Return to: College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Life University College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies is to empower students to achieve successful careers and meaningful lives, based on a vitalistic philosophy that promotes optimum performance and transformational leadership, to produce a positive impact in a dynamic world.

College Organization

Life University’s College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies currently offers 14 undergraduate majors, as well as programs of concentration and licensure in addition to graduate programs leading to a master’s degree in nutrition and sport health science.  We also offer a non-degree pathway for students interested in completing requirements for admission to the Doctor of Chiropractic program.

Undecided?  Our diverse course offerings provide an opportunity to explore options and determine how your interests, passion and skills define the path to your career.

Academic programs in CGUS are organized into four different divisions, each housing a group of majors and minors that complement one another.  You are encouraged to take advantage of the inter-disciplinary nature of many of our programs to maximize your areas of interests.

The Assistant Deans for each of the academic areas report directly to the Dean of the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies on issues of program accreditation, academic policy, assessment, and program development.  There are four divisions in the College: Liberal Studies, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Sport Health Science. The Division of Liberal Studies includes the Department of General and Transitional Studies, the Department of Business, and Computer Information Management. The Division of Social Sciences includes the Department of Positive Human Development & Social Change and the Department of Psychology, and Human Ecology.  The Division of Sport Health Science includes the Department of Sport Health Science and the Department of Nutrition. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee is responsible for overseeing curricula.

Undergraduate Studies

General Undergraduate Application Procedures and Requirements

A student applying for admission as an undergraduate student is required to submit the following materials to Life University’s Office of Enrollment by the applicable deadline:

1. A completed online application for undergraduate study accompanied by an application processing fee of $50.00. (The fee is non-refundable and constitutes part of the application file/record); and
2. Official high school and/or college transcript(s) from every secondary or post-secondary/institution of higher education attended (if applicable) showing courses, grades, and anticipated or actual date(s) of graduation should be sent directly from the institution where the coursework was completed to Life University’s Office of Enrollment. 
Where appropriate, a GED score report may be submitted/required. Unofficial transcripts may be acceptable for inital admission consideration. (International transcripts require an official international transcript evaluation conducted by an approved international evaluation service. These hours must be equivalent to courses taught at Life University. Equivalency is determined by the department.); and
3. Official SAT or ACT scores* must be sent directly to Life University’s Office of Enrollment from the testing agency (essay/writing sections are optional). Life University’s ACT code is 0845; College Board (SAT, RSAT, and ACCUPLACER) is 7006. Unofficial scores may be initially accepted for admission consideration. Applicants are urged to complete all testing well in advance of applying for admission to Life University. (Please note that if scores for essay/writing sections of SAT/ACT are not submitted, an ACCUPLACER test is required prior to the start of the quarter.); and
4. A signed Technical Standards Form for the applicable program (if required).

    * The requirement of ACT/SAT scores is waived for the 2022-2023 academic year. However, Accuplacer testing is required for course placement in English and Math.

Application Schedule

A student may begin their course of study at Life University in any quarter as applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. All admissions requirements should be met, and all official documentation received in the Office of Enrollment (Admissions) 30 days (60 days for all international students) prior to the beginning of the quarter of intended enrollment. 

Criminal Record

All applicants must reveal whether they have a criminal record and cooperate by providing complete information for review. A record of serious criminal convictions, particularly for a felony or where a minor is involved, may disqualify an applicant for admission and/or for licensure in most states. 

Application Procedures for International Students

Life University is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept and enroll international students on a F-1 student visa.

Life University welcomes the other categories of international applicants who hold a variety of immigrant and nonimmigration statuses. Immigrant visa categories include Permanent Residents (green card), and individuals who are in the process of obtaining permanent residency. Nonimmigrant visa holders are the citizens of other countries who enter the U.S. on a temporary basis – whether for tourism, business, temporary work, or study.

Application Materials

In addition to these materials, international students must meet the application and admission requirements for their intended, unique program of study.

