Completing the Research pathway can help you to investigate a topic of interest, communicate your findings to relevant audiences, and explain the significance of your findings. At USC, research is broadly defined as a scholarly effort, generally beyond-the-classroom, aimed at developing a student’s skills in inquiry through opportunities to contribute to and/or pursue original intellectual or creative work.
The first step towards pursuing Graduation with Leadership Distinction in Research is to complete the GLD Orientation.
Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience
You must participate in a research or discovery project for a minimum of two (2) semesters. Research or discovery projects completed within a course may be used to fulfill the core experience requirement; however, core experiences may not be double counted toward fulfilling the coursework requirement.
To explore potential research opportunities you can search the My USC Experience Database and contact the Office of Undergraduate Research to begin you research experience.
If you are involved in a research project or independent study, you must enter your research project into the Research Registry (through the Office of Undergraduate Research). CIEL cannot verify your research without this step. Registering a project typically takes less than 10 minutes. If you have been involved in research outside of USC, please contact CIEL@sc.edu for more information on the verification process.
Enhancement Experiences
You must participate in three (3) enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience is a beyond the classroom engagement that increases your understanding of topics or issues related to your pathway. Enhancement experiences can be one-time or ongoing events that require passive attendance or active participation and discussion. These experiences may take place on or off campus. Examples include, but are not limited to: workshops, lectures, conferences/presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, and out-of-class events/trips. Enhancement experiences may not be double counted toward the fulfillment of the publication/presentation requirement. Use the My USC Experience Database to find enhancement experiences.
Coursework
You must complete six (6) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Research pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe up to two courses (6 credit hours) that were particularly meaningful for your pathway. You should have earned a B or better for these courses.
Public Presentation
You must complete a public publication or presentation related to a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Publications and presentations must be of a professional nature. You are strongly encouraged to present your work at Discover USC. If you wish to fulfill this requirement in a way other than presenting at Discovery USC, you can find the information about Alternative Presentations on the Presentation page.
Your presentation must meet certain expectations [pdf] such as focusing on your experience within the Community Service pathway and explaining what you have done, what you have learned from your experiences (including coursework) and how you will use this learning in the future.
ePortfolio
You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.
Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience
You must participate in a research or discovery project for a minimum of one (1) semester. Research or discovery projects completed within a course may be used to fulfill the core experience requirement; however, core experiences may not be double counted toward fulfilling the coursework requirement.
To explore potential research opportunities you can search the My USC Experience Database and contact the Office of Undergraduate Research to begin you research experience.
If you are involved in a research project or independent study, you must enter your research project into the Research Registry (through the Office of Undergraduate Research). CIEL cannot verify your research without this step. Registering a project typically takes less than 10 minutes. If you have been involved in research outside of USC, please contact CIEL@sc.edu for more information on the verification process.
Enhancement Experiences
You must participate in two (2) enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience is a beyond the classroom engagement that increases your understanding of topics or issues related to your pathway. Enhancement experiences can be one-time or ongoing events that require passive attendance or active participation and discussion. These experiences may take place on or off campus. Examples include, but are not limited to: workshops, lectures, conferences/presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, and out-of-class events/trips. Enhancement experiences may not be double counted toward the fulfillment of the publication/presentation requirement. Use the My USC Experience Database to find enhancement experiences.
Coursework
You must complete three (3) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Research pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe a course (3 credit hours) that was particularly meaningful for your pathway. You should have earned a B or better in this course.
Public Presentation
You must complete a public publication or presentation related to a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Publications and presentations must be of a professional nature. You are strongly encouraged to present your work at Discover USC. If you wish to fulfill this requirement in a way other than presenting at Discovery USC, you can find the information about Alternative Presentations on the Presentation page.
Your presentation must meet certain expectations [pdf] such as focusing on your experience within the Community Service pathway and explaining what you have done, what you have learned from your experiences (including coursework) and how you will use this learning in the future.
ePortfolio
You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.
Extensive Beyond the Classroom Experience
You must participate in a research or discovery project for a minimum of three (3) semesters. Research or discovery projects completed within a course may be used to fulfill the core experience requirement; however, core experiences may not be double counted toward fulfilling the coursework requirement.
To explore potential research opportunities you can search the My USC Experience Database and contact the Office of Undergraduate Research to begin you research experience.
If you are involved in a research project or independent study, you must enter your research project into the Research Registry (through the Office of Undergraduate Research). CIEL cannot verify your research without this step. Registering a project typically takes less than 10 minutes. If you have been involved in research outside of USC, please contact CIEL@sc.edu for more information on the verification process.
Enhancement Experiences
You must participate in four (4) enhancement experiences. An enhancement experience is a beyond the classroom engagement that increases your understanding of topics or issues related to your pathway. Enhancement experiences can be one-time or ongoing events that require passive attendance or active participation and discussion. These experiences may take place on or off campus. Examples include, but are not limited to: workshops, lectures, conferences/presentations, official meetings, job shadowing, and out-of-class events/trips.. Enhancement experiences may not be double counted toward the fulfillment of the publication/presentation requirement. Use the My USC Experience Database to find enhancement experiences.
Coursework
You must complete nine (9) credit hours with a B or better from the approved course list for the Research pathway. You may not double count your coursework toward fulfilling the core experience requirement. If you have not taken courses from the approved list, you may list and describe up to three courses (9 credit hours) that were particularly meaningful for your pathway.
Public Presentation
You must complete a public publication or presentation related to a meaningful beyond the classroom experience. Publications and presentations must be of a professional nature. You are strongly encouraged to present your work at Discover USC. If you wish to fulfill this requirement in a way other than presenting at Discovery USC, you can find the information about Alternative Presentations on the Presentation page.
Your presentation must meet certain expectations [pdf] such as focusing on your experience within the Community Service pathway and explaining what you have done, what you have learned from your experiences (including coursework) and how you will use this learning in the future.
ePortfolio
You must complete a GLD ePortfolio demonstrating the significance of your within-and-beyond the classroom experiences. The two ways of completing the ePortfolio are taking a course that supports the creation of the GLD ePortfolio (such as Univ 401 for GLD) or by attending an ePortfolio workshop and then working with a GLD advisor.