May 30, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Admissions Policies Pertaining to Special Programs


Policies Pertaining to Special Programs:

Special programs at Columbia College may require additional admission steps and requirements. All applicants must complete the Admissions Procedures outlined below, as well as the additional requirements to apply directly to the special program. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for further information at 573-875-7515 or 877-999-9876 or Admissions@ccis.edu.

Admissions Procedures

To be considered for admission to the Columbia College, an applicant’s file must include the materials outlined below. All unofficial documents should be submitted electronically to Admissions@ccis.edu, faxed to 573-875-7506, or mailed to the Recruiting & Admissions Department, Columbia College, 1001 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216. Documents supporting college readiness must be provided to the Recruiting & Admissions Department before admission review.

Unofficial transcripts should be submitted from the institution’s student portal and include the following: the applicant’s first name, last name, name of the institution, courses completed by semester/term, grades by semester/term, GPA by semester/term, cumulative GPA, and cumulative credits earned. Editable documents, linked documents, screenshots, etc., will not be accepted for admission review.

If an applicant makes an error on their application, additional documentation may be required in order to correct the error. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for more information.

Note: All official transcripts must be provided within 90 days of enrollment for further registration eligibility. Official transcripts can be submitted electronically to EvalTrans@ccis.edu or mailed to the Office of the Registrar, Columbia College, 1001 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216.

The moderately selective requirements for admission to the Main Campus Day Program are not applicable to the Columbia College Global (CCG) Locations. See our website for a full list of all Columbia College Locations.

Every applicant to any Columbia College program or Location must complete the following steps for admission review. Additional requirements may apply to specific student stages (i.e., non-degree, readmit, international, etc.). See specific student stage policies below for more information.

  1. Submit a completed application at www.ccis.edu/apply
  2. Provide proof of college readiness (Note: Admissions requirements may vary by Location. See policies below.)

* Applicants to the Main Campus Day Program and to CCG locations will authenticate their identity after admission. This must be completed before registration.

Columbia College welcomes home-schooled applicants at all locations. Home School applicants must complete all Admissions Procedures. Transcripts may be accepted from recognized home school programs. For applicants who attended an unaccredited institution, supporting documentation demonstrating college readiness may be considered during the admission review. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for more information.

Teacher Certification Programs

Columbia College offers a variety of teacher certification programs. All candidates for the teacher certification programs are expected to meet general admission requirements to Columbia College. (See Admissions Requirements for more details.) Not all programs for teacher certification are available at all Columbia College Locations. See specific program details in the catalog and on our website at www.ccis.edu. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for more program-specific information.

Note: Acceptance to Columbia College does not guarantee acceptance to the teacher certification course sequence.

Admission to the teacher certification program is on a moderately selective basis.

Teacher Certification Program

The Teacher Certification Program is a certification program designed so that students can graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their desired content area and certification in their desired grade level. Students complete all degree and certification requirements at the undergraduate level. 

When completing the online application, students who wish to pursue Elementary Education Certification have two degree options:

  1. Choose the ‘Bachelor of General Studies for Elementary Education Certification’ that includes the Elementary Education Certification Minor and Elementary Education Content Area Minors in Language Arts, Mathematics/Science, and Social Studies. Students must complete all minors to earn this degree.
  2. Choose a degree in a content area (i.e., human services, psychology, art, etc.) and add the Elementary Education Certification Minor.

Students who choose to pursue Middle School or Secondary Education Certification will select the content area/major (i.e., math, English, science, etc.) on the online application. Students will then select a minor in a certification area of middle school, secondary, art k-12, or music k-12.

Note: Acceptance to Columbia College does not guarantee acceptance to the teacher certification course sequence.

Admission to the teacher certification program is on a moderately selective basis. Certification students must apply and be accepted into the Teacher Certification Program before enrolling in most education courses above EDUC 300. 

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

Undergraduate Post-Bacc

The Columbia College Undergraduate Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program (UPB.CERT) is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue teacher certification with the state of Missouri but not a master’s degree. (This program is offered at a select number of Locations in the state of Missouri. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for more information.) Post-baccalaureate students are only eligible to take courses required for certification. Non-certification courses are not covered by federal financial aid.

To be reviewed for admission to this certification program, students must complete the Admissions Procedures above and provide proof of a completed bachelor’s degree.

All official college transcripts should be submitted electronically to EvalTrans@ccis.edu or mailed to the Office of the Registrar, Columbia College, 1001 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216.

Recent graduates from Columbia College with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for the undergraduate post-baccalaureate program. Students must reapply to the UPB.CERT program and must complete the Admissions Procedures and meet the Readmission criteria for admission review.


Master’s Post Bacc

The Columbia College Master’s Post Baccalaureate program (MAT.PB) and Master’s Alternative Certification program (MAT.AC) are designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue teacher certification with the state of Missouri and have the ability to take some courses at the graduate level. (These programs are offered at a select number of Locations in the state of Missouri. Contact the Recruiting & Admissions Department for more information.)

Students interested in applying to the Master’s program must follow the graduate admissions procedures as outlined in the graduate catalog.

Associate of Science in Nursing

Columbia College offers an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at two Locations - in Columbia, Missouri, and the Lake of the Ozarks. The program is open to individuals who have no prior nursing education and to those who hold a Licensed Practical Nursing license.

All candidates for the nursing program are expected to meet general admission requirements to Columbia College. (See Admissions Requirements for more details.)

Note: Acceptance to Columbia College does not guarantee acceptance to the ASN course sequence.

Admission to the ASN program is on a selective basis. Cohort sizes and selection deadlines vary by Location. Additional details regarding selection criteria for the ASN course sequence is available online at www.ccis.edu/nursing.

RN-to-BSN Online Program

Columbia College offers a fully online RN-to-BSN program to help working registered nurses obtain a bachelor’s degree. The RN-to-BSN degree program may not be available in specific states. 

To be reviewed for admission to this degree program, students must complete the Admissions Procedures above AND

  • Provide proof of program readiness by presenting the following:
  • Completed associate degree in Nursing
  • Successful completion of the National Counselor Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses

Recent graduates from Columbia College with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree are eligible to apply for the RN-to-BSN online program. Students must reapply to the RN-to-BSN program, complete the Admissions Procedures, and meet the Readmission criteria for admission review. Additional documents may be required after admission, which will be collected by the Nursing Department.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Main Campus Day Program)

Columbia College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at the Main Campus Day Program in Columbia, MO. Students are admitted to Columbia College first and then must meet additional selection criteria to be considered for the BSN program.

All candidates for the BSN program are expected to meet general admission requirements to the Main Campus Day Program. (See Admissions Requirements for more details.)

Note: Acceptance to Columbia College does not guarantee acceptance to the BSN course sequence.

Admission to the program is on a selective basis. Cohort sizes and selection deadlines vary. Additional details regarding the selection criteria for the BSN course sequence are available online at www.ccis.edu/nursing.

Certificate Programs

Columbia College offers a variety of certificate programs, and eligibility to enroll varies by program. Please see specific certificate sections for admission and enrollment criteria.

Enrollment as a certificate-seeking student neither guarantees automatic admission to degree-seeking status nor does it necessarily impact an admission decision. Students enrolling at Columbia College under this certificate status may be considered for degree-seeking status in a subsequent semester by completing the full degree-seeking application process. Certificate-seeking students cannot change/update to degree-seeking in the middle of an academic semester.


Certificate-seeking certificate students may not be eligible for federal financial aid.