1. Submit an online application with a non-refundable $50 application processing fee
2. Submit your high school and/or college official transcripts. Please see the “Official Evaluation” section for further instructions on how to submit your transcripts to Life University.
   • Official transcripts from the colleges and high school in the Unites States must be received directly (electronic receipt if preferred) from the institution in the unopened official high school/college envelope to the address below.
     • Life University
       Office of Enrollment
       1269 Barclay Circle
       Marietta, GA 30060
   • Transcripts from international high schools and colleges and universities must be received with the official evaluation report from the foreign credential evaluation company either via at admissions@life.edu or international@life.edu or post-mailed to the address above. Please see the Transcript Evaluation section below for more details on international transcripts.
3. Depending on the applicant’s background, they must submit document-by-document, a course-by-course, or comprehensive transcript evaluation that demonstrates official graduation date and final GPA. 
   • We have an agreement with the Foundation for International Services (FIS) https://www.fis-web.com/credential-evaluations/  and Spantran https://spantran.com/web/ evaluation companies that offer considerable discount for the evaluation and faster and convenient service if you use their application forms. Questions about the FIS or SpanTran evaluation forms should be sent at international@life.edu   
   • Life University also accepts academic credential evaluations from any of the NACES.org evaluation network members.
     • Note: In some cases, the international applicant may be offered conditional acceptance based on the in-progress (high school or college) transcript evaluation. If it is the case, conditionally admitted international student is required to order a comprehensive final evaluation of the completed academic credential (s) with the graduation date and final GPA. 
   • Evaluation Exemptions. The transcripts of the following colleges in Canada are exempt from the credential evaluation requirement: Athabasca University, Bishop University, Brandon University, Brock University, Dalhousie University, Fanshawe University, Mount Royal College, Mount Saint Vincent University, Niagara College, Queens University, Red Deer College, Sheridan College, St Mary’s College, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Guelph, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, University of Winnipeg, University of Toronto, Wilfred Laurier University, Windsor University or University of Windsor
     • Note: However, evaluation exemption for these universities is subject to the approval of the Admissions Committee and, in some cases, Life University Admissions Office may request a course- by the course/ comprehensive evaluation with a GPA from the graduates/transfer students from the listed above colleges and universities in Canada. 
     • Note: The following categories of the United States citizens are required to provide a comprehensive foreign credential evaluation with a GPA and graduation date of their high school or college credentials when it is applicable:
       • United States born citizens who graduated high school or college outside of the United States
       • Naturalized citizens of the United States who were foreign born and raised in a foreign country and graduated from high school or college in a foreign country
       • United States citizens having earned college credit hours as an exchange student in a foreign country
4. Submit a standardized assessment of ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (ELP). Testing options include:
   • OPTION 1: Life University now accepts Duolingo English Proficiency Test results as a part of the international admissions process. A minimum score of 85-90 is required. Get started by following steps:
     • Go to: go.duolingo.com/applicants and register
     • Click: Take a test
     • Click: Purchase the test
     • Click: Take the test and save the results and exit  
   • OPTION 2: Life University also accepts TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). A score of a 500 or higher, 173 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL, or 61 or higher on the Internet-based test.
     • Please send the test scores via the https://www.ets.org/toefl by accessing your account and selecting Life University/The Life University TOEFL code is 5358.
   • OPTION 3: Life University also accepts IELTS (International English Language Testing System). A minimum score of 5.5 on the IELTS is required.
     • Please order a paper report of the test scores by accessing your account at https://www.ielts.org/en-us and send to this address:
       • Life University
         Office of Enrollment
         1269 Barclay Circle
         Marietta, GA 30060
       • Note: The following category of international applicants are exempt from the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement:
         • International students who have graduated from high school in the United States and/or its territories
         • International students who have received SAT/ Reading/Writing Language sub score of 2; or ACT-English sub score of 18
         • International students who have taken 24 or more credit hours in an American college and/or have passed English Composition I, English Composition II or equivalent classes
         • International students who have received a four-year degree from the United States
         • Applicants from the following countries where English is official language are exempt from English language proficiency exam requirements: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Canada — except Québec, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Ghan, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Micronesia Islands, Federated States of Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Helena, South Africa, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales), Virgin Island, Zimbabwe

*Additional items may be required depending on student’s program of interest

Form 1-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Visa Students

All international applicants who need an F-1 student visa need to apply for the Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status. Please note that the information in this section is applicable only to F-1 visa students.

• Required documents:
  • Completed and signed I-20 Request Form.
  • A PDF copy of your most recent PASSPORT
  • A PDF copy of any type of the U.S. VISA (if applicable)
  • Bank letter showing US $30,000 (undergraduate programs), $31,000 (graduate programs), and $50,000 (Doctor of Chiropractic Program). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires international students show the University evidence of adequate financial resources to provide for at least one year of full-time education, travel, and living expenses as estimated below. A financial statement, a standard bank letter on letterhead with your or your sponsor’s name (names) must state that you (your sponsors) have established sufficient funds in USD to support your education in the United States and must be submitted to Life University to receive an I‐20. 
    •  To bring the immediate family (spouse and children), newly accepted international students must add $6,200 for a spouse, $9,800 for spouse and child, $13,400 for spouse and two children, $3,600 for no spouse and one child, $7,200 for no spouse and two children.
  • Recipients of any scholarship must send a copy of the award letter signed by the recipient and sponsoring department/ program stating the source of the scholarship and award amount at international@life.edu.
  • Filled and signed Sponsor Letter. A sponsor affidavit is also required unless the funds are in the student’s name by utilizing the LU Sponsor Form. Additional acceptable affidavits include a personal letter, a financial guarantee from an institution, a US I‐134 form (if your sponsor is the U.S. citizen https://www.uscis.gov/i-134). Please follow the instructions on the forms.
    • Please note: An original bank letter is required at the time of International Student orientation or during mandatory SEVIS check-in with the Director of International Programs aka Principal Designated School Official (PDSO)
  • The SEVIS fee of $350 is payable to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless you have an active I-20 from the U.S. college or high school at the time of acceptance at Life University.
  • Filled and signed Transfer Eligibility Form. F-1 students who are transferring from another U.S. college and graduating from the U.S. high school must fill out and send it at international@life.edu.
  • Non-refundable and non-waivable Enrollment Fee of $125.
  • Transfer Eligibility. F-1 students who are transferring from another U.S. college and graduating from the U.S. high school must fill out and send the Transfer Eligibility form by using Transfer Eligibility form of Life University at international@life.edu.

