students and graduates from non-accredited high schools
who wish to attend Columbus State University must submit the following
documents:
- Application
for Admission along with $25, non-refundable application fee
- Certificate of Immunization
- Combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1000 which includes the
institutional minimum for each area
- Official transcripts from any conventional public/private high school and colleges
attended
- Supplemental application for home schooled and non-accredited school, which includes a Home School Credit Evaluation Table
- Letter from primary teacher certifying completion of high school and date of high
school graduation to provide documentation that the student has met the home
school requirements
Transfer Students
To be considered for admission, transfer students must be eligible to
return to the institution last attended. Applicants must submit official
transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended.
Transfer students who have earned fewer than 30 semester hours of
transferable credit must satisfy all requirements for admission as entering
freshmen. Transfer students who have earned 30 or more semester hours of
transferable credit (excluding non-traditional sources) must have a minimum transfer grade point average of 2.0
and have completed any learning support requirements and/or college
preparatory curriculum deficiency requirements.
Transfer students who have not completed a course in computer
applications will be required to demonstrate competence in the basic use
of computers by successfully completing the SAMS Challenge (Computer Competency Exam) or
by completing a computer applications course at Columbus State
University. Computer competency must be demonstrated within one year of
admission. Additionally, courses taken at previous institutions to
satisfy deficiencies in CPC requirements will not transfer for credit in
baccalaureate programs.
All students transferring 45 or more semester hours who have not passed
all parts of the University System of Georgia Regents' Test are required to take the test their first
semester of enrollment. Students who do not comply with this regulation
will be required to enroll in Regents' Test remedial courses.
Admission on probation. A student on academic exclusion or
suspension from another institution who otherwise satisfies transfer
admission requirements will be considered for admission on academic
probation. (See Transfer Student section) To be eligible
for continued enrollment, the student must attain a minimum grade point
average of 2.0 or higher for the probation semester.
Provisional admission. When all required transcripts have
not been received in the Admissions Office, provisional admission may be
granted for one semester upon receipt of a transcript from the last
institution attended. This transcript must show that the student is
eligible to return to the last institution. Provisional admission is
granted on a case-by-case basis. Not all transfer students are eligible
for provisional admission. No evaluation of transfer credit will be
completed until all official transcripts are received in the Admissions
Office. Provisional admission may affect Financial Aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office to determine how this
affects your individual student aid.
Transfer Credit
The university makes every effort to transfer credit for academic work
completed at other institutions. In general, courses completed at a
regionally accredited college or university will transfer. Credit is
allowed for English 1101 and 1102 if the grade in each course is C or
better.
Recognition for placement in advanced courses will be given for previous
work that is substantially equivalent to, and at the same level as,
prerequisites at Columbus State University. Regardless of the total
number of semester credit hours allowed in transfer, a minimum of 36
semester hours must be taken in residence at Columbus State University
after the student has qualified as a junior.
Requests for transfer credit will be considered for persons who have
gained admission as transfer students and will be based on official
transcripts supplied by colleges previously attended. For use in satisfying requirements for a
degree, all work evaluated as valid transfer credit is subject to
approval by the dean or chair of the academic unit which offers the
degree sought. Quarter hours are converted to semester hours by using
the formula of one quarter hour equals two-thirds of a semester hour.
Students may view their academic record showing transfer course work
online by visiting ISIS.
Non-Traditional Sources of Credit
The registrar will evaluate records of work completed through
non-residential settings from any combination of the sources listed
below, correspondence courses, and extension work. The credit, which may
be used to satisfy degree requirements, is limited to 60 semester hours
toward a baccalaureate degree and 30 semester hours toward an associate
degree. Deans of colleges and department chairs determine the
applicability of all evaluated credits toward degree requirements.
Examples of non-traditional sources of credit include:
Standardized tests. Successful completion of the general
examinations and subject examinations offered by the College Level
Examination Program (CLEP) may result in college credit. Students must provide official score reports
before credit will be evaluated. Students with a SAT Critical Reading score of 650
or above and a writing sample approved by the Department of Language and
Literature will be placed into ENGL 1102. Students will receive credit
for ENGL 1101 by registering for ENGL 1101X their first term of
enrollment. Courses taken by examination are identified on the student's
academic record by an X following the course designation.
