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| Joan Hinde Stewart, Dean Ina Rae Hark, Associate Dean Gordon B. Smith, Associate Dean Mary Ann Byrnes, Assistant Dean Kristia H. Finnigan, Assistant Dean OverviewThe College of Liberal Arts consists of the Departments of Anthropology; Art; English; French and Classics; Geography; Germanic, Slavic, and East Asian Languages and Literatures; Government and International Studies; History; Philosophy; Psychology; Religious Studies; Sociology; Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese; Theatre, Speech, and Dance; and programs in African American Studies, Classical Studies, Contemporary European Studies, Film Studies, Latin American Studies, Southern Studies, and Women's Studies. Through departmental and interdepartmental programs in these areas, the college offers the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. It also offers an undergraduate degree program in economics. The college additionally includes interdepartmental programs in comparative literature and linguistics, which offer degree programs only at the graduate level. The Departments of Aerospace Studies, Military Science, and Naval Science administer the University's ROTC programs. The TRIO programs offer a variety of academic and support services to students from middle school through graduate school. In addition to serving students majoring in any of the established liberal arts disciplines, the constituent departments of the college offer courses included in the general degree requirements and elective options for all baccalaureate students at the University. The departments of the college also participate actively in South Carolina Honors College. The Department of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In the Department of Psychology, the graduate degrees in clinical/community psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association; graduate degrees in school psychology are accredited by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the National Association of School Psychologists, with the doctoral program also being accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Master of Public Administration degree offered by the Department of Government and International Studies is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. The Department of Theatre, Speech, and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the University/Resident Theatre Association, and is affiliated with the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. Entrance RequirementsNew freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Liberal Arts from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Liberal Arts from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements: 1. be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher Some programs in the College of Liberal Arts have special admission requirements established by the department or committee which supervises the specific degree program. These requirements are listed below in the sections of this bulletin which describe department and special degree programs. Progression RequirementsTo remain in a degree program offered by the College of Liberal Arts, a student must make satisfactory academic progress toward the degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation or removed from the college. In addition, all students in the college are subject to the regulations on probation, suspension, and readmission in the section of this bulletin entitled "Academic Standing." The faculty of the College of Liberal Arts recognizes the importance of clear, precise, and correct writing as part of a liberal education. Therefore, the faculty encourages the assignment of written work and fully supports professors who refuse to accept written material which fails to meet reasonable standards of organization, development, coherence, and acceptable English usage. Attendance RequirementsEnrollment in a course obligates the student not only for prompt completion of all work assigned but also for punctual and regular attendance and for participation in whatever class discussion may occur. It is the students responsibility to keep informed concerning all assignments made. Absences, whether excused or unexcused, do not absolve the student from this responsibility. Absence from more than 10 percent of the scheduled class sessions, whether excused or unexcused, is excessive, and the instructor may choose to exact a grade penalty for such absences. GraduationIn order to be eligible for graduation, students in the College of Liberal Arts must meet all course requirements, be in good standing, meet any departmental or program requirements, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on all work attempted at USC. Department and program requirements appear under the appropriate departmental listing. CurriculaThe curricula established for all baccalaureate degrees awarded by the college include a set of courses that fulfill general education requirements, a set of courses that comprise a departmental major, a set of courses that comprise a cognate or minor, and several hours of free elective courses. A course may be used to fulfill only one requirement. A student who chooses to concentrate in one of the major areas prescribed above is advised to read carefully the statement of the major department or program on the following pages and to consult frequently with the major advisor. No student will be permitted to change a major field of study during the final 30 hours of academic work. General Education Requirements. Degree candidates in the College of Liberal Arts must satisfy the general education requirements. These requirements are designed to provide students with a broad experience in the liberal arts and sciences and opportunities to develop intellectual skills in analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, as well as competence in written and oral communication. General education is not defined by subject matter alone, but rather by an attitude toward the world which emphasizes intelligent functioning as a human being. Through the general education requirements, students are provided with opportunities to learn and apply the modes of inquiry essential to each discipline and to develop the following skills, perspectives, and attitudes. Writing: Fluency in writing is essential for success in college work and for effectiveness as an educated person. Foreign Language: The study of a foreign language enables students both to develop an important skill and to gain an appreciation of the uniqueness of a foreign culture as reflected in its language. History and cultural awareness: Students must be informed about the traditions that are part of our cultural heritage and must have some understanding of the forces, figures, and events that shaped American history, as well as basic knowledge of other cultures. Mathematics and analytical reasoning: Students must be able to reason logically and understand analytical and quantitative ideas. Natural sciences: Direct experience in science through both the lecture and the laboratory is essential for students to function as informed citizens in matters of science and technology and to understand the complexities of science, the risks and benefits of its applications. Philosophy: The study of philosophy