Michael Dickson

Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy

"I have taught at a number of institutions of higher education, from large state institutions such as Indiana University, to smaller elite schools such as the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame, to internationally renowned schools such as Oxford University and Cambridge University, and while it is, of course, possible to get a strong education in many places, I am not aware of any other institution that surpasses the South Carolina Honors College in its ability to provide a first-rate educational experience for its students."

Greg Stuart

Assistant Professor of Experimental Music Performance/Music Literature, School of Music

"Since 2009, I have been teaching various classes in music through the South Carolina Honors College as part of my position in the School of Music. Without hesitation, I can say that this experience has been fantastic and that the students are incredible.

More specifically, the Honors College’s unique curriculum has allowed me to explore forms of teaching and classroom interaction that are not always possible in more traditional pedagogical contexts. For instance, my class on experimental music performance contains a significant amount of hands-on experiential work.

As a direct consequence of such a high level of close engagement with experimental music, I am able to create a teaching environment where the students learn first and foremost from the material rather than simply about the material (although the latter certainly happens as a consequence of the former). By learning from the material, students are led in diverse and unexpected directions. And it’s not atypical to see how the various changes that happen over the course of the semester start to impact the students’ daily lives — for example, how they experience sound, be it 'musical' or otherwise, and duration.

It’s always inspiring to see these changes take place. I don’t think this transformative experience for the students could occur in a more traditional classroom format, and without question it is a function of the Honors College’s commitment to offering unique, custom-designed courses."

Claudia Benitez-Nelson

College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Professor, School of the Earth, Ocean, & Environment

"The Honors College students in the School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment are an incredible group of young people. That they are academically talented is a given. What makes them so unique is their enthusiasm, commitment to the environment, and to one another.

The Honors College at the University of South Carolina helps provide my students with the opportunities that enable them to pursue their passions with courses that include service learning and in-depth field and study abroad experiences.

While Honors College faculty hail from various departments throughout the University, we work together as a team. As such, our students are able to pursue seemingly disparate interests, such as music and ecology, marine science and photography, or even geology and business. In a number of cases, my students have even developed their own majors that cross disciplinary boundaries. I am proud to be a part of such a dynamic group."