Liberal Studies, B.A.

Admission and Graduation Standards

Students may apply to the Liberal Studies Program after completion of at least 30 semester hours of accredited, college-level work. A minimum grade point of 2.25 is required for admission (2.00 for USC system transfers). As part of the application process, a specific Program of Study is developed by the student and the student’s advisor and approved by the Program Committee. Any changes to the Program of Study must be approved by the advisor and Program Committee. All students must earn at least 30 USC hours after admission to this program. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on all work attempted at USC and a minimum of 120 semester hours of accredited, college-level work must be presented to earn this degree.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (BLS) is designed for students who want to pursue liberal studies without a major in a single discipline.

Program of Study

Requirements Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core 32-44
2. College Requirements 9-12
3. Program Requirements 28-43
4. Major Requirements 36

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-44 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours) 

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language  (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS – ​Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours) 

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours) 

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)

INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)

1

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (9-12 hours)

Course Title Credits
PHIL 102Introduction to Philosophy3
Foreign Language course (only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency)0-3
Arts and Sciences Electives (Must include two disciplines) 16
Total Credit Hours9-12
1

Please select the Arts and Sciences Electives from the approved course list. 

3. Program Requirements (28-43 hours)

Cognate (12 hours)

Must be passed with a grade of C or higher

The cognate cannot be a discipline included in the student’s major option. No more than six hours of transfer work maybe applied to the cognate.

A minimum of 12 hours of course work at the 300 level or above from one of the following disciplines:

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Business
  • Criminal Justice
  • Dance
  • Economics
  • Education
  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
  • Languages
  • Mathematics
  • Native American Studies1
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Physical and/or Biological Sciences
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Theatre
1

Courses designated as fulfilling the Native American Studies option will be listed on the BA in Liberal Studies program website.

Electives (16-31 hours)

4. Major Requirements (36 hours)

A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Major Courses (9 hours)

Course Title Credits
PALM 493South Carolina Studies3
PALM 494Internship3
or PALM 495 Service-Learning
PALM 401Palmetto Senior Capstone Experience3
Total Credit Hours9

Major Electives (27 hours) 

The student’s major will be chosen from two of the disciplines below. 

All courses must be at the upper level with at least 15 hours at the 400-level or above, with the exception of Sociology, in which the following 300-level courses may be substituted for 400-level courses: SOCY 304, SOCY 305, SOCY 312, SOCY 320, SOCY 323, SOCY 340. All grades must be C or better. A minimum of 12 hours is required in each of the two disciplines. At least 15 hours must be USC courses. No more than 12 hours of the major will be accepted in transfer.

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Astronomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Geography
  • Geological Studies
  • Health Promotion, Education and Behavior
  • History
  • Languages
  • Marine Science
  • Mathematics
  • Native American Studies1
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Theatre
1

The most updated list of courses designated as fulfilling the Native American Studies option will be listed on the BA in Liberal Studies program website.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Liberal Studies, B.A.