provides students with a formal introduction to issues of fundamental human importance, such as the nature of humankind and the criteria for knowledge and moral decisions, and fosters the development of skills in clear thinking, rational evaluations, and critical self-reflection. Fine arts, literature, and the humanities: These disciplines provide students with an understanding and appreciation of aesthetic, cultural, and ethical values. Social sciences: The study of human behavior and questions regarding the possibilities and the limitations of the human condition are essential parts of general education. Each student must complete the specified number of hours or attain the desired level of achievement in the groups of courses outlined below. Note that the credit hours required in these groups vary somewhat between the B.A. and B.S. degrees. In planning the course of study during the first two years, a student should give precedence to courses that satisfy the general education requirements. Students must complete English 101 and 102 within the first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation. Major Options. Every degree candidate in the college must successfully complete a major program of study, approved by a major advisor, that meets the major requirements of the department or program. A general major consists of at least 24 hours of approved advanced study in the students field of interest. An intensive major requires 36 to 48 hours of approved advanced study; no special notation will appear on the students transcript or diploma. The intensive major is often conceived specifically as preparation for professional or graduate study. A minimum grade of C is required for any course submitted for fulfillment of general or intensive major requirements. At least half of the major courses must be taken in residence in the College of Liberal Arts in order to apply to the degree. Interdisciplinary Studies. The College of Liberal Arts offers the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies for students who want a program of interdisciplinary studies without a major in a single department or in a structured interdepartmental degree program (e.g., African American Studies). For details see the section entitled "Interdisciplinary Studies." Double Major. A student may elect to complete a double major by satisfying the collegiate and departmental requirements in each of two departments. This will include at least 48 semester hours of major work under the following options: 1. both majors in the College of Liberal Arts In cases where one degree program leads to a B.A. and the other to a B.S. degree, a student must designate one as the official degree of record. Fulfillment of the requirements for the second major will be indicated on the students official transcript. Approval by the dean(s) is required for a double major. A double major eliminates the cognate requirement. Cognates. In addition to satisfactorily completing all courses in the major field of study, a student must also satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 hours in advanced courses related to the major, but outside the major, as prescribed by the major department. The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. Cognate courses may be drawn from one or more departments, depending on the individual interests and requirements of the student as judged by the departmental advisor. A cognate differs from a minor in that the courses must be above prerequisite level and may be distributed over more than one subject area. All cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. Courses offered by departments and programs in the College of Liberal Arts which are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined below; for cognate course offerings in other departments or colleges, consult the appropriate section of this bulletin. Aerospace Studies: all numbered 300 and above Minors. In place of the cognate a student in the College of Liberal Arts may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the dean. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. At least half of the hours in the students minor must be taken at the University. Minors are available in participating departments of the College of Liberal Arts and in other colleges. For descriptions of specific minors, students should see their academic advisors. Areas from Liberal ArtsAerospace Studies; African Studies; African American Studies; Ancient Greek Literature; Anthropology; Art/Art History; Classical Studies; Comparative Literature; Economics; English; Film Studies; French; Geography; German; Government and International Studies; History; Italian; Japanese; Latin; Latin American Studies; Linguistics; Media Arts; Medical Humanities; Military Science; Naval Science; Philosophy; Psychology; Religious Studies; Renaissance Studies; Russian; Sociology; South Carolina Studies; Southern Studies; Spanish; Theatre, Speech, and Dance; and Womens Studies. Other Colleges and DepartmentsComputer Science and Engineering; Criminal Justice; Moore School of Business; Education (Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education for French, Latin, and Spanish only); Environmental Studies; Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management; Journalism and Mass Communications; Music; Physical Education/Coaching; Science and Mathematics; and Social Work. Electives. The B.A. and B.S. degrees require the successful completion of at least 120 credit hours in academic subjects. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may be applied as credit toward a degree in the College of Liberal Arts. To encourage the student to select electives that will broaden the educational background and to strike out into areas that might otherwise be neglected, the College of Liberal Arts allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Basic Degree Requirements in Liberal Arts(120 total hours required) (53-62 hours B.A.) (56-65 hours B.S.) 1. College Core1Writing (B.A.) (B.S.) ENGL 101, 102 (6) (6) Must be passed with grade of C or higher Foreign Languages Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees.2 (0-9) (0-9) History European: HIST 101 or 102 (3) (3) Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning MATH 122 or 141, plus an additional course from mathematics (at a higher level), PHIL 110, 111, statistics, computer science; or two courses from one of the following fields: PHIL 110, 111, statistics, computer science3 (6) (6) Mathematics/Statistics B.S. candidates only, mathematics and statistics as specified by the major department (-) (9) Laboratory Sciences Two laboratory courses selected from the following fields: astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, marine science, physics (8) (8) Philosophical Reasoning Course in philosophy, excluding 110, 111 (3) (3) 2. Distribution RequirementsHumanities4 Fine Arts (3) (3) Social Sciences4 Courses selected from anthropology, economics, geography, government and international studies, WOST 112, psychology, sociology5 (9) (6) 3. Cultural Awareness and Writing Emphasis RequirementsStudents must complete the specified number of courses in each of these areas, but may use these courses to satisfy other degree requirements except where specifically restricted. Cultural Awareness6 (9) (9) hours A minimum of three courses, with at least one course from each of the following: 1. a course treating in some specific way the culture of the students foreign language Writing Emphasis* (6) (6) hours Six hours of courses with substantial writing and revision components. These courses are designated by a W suffix. W-courses may be used to satisfy other requirements with the exception of freshman English. 