Military service experience. A maximum of 12 semester hours of
credit for successful completion of work in military service schools is
awarded for 12 consecutive months or more of active duty service.
Students must provide a copy of their DD 214/295 or a military
transcript for an evaluation of transfer credit. Wellness, to include physical education, requirements
will be waived.
Professional certification. A maximum of 12 semester hours of
credit for successful completion of recognized certification courses or
examinations may be awarded. The professional certification courses or examinations
must relate directly to the program or course of study the student is
pursuing. Credit is granted on an individual basis with the
determination of the appropriate number of hours of credit accepted
toward a degree and the relevancy of the work to the degree program
requirements made by the dean of the college awarding the degree.
Columbus State University credit examinations. To demonstrate
educational achievement attained outside the traditional classroom,
students may arrange to take credit examinations. Examinations are
available for some courses in the core curriculum. Deans and department
chairs may also approve the preparation of examinations for credit in
other courses offered in their departments. Instructions for arranging
credit examinations are available in the dean's office of the college
offering the course. Courses taken by examination are identified on the
student's academic record by an X following the course designation. A
grade of K indicates the examination was passed; W indicates the
examination was not taken or was not passed. In determining the
enrollment status of students receiving veterans' benefits,
credit-by-examination courses are not counted as hours taken.
Students whose secondary education was conducted in a language other
than English may be awarded up to nine semester hours of foreign
language credit toward a BA degree. Students who think they may qualify
for this credit should contact the chair of the Department of Language
and Literature.
Transient Students
A student who has taken work in an accredited or approved college or university and is eligible to re-enroll at that institution may apply for temporary admission at Columbus State University as a transient student.
This student must be advised at their home
institution prior to registering for courses at CSU. Applicants must:
Submit a
completed application for admission and pay the non-refundable application processing fee
Present an official statement signed by the registrar
or other designated official of the institution in which the student
is enrolled approving enrollment as a transient student. The student must be eligible for enrollment at the previous institution the same semester admission is sought at Columbus State University.
Submit a
completed immunization form.
When there is
doubt about the qualifications of an applicant seeking admission as a
transient student, the University may require the applicant to comply
with all regulations for the admission of transfer students. Transient
status is approved for one semester only. Applicants who wish to attend
Columbus State University for more than one semester consecutively must
follow application procedures for transfer students.
Audit Students
Applicants who wish to audit courses are required to submit an
application for admission, the non-refundable application fee, a high school
transcript certifying graduation, completed immunization form and pay all regular fees. Audit
students are not required to take entrance examinations. Credit will not
be granted at a later time for courses in which a student was registered
as an audit student. Class participation and assignment requirements are
left up to the instructor.
Post-Baccalaureate Students
An applicant who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
institution may enroll under the classification of post-baccalaureate
student by submitting an official transcript from the institution that
conferred the baccalaureate degree. The core curriculum and Regents'
Test regulations do not apply to students in this category. Students
pursuing an additional baccalaureate degree must satisfy degree
requirements and must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in
residence at Columbus State University.
International Students (and Non-Native Speakers of English)
International students must provide all credentials required of U.S.
students. In addition, professional transcript
evaluation of all non-US accredited institutions, and an acceptable
level of proficiency in the English language are required. All
applicants whose native language is not English must provide one of the
following:
- Official
results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) showing a
minimum paper-based score of 550, a minimum computer-based score of
213, or a minimum Internet based score of 79, or
- An SAT
Critical Reading score of 460 or an ACT English score of 19, or
- Successful transfer coursework of English 1101 and 1102 from a
U.S. accredited institution of higher learning
If the applicant will be attending Columbus State University on an F-1 student visa, a financial guarantee and supporting bank documents are required.
Application
forms and detailed procedures for enrolling as an international student
can be obtained from the Admissions Office at Columbus State University
or on the web at
https://www.colstate.edu/future/apply/applications.asp.
Readmission Requirements
Former students who wish to enroll in Columbus State University after an
absence of one year or more must submit an application for re-entry to
the Admissions Office. Students who have registered at other
institutions must request that official transcripts of records be sent
to the Admissions Office. Procedures for students academically
ineligible to enroll following the completion of the last semester at
Columbus State University are found in the Undergraduate Academic
Regulations section under the heading Academic Standing.
Georgia Residency Requirements
See Definition of Legal Residence under Expenses section of this catalog.
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