Life University accepts international applicants who hold a variety of immigration and nonimmigration statuses.

NONIMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS

Nonimmigrant visa holders are the citizens of other countries who enter the U.S. on a temporary basis – whether for tourism, business, temporary work, or study. Once a person has entered the U.S. in nonimmigrant status, they are restricted to the activity or reason for which they were allowed entry.

Non-immigrant visa holders include principals and dependents of P-1, L-1, H-1, E-1, J-1, G-1, G-5, O, U,T, V, R, S and others who can study in the United States.

Please see below for the list and see above General Admission Application Process for International Students section for the detailed information

• Life University admissions application https://life.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Admissions/Pages/Welcome.aspx
• SAT or ACT test scores
• English Proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) (if applicable)
• Official High school or college or both transcripts
• Official evaluation (if applicable)

• Admissions requirements may vary depending on the category of immigrant or non-immigrant international students. Please see here for more details: https://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/international-student-enrollment/

Mandatory Health Insurance Policy

All F-1 visa students must have a health insurance policy that meets the following minimum requirements for the entire duration of their study as an F-1 visa student. The proof of coverage is due during the mandatory SEVIS check-in followed by the international student orientation at the beginning of each quarter.  We accept insurance plans from the Professional Service Inc. (PSI) health insurance company https://www.psiservice.com/plans that offers affordable and comprehensive health insurance for international students and their immediate families. The policy must meet the following requirements:

• Both accident and sickness coverage
• Minimum benefit $250,000 per policy year
• A deductible of $500 or less and/or co-pay per individual, per year
• In-patient and outpatient, mental and nervous disorder benefits
• Prescription Drug Coverage
• Pay benefits worldwide
• Medical evacuation to one’s home country and family reunification of not less than $50,000*
• Provision for repatriation of remains of not less than $25,000*

PSI is NOT are affiliated with Life University:

• PSI International Student & Scholar Health Insurance
  8206 Leesburg Pike, Suite 305
  Vienna, VA 22182

        https://www.psiservice.com/plans

International Application and I-20 processing deadlines:

Life University recommends that all international students apply at least 6 months before their intended start date. International students who will apply for an F-1 student visa must submit the required application materials at least 90 days before the start of the quarter.  Please see the I-20 processing deadlines here: https://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/international-student-enrollment/

Financial Aid Information

For information and details about financial aid, please visit EagleNet, Financial Aid, or make an appointment with your Financial Aid Counselor.

Life University endeavors to maintain student costs of education at the lowest possible level without sacrificing quality. Although every attempt is made to offer applicable government financial aid programs to the students, Life University remains a private, non-profit institution and receives no direct support from government funds. See Student Accounts Office policies. 

The University and its various divisions and departments reserve the right to modify and change requirements, rules and fees without prior notice.

Financial Aid Awarding Policy

The Financial Aid Awarding Policy SS.016 can be viewed in the Student Handbook.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid

Effective July 7, 2011 (supersedes all former policies), Revised June 2, 2018

The United States Department of Education and most agencies providing financial assistance require students to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their course of study to continue receiving funding. Failure to maintain SAP will result in the loss of Federal Title IV financial aid as well as State and Institutional aid. The student’s entire academic history is evaluated to determine whether or not he/she is maintaining SAP. This evaluation is not affected by whether or not aid was previously received or whether a student has changed programs. The Federal Student Aid program regulations make no provision for the concept of academic amnesty or grade forgiveness.

The entire SAP Policy AS.024 can be viewed in the Student Handbook.

Admission Requirements

Admissions Process

For all categories of applications, admissions related documents/data are maintained by Life University’s Office of Enrollment, according to Retention and Disposition of Records guidelines established by the University and related AACRAO guidelines. 

