Admission to the BARSC Program
The Baccalaureus Artium et Scientiae (“Bachelor of Arts and Sciences,” or “BARSC”) is a unique and highly selective degree offered only by the South Carolina Honors College. Students must have a minimum cumulative 3.6 GPA to apply for admission to the BARSC degree program. Usually the BARSC application/admission process is completed prior to advising during the student's fourth semester, but the College recommends that students interested in pursuing this degree make an appointment to talk about their interest with their honors advisor and the Director of the BARSC program during their first year.
Your BARSC Requirements
- Completion of the Carolina Core requirements; Completion of the BARSC general education requirements; Completion of all requirements for graduation from the University with honors from the South Carolina Honors College;
- A foreign language through at least one 300-level course;
- Mathematics through at least MATH 142 (Calculus 2), preferably as Honors College courses;
- One Independent Study to prepare for the Senior Thesis/Project;
- A Senior Thesis/Project of at least 9 but no more than 15 credits.
Aside from these requirements, you will, along with your committee, design an individualized curriculum that has no major, minor, or cognate, but reflects your interests, strengths and weaknesses. The Senior Thesis/Project (9-15 credits) represents your effort to pull the strands of this unique educational opportunity together in an extended research/scholarly experience.
To graduate with a BARSC degree a student must earn 69 Honors credits and 126 total credits, complete a Senior Thesis/ Project of at least nine credits, and achieve a cumulative 3.5 GPA by the end of his or her senior year.
BARSC Requirements Outline
| Required Courses | Number of Credits | Course Options (may be non-honors) |
|---|---|---|
| English (CMW) | 2 courses; 6 credits | ENGL 101, ENGL 102 |
| History (GHS) | 3 courses; 9 credits | One European, one American, and one non-western history. |
| Fine Arts and Literature (AIU) | 2 courses; 6 credits | One Fine Arts and one Literature Course (beyond ENGL 101 and 102). |
| Language (GFL) | 6 courses; 19 credits | Foreign language through one 300-level course. It is possible to take fewer courses if the student is more advanced in a language and can reach a 300-level course quickly (or test out of one). |
| Social Science/ Behavioral Science (GSS) | 3 courses; 9 credits | Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Geology, etc. |
| Science (SCI) | 2 courses; 8-10 credits | Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Marine Science, etc. Must include 2 hours of laboratories. |
| Mathematics (ARP) | 2 courses; 8 credits | MATH 141, MATH 142. |
| Carolina Core Overlay | 3 courses; 9-12 credits | Two of three overlays may overlap with BARSC general education or degree specific
requirements. At least one overlay must be met by a stand-alone course.
|
| BARSC-Specific | TBD | Other courses required as determined by student's BARSC committee, in consultation with student. |
BARSC Thesis Requirements
| Course | Number of Credits | Title and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SCHC 399 | 3 | Independent Study |
| SCHC 390Z | 1 | Senior Thesis Preparation; usually in sixth semester |
| SCHC 490 | 9-15 | Senior Thesis/Project; register in seventh semester, complete in eighth semester |
Graduation with Honors Requirements
While completing the honors courses necessary to attain 69 honors credit hours for a BARSC degree, you should pay attention to which courses will also fulfill the Graduation with Honors requirements. It takes 45 honors credit hours (including the thesis) to qualify for Graduation with Honors, which every BARSC degree candidate must complete as part of the BARSC requirements.
The Graduation with Honors requirements are listed below, and if you'll notice, the BARSC requirements fulfill or exceed the hours needed for each course category, except the electives and Beyond the Classroom categories. Your BARSC advisor will be able to map out a plan with you that will help you meet both the BARSC and graduation requirements.
Requirements Outline
| Distribution Requirements | Credits Required | Course |
|---|---|---|
| English or Literature | 3 | Any course in English composition or in Literature |
| History of Civilization | 3 | Any course on the history of civilization |
| Humanities | 3 | Any humanities course |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | Any social or behavioral science |
| Natural Science with Lab | 4 | Must include a lab |
| Analysis | 3 | Math, Logic, Statistics, Computer Sciences, or other courses so designated |
| Electives | 19 | Any Honors courses or up to 6 credits of study abroad courses |
| Beyond the Classroom | 3 | Undergraduate research, service learning, internship, or study outside of South Carolina (may be non-Honors course) |
| Thesis prep (SCHC 390) | 1 | Senior thesis preparation course, usually 6th semester (students abroad this semester are exempt) |
| Thesis (SCHC 499) | 3 | Usually register for 1 credit of SCHC 499 in the 7th semester and 2 credits of SCHC 499 in the 8th semester |