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Course Numbering
Courses numbered from 101 to 699 are available at different levels for undergraduate credit. Courses numbered from 700 to 899 may be taken for graduate credit only and are described in the Graduate Studies Bulletin. All courses numbered from 101 to 499 are for four-year baccalaureate degree candidates. Courses numbered from 500 to 699 may be taken by advanced undergraduate and graduate students for undergraduate or graduate credit, respectively. A 500- to 600-level course taken for undergraduate credit cannot later be awarded graduate credit.
Course Credit
The credit value of each course is usually determined by the amount of formal instructional time per week for one semester. At least 700 minutes of instruction (and at least twice that for laboratory time) can be expected per credit hour. The semester hour credit for each course is included in each course description.
No student suspended from the University of South Carolina for any reason may earn academic credit during the period of suspension, whether by residence elsewhere or by correspondence courses of any origin.
Remedial courses (courses numbered 100 or below) may not be used to meet degree requirements.
Credit by Examination
Currently enrolled students may obtain credit by examination in a course in which they have had no class attendance or semester standing; permission must, however, be obtained from the dean of the college or department chair in which the course is offered. A grade of not less than B on the examination is necessary in order to receive credit for the course. Examinations are not permitted in courses in which a student previously has been enrolled regularly or as an auditor. The applicant must pay to the Office of Financial Services in advance of the examination a fee of $25 per semester hour; this fee is not refundable. The Office of Financial Services will issue a receipt which must be shown to the head of the department conducting the examination, who shall immediately report the results of the examination to the Office of the University Registrar. Credits earned under this regulation are recorded with hours earned only.
Transfer Credit
Students transferring to the University from another college or university must, before enrolling in class at the University, have their transcripts evaluated by the director of admissions and the dean of the college in which they are enrolled. It is only in the light of such evaluation that students will know definitely which transferred courses will be applicable toward USC degree requirements.
Academic courses completed at regionally accredited institutions are normally transferable to the University of South Carolina, although, as a general rule, courses that are occupational or technical in nature; essentially remedial in nature; from a two-year institution which are considered upper division or upper level at the University; or from a two-year institution that are not listed as part of that institution’s college parallel program are not acceptable in transfer to the University of South Carolina. Exceptions to this rule may be made only by the dean of the college in which the student is majoring and only in specific cases where such courses are judged to be uniquely relevant to the student’s degree program.
A student transferring from an institution not accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association may validate by examination hours earned at the unaccredited institution. Full information concerning validation procedures may be obtained from the dean of each college.
No transfer credit will be accepted for a course that is equivalent to one at this university in which the student was previously enrolled, unless the student was enrolled full time at least one year at the transfer institution. Similarly, students cannot receive degree credit for a course taken at the University if they have received transfer credit for an equivalent course taken previously at another institution.
Credit for summer school, correspondence, and extension work completed at other institutions by a degree-seeking University student will not be accepted by transfer if the student has previously been enrolled in an equivalent course in the University. Credit for other courses will be accepted only under the conditions that each course has been approved in advance by the head of the department or the dean of the college concerned and such approval filed with the Office of the University Registrar; and each course has been passed with a grade adequate for transfer purposes.
The Request to Earn Credit through Special Enrollment form (AS-30) is available from the Office of the University Registrar or from the student’s college dean.
Credits earned while a student is on academic suspension from the University cannot be applied toward a degree or used in improving the grade point average.
A maximum of 30 semester hours earned by correspondence and credit awarded for educational experiences in the military may be applied toward meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Hours of credit which may be awarded for educational experiences in the military should be in accordance with recommendations published by the American Council on Education and be consistent with University policy on the transfer of credit but will only be applied to a degree program upon the approval of the dean of the college from which the degree is to be awarded.
A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit earned while classified as a nondegree special student in the University may be applied toward meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
A student planning to pursue work at other institutions or through correspondence must complete this work before attaining senior classification (90 semester hours). The last 30 credits (representing the senior year’s work) must be earned in residence at the University, and at least half of the hours in the student’s major courses and in the student’s minor courses (if applicable) must be taken at the University. Some programs impose higher student residence and/or major requirements.
Earning Credit in Transient Status
Since the University is accountable for the integrity of its degrees, it is essential that degree programs be closely monitored by University faculty. Therefore, students entering the University to seek a degree should expect to complete the majority of their academic work at the University of South Carolina. Normally students who wish to earn more than a semester of credit at another institution should meet all requirements and transfer to that institution. In some programs, and with the permission of the academic dean, students may take up to 18 semester hours of courses in transient status provided they have a 2.00 USC grade point average; the courses are approved in advance by the academic advisor and dean; and the other institution is fully accredited and the course work meets University specifications for transfer credits.
Study abroad or in special academic programs within the United States may be of particular benefit to students, and the University cooperates in a variety of national and international exchange programs in which students may pursue up to a year of academic work at another institution. Special permission is granted to students in these programs with the advance approval of the academic advisor and dean.
Course Load
Maximum credit limits, published in the Master Schedule of Classes, also vary according to college policy. Students will not be permitted to register for a semester load in excess of that prescribed for their program of study unless they earned an average of B or better on all courses for which they were enrolled (minimum 12 semester hours) for the preceding semester. New students are eligible for an extra course if they submit to the academic dean satisfactory evidence of equivalent academic achievement. Students eligible for an additional course on this basis must obtain prior approval for each course addition from the dean of their college. No course may be added after the last date to change course schedule or drop without a grade of W being recorded, as published in the academic and refund calendars on the registrar’s Web site. (Note: This regulation does not apply to aerospace studies, Army or naval science courses, which may be added to a course program during the regular registration period without special approval.)