Recommendations for admission status are sent directly to the Dean of the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies or through the Admissions Committee. Recommendations for Admission Status, including denial, are confirmed by the Dean. 

Study in the Undergraduate Program is comprehensive, challenging and demanding. Every student is expected to be a professional leader and an example of good character and goodwill in the community. The University has, therefore, set guidelines, standards, and requirements for undergraduate admission. 

Freshman Admission Guidelines

Applicants with fewer than 36 quarter (24 semester) hours of transferable college credit must meet freshman admission standards. Earned transferable college credit by a freshman must meet the 2.0 minimum GPA standard.

Freshman Guidelines for Full Admission

The following are minimum freshman applicant academic standards for full admission to LIFE’s Undergraduate degree-seeking programs:

• An earned 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale), as indicated on an official high school transcript, or a passing GED score if a HS diploma is not earned.
• The following test scores for ACT, SAT, and ACCUPLACER are the minimum and sub scores required for full admission as a freshman student:
  • English- ACT subscore of 18; SAT writing/language subscore of 25; Accuplacer Writeplacer score of 6;
  • Math- ACT math score of 20; SAT math score of 510; or ACCUPLACER Next Generation Math of 245
  • Reading – ACT subscore of 18; SAT reading subscore of 25; or ACCUPLACER Next Generation Reading of 237

The SAT combined score and subscores and the ACT Composite and sub-scores will be used to assess and determine course advisement and placement and will not be used as sole criteria for admissibility or inadmissibility.

Writing and Essay Components of the SAT/ACT are considered optional. While the specific essay and/or writing sections of these tests are not required for application and/or admission purposes and will not be considered during the admission review, they are used for advisement and placement purposes. Thus, you are encouraged to send all test scores to the Office of Enrollment. If scores for essay/writing sections of SAT/ACT are not submitted, an ACCUPLACER test or other placement test will be required prior to the start of the quarter for placement in English and Math.

Official test scores, for those who are required to provide these, must be sent directly to Life University Office of Enrollment from testing agencies.

Life University’s ACT code is 0845; College Board (SAT, RSAT, and ACCUPLACER) is 7006.

Note:  ACT/SAT scores have been waived for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

For a student to be successful at Life University, the completion of the general college preparatory curriculum (CPC), as supported by various state educational guidelines, is highly recommended. The CPC course work pattern is comprised of the following subject area and units/years:

• 4 units of English
• 4 units of mathematics
• 3 units of laboratory science
• 3 units of social science

Freshman Guidelines for Those Who Do Not Meet the Full Admission Standards

Any freshman applicant who does not meet the Full Admission requirements will be considered for Provisional Admission. You are considered for admission and may be admitted under these provisional guidelines:

• Freshmen who earn below a 2.0 cumulative GPA (from high school transcript).
• Freshmen with less than 36 quarter hours of transfer credit who do not meet minimum admission requirements and/or students who are below one or more required sub scores for the ACT, SAT, and ACCUPLACER will be considered for provisional admission.

Acceptance into the Undergraduate program does not imply acceptance into the Didactic program for Dietetics, Graduate programs, or the Doctor of Chiropractic Program.

Transfer Admission Requirements

A transfer applicant is a student who has earned 36 quarter (24 semester) hours or more of transferable college credits after having graduated from high school or equivalent. (*Note: if all college credit was earned by test score credit or credit by exam (AP/CLEP/IB), dual enrollment during high school, and/or the summer immediately following high school graduation or equivalent, the applicant will be considered for admission as a freshman.)

Transfer applicants must have official transcripts forwarded from all institutions of higher education attended. Life University is an active participant in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the Georgia Independent College Association (GICA) Transfer Articulation Agreement providing educational opportunities for currently enrolled and prospective students of both TCSG and GICA member institutions.  This articulation agreement ensures transferability of selected courses from a SACS accredited TCSG college to participating GICA colleges and universities. A student having earned a grade of “C” or better in a course identified within the agreement is ensured that course will transfer to Life University. Transfer credit will not be granted for sub 100 level coursework.

CGUS Transfer Policy Regarding Associate Degree and General Education Core Requirements Policy

AS.033

Students transferring to Life University having earned an Associate’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution or equivalent, with a minimum of 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours and a GPA of 2.0 will enter as a junior and automatically meet the general education core requirements. Students earning an Associate’s degree at Life University and accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at the University will automatically meet the general education core requirements of the bachelor’s degree. 

Students transferring to Life University with an earned bachelor’s degree will also automatically meet the general education core requirements of the bachelor’s degree they are seeking at Life University. 

Students are not automatically exempted from General Education courses that are pre-requisites for upper-level courses in the various majors. Approval from the Assistant Dean of the area to waive the pre-requisites will be required.