4. Major Requirements 7 (24-60) (24-60) hoursOne of the following options (at least half of the major courses must be taken in residence at the College of Liberal Arts in order to apply to the degree) 5. Cognate or Minor (12-18) (12-18) hours6. Electives1Students are encouraged to demonstrate the level of accomplishment represented by core courses by means of advanced examinations. See the section on advanced placement in the "Admissions" section. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art are outlined in the departmental section for art, for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education in the departmental section for art, and for the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in the "Interdisciplinary Studies" section. AdvisementStudents who wish to pursue a degree program in the College of Liberal Arts must be admitted to the college and advised within the college. Freshmen are normally advised by the colleges advisors in the Office of the Dean. Upon the completion of the first 30 hours, students are sent to the major department where they are assigned a major program advisor who is responsible for planning and approving the program of study. Students must see their academic advisors at least once each semester for assistance in planning their academic program. No student will be allowed to complete the registration process without an advisement form approved by an assigned faculty advisor. Each student must arrange for a senior records check in the deans office during the next to last semester before graduation. Any deficiencies in general education, major, minor, or cognate requirements will be noted. This information should form the basis for the students final academic advisement. It is the responsibility of each student to understand and complete all requirements for the degree. Each student should obtain a copy of the Guidelines for Advisement from the deans office. The students major department and major advisor are responsible for interpreting and applying major, minor, and cognate requirements. When special problems arise, the student may consult the associate dean. Career DevelopmentThe Career Development Program in the College of Liberal Arts aims to complement academic advising by assisting liberal arts students in clarifying career directions. Students are encouraged to begin the process of career planning as early as possible, normally in the freshman year. Career counselors are available in the University Career Center to assist students in gaining an understanding of the students own interests, values, abilities, and personality, the nature of a liberal arts education and the related marketable skills, and the numerous career opportunities available for liberal arts students. The University Career Center provides individual career counseling, testing, workshops, networking and job shadowing opportunities, job search seminars, and a career planning library. In addition, students are encouraged to complement their academic studies with career-related work experience such as internships, cooperative education, part-time work experience, or volunteer work. The University Career Center provides advisors with career resource listings to assist them in referring students to the center. Right of PetitionA student may seek relief from academic standards and regulations by appealing to the Scholastic Standards and Petitions Committee of the College of Liberal Arts. Information on procedures may be obtained from the deans office. Special OpportunitiesThe college endorses the use of departmental independent study courses to further students intellectual pursuits in alternative ways. Before students may register for an independent study course, they must present a completed independent study contract which has been approved by the instructor selected for the independent study project, the major advisor, and the dean. No student may apply more than 15 hours of independent study credits toward the degree. Unless approved as a part of the major, minor, or cognate, independent study courses will be graded only on a Pass-Fail basis. A grade point average of 2.50 or greater is required to enroll in independent study courses. The college operates a cooperative computer assistance program through its Liberal Arts Computing Laboratory and encourages students to use its facilities. The Opportunity Scholars Program (OSP) is a division of TRIO Programs. It selects promising South Carolina applicants who require educational opportunities. The OSP offers students specially designed freshman courses and academic support services to help ensure their success at the University of South Carolina. Academic tutoring and support services are available to these students throughout their career at the University. Minor in Medical HumanitiesGeorge Khushf, Director This minor is designed primarily for students intending to go into medicine. It will provide an understanding of the ethical issues as well as a selective examination of sociocultural, legal, economic, and political factors that condition medical knowledge and practice. The minor will also be valuable for students interested in health law or other areas directly related to the health professions. Application. Students must complete an application and qualify for the medical humanities minor. Applications can be submitted any time after the freshman year (30 credit hours completed). Normally, students will be expected to have at least a 3.30 grade point average. Applications will be evaluated by a Medical Humanities Education Committee, and they will be judged on overall academic merit. Application forms can be obtained from the Department of Philosophy, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the Honors College. Opportunity to Participate in Honors College Courses. Several courses in the medical humanities minor will be offered as honors courses. Students minoring in medical humanities will be able to take these courses, and they will have priority in registration, even over Honors College students who are not minoring in medical humanities. This will provide students outside of the Honors College with the opportunity to do extensive course work in the Honors College. Requirements. Eighteen credit hours are required to satisfy the minor. There is one required course (three credit hours). Three additional courses (nine credit hours) must be chosen from offerings in Group A. Remaining courses (six credit hours) can be chosen from either Group A or Group B. Additional honors proseminars in the medical humanities may satisfy minor requirements in either Group A or B, provided the course substitutions are approved by the Medical Humanities Education Committee. Required Courses PHIL 312 Medical Ethics Group A. Choose at least three of the following courses: Group B: One or two courses may be selected from the following: Special College Courses (COLA)
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