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in 12 semester hours or more for the fall and spring semester are considered full time for academic purposes. During a regular summer session an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 6 semester hours or more to be considered a full-time student for academic purposes. Students who have been verified as learning disabled by the Office of Student Disability Services must be enrolled in 9 semester hours or more for the fall or spring semester and 3 hours in any summer session to be considered full-time students with regard to access to University residence halls and eligibility for financial aid, provided this is consistent with their academic advisory plan.
Graduate students who are enrolled in 9 semester hours or more for the fall or spring semester are considered full time for academic purposes. During a regular summer session a graduate student must be enrolled in 3 semester hours or more to be considered a full-time student for academic purposes.
Full-time fees for undergraduate students are calculated on 12 to 16 semester hours. Full-time status for graduate students with assistantships is determined by the dean of The Graduate School.
Full-time benefits for veterans are determined by the Office of Veterans Services.
Auditing
A student must be admitted to the University and go through the regular registration process to be eligible for auditing any course. All auditors must be admitted to the University and go through the regular registration process. Those who are not full-time students will be charged the same fees as for courses taken for academic credit.
Auditing a course consists of attending classes and listening without responsibility for any assignments or examinations. An auditor is not responsible for any assignments or examinations. No record of audit shall appear on a transcript unless a student attends 75 percent of the classes.
No credit may be earned in an audited course by examination or otherwise. No audited course may be repeated for credit at a later date except by those students who have been verified as learning disabled by the Office of Student Disability Services and whose academic advisory plan recommends auditing a specific course before it is taken for credit.
The applicant must complete the prescribed procedure for enrollment through the Office of the University Registrar before class attendance will be permitted.
Students who have registered for a course on an audit basis and who wish to change their registration to take the course for credit (or who wish to change from credit to audit) must do so no later than the last day to change course schedule or drop without a grade of W being recorded, as published in the academic and refund calendars on the registrar’s Web site.
Correspondence Courses
Correspondence courses are administered through the Office of Distance Education and Instructional Support. Undergraduates may receive credit for correspondence courses taken concurrently with their regular academic work. Students must request permission to enroll in such courses on a form available from the Office of the University Registrar or the Office of Distance Education and Instructional Support. Enrollment must be approved in advance by the dean of the college in which the student is registered. If registration for such a course would result in a course load exceeding the recommendations of the college in which the students are enrolled, they must obtain approval from the dean of their college as outlined in the “Course Load” section above. Courses taken by correspondence may not be used to make up full-time enrollment status for loan deferments and will not appear on the academic record until completed and a grade is assigned. Correspondence courses are not considered as “in-residence” credit. No correspondence course will be counted toward the 12 hours required for either the President’s or Dean’s Honor List. A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit by correspondence and of credit awarded for educational experiences in the military may be applied toward meeting the requirements for a baccalaureate degree.
Independent Study
The purpose of the independent study option is to allow the student to pursue an area of academic interest not adequately covered by the regular course structure. The experience shall involve an academic product that is consistent with the student’s program of study.
Prior to enrolling in an undergraduate independent study course, a student must complete an Independent Study Contract (AS-6). The approval of the instructor, advisor, department chair, and student’s dean is required. Students then present their approved copy to the Office of the University Registrar before registering for the course. Only students who take independent study as part of their major or minor or cognate program may receive grade-point credit for independent study. All other students will receive Pass-Fail credit. Students who take independent study on a Pass-Fail basis cannot later receive grade points, even if the student transfers to another major, minor, or cognate otherwise qualifying the course work as appropriate for grade points. This ruling is not reversible by petition.
A grade point average of 2.50 or greater is required to enroll in independent study courses. The amount of credit for independent study per semester is limited to 6 hours. Independent study credits applied toward any undergraduate degree may account for no more than 10 percent of the total required credit hours for that degree.
Repetition of Course Work
When a course is repeated, both grades will be entered on the student’s permanent academic record and included in the grade point average, unless the grade forgiveness policy is applied. Course credit toward graduation will be given only once, unless otherwise stipulated in the course description. Many academic programs restrict the number of times a course may be repeated. Consult the college and department section of the bulletin for such restrictions.
International Courses (INTL) / Study Abroad
501— Study Abroad—USC Exchange. (1-16) This course keeps a USC student active while on a pre-approved USC exchange program.
502 — Study Abroad—Non-USC Program. (1-16) This course keeps a USC student active while on a pre-approved non-USC study abroad program.
503 — Study Abroad—Through Another U.S. Institution. (1-16) This course keeps a USC student active while on a pre-approved non-USC study abroad program through another U.S. institution of higher education.
Senior Privilege – Enrollment in Graduate Courses
A special provision to earn graduate credit is available for USC undergraduate seniors in their final semester who need less than a normal course load to complete baccalaureate requirements. Overload enrollment that includes one or more courses under senior privilege is not allowed. Courses for graduate credit under senior privilege cannot be used toward undergraduate degree requirements. For senior privilege consideration, undergraduate seniors with a 3.00 GPA should submit to The Graduate School, for the graduate dean’s approval, form GS19 endorsed by the student’s advisor, the chair of the department offering the course, and the academic dean for that department. This action should be taken before registration.
Accelerated Degree Programs
Certain academic units offer accelerated programs whereby an undergraduate student with a GPA of 3.40 and 90 or more hours toward the baccalaureate degree may apply graduate credits to a baccalaureate program. Admission can be requested by students in consultation with their academic advisor, their undergraduate dean, and the graduate director of the proposed master’s program. An application form and associated guidelines may be obtained from The Graduate School.
Several of the University’s colleges and schools are involved with a variety of accelerated degree programs. For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, USC, Columbia, SC 29208, phone 803-777-7700.
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