CGUS Evaluation of Transfer Credit Policy

AS.035 

Life University College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies (CGUS) and the College of Online Education generally accepts courses from regionally or nationally accredited colleges, universities or programs provided the work is not of a highly specialized nature and a grade of C or better is earned.  Transfer Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions, published by the American Association of Collegiate Academic Registrars and Admissions Officers, is used as a guide in determining acceptability.

If the transfer evaluation does not indicate specific applicability for an acceptable course, general elective credit will be granted. General Education coursework will be accepted regardless of length of time since completion of coursework unless indicated otherwise below. Upper-level coursework completed more than 10 years prior to application will be considered on a case-by-case basis for transfer credit. Certain majors require a specific grade in some coursework or as a pre-requisite for enrollment in a subsequent course; transfer credit not meeting these grade requirements will not be accepted. However, appropriate placement test scores may be utilized to satisfy the time-limit requirement. Furthermore, certain majors where accreditation requires a time-limit for completed coursework or those majors where content changes on a routine basis, time-limit guidelines will be published in the program requirements listed in the university catalog. 

Baccalaureate Transfer Policies

All undergraduate students accepted to Life University with prior college or university course credit will receive an official transfer credit evaluation showing how the courses completed at each previous school will transfer.  Evaluations will include the total number of credits accepted, as well as a course-by-course breakdown indicating how each class may be applied toward CGUS graduation requirements.  Courses may be accepted as upper or lower division general electives, upper or lower division major or minor electives, or as directly equivalent University courses.

Life University uses the following policies to determine acceptability of courses in an undergraduate program:

• For undergraduate programs, an overall maximum of 75% of total credit hours required for the degree will be accepted.
• A maximum of 30 quarter credit hours, combined from the list below can come from alternative credit options:
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • Prometric DSST Exams (DANTES)
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB)
  • American Credit Evaluation (ACE) Military credits only
  • National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) approved credits
• Another 30 quarter credit hours maximum can come from military schools and training.
• All other transfer credits must come from accredited, Life University approved college transcripts.
• Transfer credits that are awarded under a semester system will be converted to quarter credit hours. Any conversion that has a partial credit hour of .50 or above will be rounded up to the next whole credit. Any conversion that has partial credit hour of less than .50 will be rounded down to the next whole credit. 
• The University will not accept transfer credits from a third-party transcript.  Each transfer course must be presented on the college transcript from which the course was completed. For International students, transcripts must be evaluated by Global Education Group, Josef Silny & Associates, World Education Services, or a NACES approved organization.
• Courses with a grade of Pass (P) will be considered if “P” is equivalent to a “C” or better.  This is determined by reviewing the grade scale of the institution where the course was completed.
• The University will not accept any course for credit that is described as having remedial or developmental content.

If a student disagrees with the way credit has been awarded, they may appeal through the appeals process as outlined in the University Catalog.

Transfer Guidelines for Full Admission

The following are minimum Transfer Applicant academic standards for full admission to Undergraduate degree-seeking programs:

• Official high school transcripts and official SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER scores must be submitted for/by transfer applicants with fewer than 36 quarter (24 semester) credit hours of transferable college credit. Unofficial transcripts and test scores may be initially acceptable for admission consideration.
• Transfer applicants must have earned a cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale as calculated by Life University. Life University’s Undergraduate programs use earned credits (or hours) from all nationally or regionally accredited colleges attended to compute the grade point average for admission to the programs.
• Transfer applicants who are not eligible to return to their last institution and/or those who have been dismissed from a previous institution will be considered for admission on a provisional basis.

For Transfer Students Who Do Not Meet Guidelines for Full Admission

Any transfer applicant who does not meet the Full Admission requirements will be considered for Provisional Admission. Students may be considered for admission and may be admitted under these provisional guidelines and required to fulfill requirements before and/or while attending.

• Transfer applicants who have earned a cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of lower than 2.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by Life University. Life University’s Undergraduate programs use earned credits (or hours) from all nationally and regionally accredited colleges attended to compute the grade point average for admission to the programs.
• Applicants who have a cumulative GPA below 2.0 will need to write an appeal letter, and their file will be sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee for review.
• Transfer Applicants who are not eligible to return to their last attended institution and/or those who have been dismissed from a previous institution must provide written   explanation and appropriate documentation in an appeal letter to the Undergraduate Admissions Committee.

Acceptance into the Undergraduate program does not imply acceptance into the Didactic program for Dietetics, Graduate programs, or College of Chiropractic.

Returning Undergraduate Students

Any previously enrolled undergraduate student who left in good standing and who has not been enrolled at Life University for less than three consecutive quarters must first petition for reactivation through the Registrar’s Office. If this describes you/your scenario, you are expected to complete and submit to the Registrar’s Office the Reactivation Form.

