As a student in the Extended Accelerator Program:
The Extended Accelerator Program is a three-semester program for students seeking an immersive English-learning experience. The program gives students a firsthand practical and cultural understanding of the USC campus and the city of Columbia through its contextual curriculum.
Students may enter the program in the spring, summer or fall. Upon completion of the program, students progress into year two of their undergraduate education with a full year’s worth of academic credits.
Program Details
- First-Year Program Length: 3 semesters
- Program Curriculum: Planned – almost all courses include domestic students
- Credits Earned Toward Degrees: 30+
- Progression Requirements: 2.25 GPA*
- Progression Into: Year 2 of degree
*Some academic majors may have a higher GPA requirement for progression.
Sample Coursework
Semester 1
Live, Learn, Grow I
English for Academic Purposes 1: English for Academic Purposes (including English Grammar in Context and Technology
for Academic Purposes (TAP)
Carolina Core: Oceans and Society Carolina
Core: Math course
Semester 2
Live, Learn, Grow II
English for Academic Purposes 2: Critical Analysis, Composition and Presentation
Carolina Core: Lab science course (including course supplement)
Carolina Core: Math course (including course supplement)
Carolina Core: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding (choose from three courses, including
course supplement)
Semester 3
Live, Learn, Grow III
English for Academic Purposes 3: Advanced Academic Writing and Communication
Carolina Core: History course
Carolina Core: Art course Academic track course
Entry Requirements
- GPA Requirement: 2.5
- One of these scores:
- Minimum TOEFL®: 60 – no subscore below 12
- Minimum IELTS™: 5.0 – no subscore below 4.5
- Minimum Pearson Versant™: 45 – no subscore below 37
Applications with scores below the published minimums are not automatically denied and will still receive consideration from the college.
*Note that colleges may set higher minimums for consideration of admission to certain programs. Please refer to the college’s requirements for additional information.
Important Dates
| Event | Spring 2019 | Summer 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | December 3, 2019 | April 29, 2019 |
| Payment Deadline | December 26, 2018 | May 14, 2019 |
| Move-in Date | January 8, 2019 | May 28, 2019 |
| Program Start Date | January 9, 2019 | May 29, 2019 |
All dates may be subject to change.
Costs
| Fee | Entering Spring 2019 | Summer 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $37,037 | $37,425 |
| Fees | $3,322 | $3,322 |
| Housing | $11,405 - $16,574 | $11,405 - $16,574 |
| Dining | $3,684 - $4,078 | N/A |
| Health Insurance | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Total | $57,448 - $63,011 | $54,152 - $59,321 |
Note: Fees include technology fee, lab fees, immigration fees, application, orientation and testing fees; cultural and academic support
Department-specific fees are charged for Direct Admission students who are enrolled in many majors and vary from $200 to $1500 per semester.
Pre-sessional tuition is charged for each semester enrolled and includes all fees; insurance, housing and dining listed are full year prices.
Housing: Shared housing is not available in the summer semester. Price quoted includes a move to a single room for the summer
Dining: No dining plan is available for summer semester; amount listed covers only fall or spring semesters.