Former Life University students that must apply for readmission through the formal admissions process include:

• Students who have not been enrolled at Life University for three or more consecutive quarters
• Students who last attended as a transient student
• Students who are returning after academic dismissal
• Students who wish to change their status (such as transient to degree seeking, degree seeking to non-degree) 
• A new application to the Office of Admissions (apply.LIFE.edu) must be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and the Dean. 

• Undergraduate students who have been academically dismissed from Life University as a result of the Academic Standing Policy (AS.038) and the Dismissal Appeal Process may apply for re- entry into an undergraduate program after two academic quarters or one academic semester and pending satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12 semester credits/18 quarter credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. Re- admission is subject to review and approval by the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and the Dean to whom the program reports. 

• A student who is reinstated is automatically placed on academic probation until a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is achieved. Academic requirements will be determined by the Catalog in force at the time the student re-enrolls at the University. For further information concerning reinstatement, students should consult with the Office of Admissions. 

  Should a student be academically dismissed a second time, they will not be reinstated to any undergraduate program within the University. 

• F-1 visa international student who voluntarily or involuntarily remains out of the program for five (5) consecutive months or more, for any reason, must apply for readmission through the Office of Enrollment and submit all the required admissions documents and a new bank letter, sponsor letter, and pay a new SEVIS fee for the Department of Homeland Security fee to obtain a new I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for an F-1 visa (I-20) from Life University.

Admission Status

Accepted – Full: 
This status is assigned to each applicant whose completed record has been evaluated by the Office of Enrollment which subsequently recommends that the applicant meets the admission requirements and has submitted all required documentation. 

Accepted – Conditional: Applicants who have met minimum admission requirements but who are unable to provide one or more of the required application materials may be admitted conditionally in some instances and required to submit satisfactory final documents/credentials before explicit deadlines provided.

Applicants will be designated as conditionally accepted pending the receipt of their official transcripts indicating completion of prerequisite coursework and/or other required documentation. In cases in which coursework is completed but delivery of official transcripts and/or test scores is pending, enrollment may be permitted.

Upon completing conditions successfully, the applicant’s status will be, converted to an updated admission status if all conditions are met on or before the first day of classes.

Accepted – Provisional: This status is assigned to each applicant whose record has been evaluated by Enrollment who subsequently recommends that the applicant does not meet the admission requirements for full acceptance. This recommendation is presented to the Admissions Committee and/or the Dean of the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies. An applicant may be accepted by the Committee and/or the Dean with outstanding requirements.

Upon completing the provisions of acceptance successfully, the applicant’s status will be converted to an updated admission status if all provisions are met on or before the first day of classes.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Accepted – Student-at-Large: Student-at-large status, which includes Auditing or Transient students, is designed for students who wish to take a limited number of undergraduate courses that are related to their personal interest, academic or professional background. Students who do not necessarily want to receive a degree from Life University or who do not meet the requirements for full standing or provisional admission acceptance may apply for student-at-large status and, at a later time, apply for full standing. Students accepted under this status are not enrolled as degree seeking students in an undergraduate degree program and, therefore, do not qualify for financial aid.

1. There is no limit to the number of hours that may be accumulated as a student-at-large, but if the student seeks to matriculate as a student in full standing and subsequently earn a degree, the last academic year of said degree must be taken as a full standing admitted student.
2. If a student seeks acceptance status to the undergraduate program as a degree-seeking student, all required admissions materials must be submitted for review. It is the prerogative of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and/or the Dean to accept or reject the application for undergraduate study.

Accepted – Transient: Transient students are those who are admitted to Life University to take a selected course or courses, but who are not transferring credits from another educational institution toward a degree at Life University.

A transient student must submit the following to be admitted:

1. A completed Life University application.
2. A letter from the home institution indicating that the student is in good academic standing.
3. Documentation of completion of prerequisites required for specific courses to be taken.

Accepted – Auditing: Students-at-large wishing to audit classes at Life University may apply at the Office of Enrollment Services (Admissions). Auditing placement is based upon registration seating availability. Proper paperwork obtained from both the Office of Enrollment Services (Admissions) and the Office of the Registrar must be filed before the quarter begins. No credit is granted for courses scheduled on an auditing basis. Students are not permitted to change to or from an auditing status except through the regular procedures for admissions acceptance and registration schedule change. The grade for auditing is “AU” for Audit and students will not be permitted to have the audit grade changed at any future date.

Auditing is available to students, staff, and faculty as well as interested persons from the general public.

Students who are auditing are not allowed to take tests but may, at the instructor’s discretion, observe practical/lab examinations.

International students who need an F-1 visa cannot enroll in the non-degree programs. However, they can dual-enroll in the non-degree programs while enrolled in one of the degree programs at Life University.

Offer of Admission Acceptance and Confirmation

An applicant admitted to Life University is expected to enroll in the academic program and the quarter for which they have applied and been admitted.  The admitted student may request to defer their start term within 3 quarters from the quarter for which they were originally accepted.

• The deferral request must be submitted in writing to the Office of Enrollment (Admissions) a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the quarter for which they were originally admitted. The request can be submitted by email to the student’s Admissions Counselor via email or mail, specifying their name and original term of admission and specifying the term for which they wish to defer their enrollment as well as a brief description of the reason for the deferral.
• All applicants requesting a deferral are required to reapply for admission, as well as resubmit any required documents and/or application processing fees. 
• Life University reserves the right to request any or all of the required admission materials, updated credentials or documentation, and/or application processing fees for reapplication. 
• In order to accept an offer of admission, confirm plans to enroll, and reserve a seat in the entering class, admitted students are required to submit the applicable $125 Enrollment Fee before the start of the term.  
• The Enrollment Fee is non-refundable and non-waivable. 
• The Enrollment Fee is non-transferable within 30 days of the quarter’s start date and can only be transferred once. 
• All newly admitted applicants and returning students are required to submit the Enrollment Fee. 
• The Enrollment Fee can only be paid online through the Application Portal at apply.LIFE.edu. 
• Late applications (completed after published deadlines) that are considered for and earn admission are required to submit the Enrollment Fee within 7 days of the admission notification.

Denied Acceptance

This status is assigned to each applicant whose file has been deemed complete and evaluated by the Office of Enrollment, presented to the Admissions Committee, and subsequently denied acceptance by the Dean of the College.

Course Placement

Any new student lacking transfer credit for college level English Composition and/or College Algebra must present SAT/ACT scores including the essay portion of the test upon admission to Life University. If the essay portion of the SAT/ACT was not taken, the student will be required to take an Accuplacer test for course placement prior to the start of the quarter in which they intend to matriculate.

Exemption from testing may be considered with satisfactory completion of certain college level courses.

SAT, ACT, and ACCUPLACER Requirements

SAT, ACT and ACCUPLACER Advising and Course Placement Guidelines

The following scores are considered baseline thresholds for course placement. SAT scores reflect the newly revised SAT test:

• English – ACT English score of 18; SAT subscore of 25; If ACCUPLACER Essay of 6.
• Math – ACT math score of 20; SAT math score of 510; or ACCUPLACER Next Generation Math of 245
• Reading – ACT Reading score of 18; SAT subscore of 25; or ACCUPLACER Next Generation Reading score of 237 

Admitted students will be informed, if they are required to take an ACCUPLACER test or other placement test and submit their scores prior to the start of their first quarter.  In many instances, placement in English and Math courses will be based on ACT/SAT or ACCUPLACER test scores.

Academic Year 2022-2023

In order to ensure that all qualified undergraduate and graduate applicants have an equal opportunity for admission consideration, the University is waiving its SAT, ACT, and GRE test requirements for those students who anticipate matriculating for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. Applicants may choose to submit test scores if they have them, but the absence of SAT or ACT scores will not be a limiting factor nor impact admissions evaluation.

Transfer Credit

Students shall receive transfer credit for transferable college courses that are substantially equivalent to those of Life University in content, quality and contact hours. In order for a student to receive transfer credit, the course(s) under consideration must have been:

1. Work equivalent to undergraduate college level or above (e.g., 100 level or above and/or not developmental, pre-college, or remedial; acceptable credit by exam scores)
2. Earned at or through a regionally or nationally accredited institution or approved testing agency if credit by exam. 

3. Satisfactorily completed with a minimum grade of “C” or better (grade “P” = pass may also be considered). 


International credits may be considered based on the submission of official international transcripts, and an official international transcript evaluation conducted by an approved international evaluation service. These hours must be equivalent to courses taught at Life University. Equivalency is determined by the department.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (A.P.), International Baccalaureate (I.B.), &  DSST Exams through Prometric

A maximum of 30 total quarter hours may be earned toward a degree by CLEP and/or AP credit. A maximum of 10 quarter hours of coursework achieved by CLEP or AP may be applied toward credit in any one discipline (i.e. business, history, humanities, math, or social sciences).

CLEP tests may not be taken in place of courses that include a substantial lab or research component, such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Students must wait three months to retake a CLEP exam for which they did not receive a score of 50 or above. 

Exams should be taken at least one quarter before graduation (or enrollment if being used for admission consideration) in order to insure delivery of scores on time. It is the student’s responsibility to have the testing agency forward the scores to Life University. Students currently enrolled in the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies should have their scores sent to the Registrar’s Office, and students not yet registered should send scores directly to the Office of Enrollment (Admissions).

AP credit, students must receive a score of 3 or higher on the test (for laboratory sciences, one must score a 4 or higher). This information is subject to change. Please check with Enrollment or the related website for specifics.

Note: Laboratory science credit to be applied toward entry into the chiropractic program may not be earned through CLEP Certification and AP credit requires a lab component.

International Baccalaureate (IB). The University awards academic credit for test scores of four (4) or higher on individual higher-level IB courses and for scores of five (5) or higher on individual standard-level IB course. All credit awarded will be recorded on the student’s permanent record and will be included in the credit total toward degree requirements. Credit will be awarded for 100-and 200-level course. Credits awarded may count toward the major program or general education requirements.   The total credit allowed for IB courses must fall in line as outlined in the then current University Catalog, as maximum transfer credit for IB is considered in conjunction with CLEP, DANTES, AP, and NCCRS.

DSST exams through Prometric. The University awards academic credit for test scores of 400 or higher for all DSST exams listed in the chart above. All credit awarded will be recorded on the student’s permanent record and will be included in the credit total toward degree requirements. Credits awarded may count toward the major program or general education requirements. The total credit allowed for DSST exams must fall in line as outlined in the then current University Catalog, as maximum transfer credit for DSST is considered in conjunction with CLEP, DANTES, DSST, AP, and NCCRS.

Credit hours earned through CLEP, AP, or other exams for credit do not count toward a student’s grade point average (GPA).

Life University recognizes the following AP exams:

(Subject to change, check with Enrollment or the related website for specifics)

Life University recognizes the following CLEP exams:

(Subject to change, check with Enrollment or the related website for specifics)

Life University recognizes the following IB exams:

(Subject to change, check with Enrollment or the related website for specifics)

IB Score Rubric

HL = Higher Learning              SL = Standard Level

Life University recognizes the following DSST exams:

(Subject to change, check with Enrollment or the related website for specifics)

Undergraduate Directed Study

Criteria for directed study for courses in the undergraduate program:

1. Directed study may be awarded in the final 30 quarter credit hours to students who have scheduling conflicts and/or need special academic requirements.
2. Directed study may be requested for a maximum of five credit hours (and may not exceed 25 total credit hours for the quarter).
3. Directed study must be approved by the Dean or the Dean’s designate.
4. Directed study will not be allowed for courses with labs; i.e., science or computer-intensive courses or for courses being offered in on-line modality during the quarter requested.

Accelerated Courses:

Undergraduate students who have a GPA of 2.5 or above and are not currently on a provisional or probational academic performance contract may enroll in accelerated courses.

Minor Programs:

A minor program is a prescribed area of academic study defined by the particular department consisting of at least 25 quarter hours of which 50% are 300 and/or 400 level courses. These hours will not duplicate hours for any degree.

Double Major Programs:

A major program is a prescribed area of academic study defined by the particular department consisting of at least 30 quarter hours of 300 and/or 400 level courses in the specific discipline (major). These hours will not duplicate hours for any other degree.

Dual Degrees:

A student must earn a minimum of 45 quarter hours of residency credit to obtain a second baccalaureate degree and meet all requirements for a second degree, including prerequisites, in excess of the credit hours required for any previous degree earned. The student must earn the first baccalaureate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.

An associate degree may be earned by a student who has completed all requirements of a baccalaureate or another associate degree. This degree requires a minimum of 25 quarter hours of residency credit in excess of the credit hours required for any previous degree earned. The student must earn the first degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Class Attendance:

(Refer to section on Academic Policies & Information.)

Deficient Grades:

When a student has received an incomplete grade in any subject, it is the responsibility of the student to see that the situation is resolved within the first week of the next quarter.

All incomplete grades that are not converted by Friday of Week 2 of the following quarter will automatically convert to an “F”.

NOTE: A grade of “F” or “NP” is not removed from the permanent record nor is an “F” removed the calculation of the cumulative average when the course is repeated. When students receive an “Incomplete,” they must consult with the instructor to determine what coursework/exams are necessary to remove the Incomplete.

Final Examinations:

Final examinations are compulsory at the scheduled date, time and place as published at the beginning of each quarter. Exceptions are granted by permission of the instructor and written approval of the Dean of the College.

Participation in Graduation Ceremonies

Life University holds graduation exercises each quarter. Students may only participate in a graduation ceremony if they have completed or are scheduled to complete all requirements by the date of the graduation ceremony. The University reserves the right to alter the minimum requirements for participation in the graduation ceremonies. No one will be considered as having graduated until all requirements are fulfilled.

Graduate Studies

Please visit Graduate Studies  to learn more about LIFE’s graduate programs. 

Return to: College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies