Academic Programs

Associate’s Degree Programs

The University of South Carolina offers the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree at the Lancaster campus to those students who have earned 60 hours of credit and completed the following requirements:

• Learning Outcomes
• Carolina Core - All Associates
• Associate of Arts Degree Curriculum
• Associate of Science Degree Curriculum
• Other Requirements
• Second Associate’s Degree

Learning Outcomes for Associate’s Degree Programs

Graduates will be able to:

• Identify and analyze issues, develop logical and persuasive arguments, and communicate ideas clearly for a variety of audiences and purposes through writing.
• Apply the methods of mathematical, statistical, or analytical reasoning to critically evaluate data, solve problems, and effectively communicate findings verbally and graphically.
• Apply the principles and language of the natural sciences and associated technologies to historical and contemporary issues.
• Communicate in more than one language.
• Use the principles of historical thinking to understand past human societies.
• Use the principles of the social sciences to explore diverse cultural identities and to analyze political and environmental issues. 
• Create or interpret literary, visual or performing arts.

AND be able to demonstrate at least ONE of the following:

• Identify and analyze issues, develop logical and persuasive arguments, and communicate ideas clearly for a variety of audiences and purposes through speaking.  
• Collect, manage and evaluate information using technology, and communicate findings.
• Examine different kinds of social and personal values, analyzing the ways in which these are manifested in communities as well as individual lives.

Carolina Core - 15 Hours

These serve as general education requirements common to all associate degrees.

• CMW: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours) Must be passed with a grade of C or higher
• SCI: Scientific Literacy (3 Hours)
• GHS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 Hours)
• GSS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 Hours)

Associate of Arts Degree Curriculum - 60 Hours

1. Basic Requirements (including 15 hours of Carolina Core stated above) (37-38 Hours)
   
   All course selections are from the approved Carolina Core Learning Outcomes list unless otherwise specified.
   • CMW: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)
     Must be passed with a grade of C or higher
   • ARP: Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (3 Hours)
     Choose from MATH, CSCE, PHIL, STAT including MATH 111  or MATH 115  
   • SCI: Scientific Literacy (7-8 Hours)
     Must include at least 1 laboratory science course
   • GFL: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-3 Hours)
     One 3-hour language course at any level or score of “2” on placement exam
   • GHS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 Hours)
   • GSS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)
   • AIU: Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (6 Hours)
     
     Choose ONE of the following three options (3 Hours minimum):
     • CMS: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)
     • INF: Information Literacy (3 Hours)
     • VSR: Values, Ethics and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)
2. Electives for A.A. Degrees (22-23 Hours)
   
   Electives may be any additional courses not used to fulfill the previously stated requirements.  Students who intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another campus or institution are advised to work closely with an academic advisor to choose electives that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue. Of particular importance is completion of general education requirements. USC Columbia requires a minimum of 31 general education credit hours and a student planning to pursue a USC Columbia baccalaureate degree must complete these hours. These hours can be incorporated within the 60 hours required for an AA or AS degree when electives are carefully selected. Applying for an associate’s degree does not in any manner affect eligibility to apply for a baccalaureate degree, and vice versa.

Associate of Science Degree Curriculum - 60 Hours

1. Basic Requirements (including 15 hours of Carolina Core stated above) (38-42 Hours)
   
   All course selections are from the approved Carolina Core Learning Outcomes list unless otherwise specified.
   • CMW: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)
     Must be passed with a grade of C or higher
   • ARP: Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6 Hours)
     Choose from MATH, CSCE, PHIL, STAT including MATH 111  or MATH 115  
   • SCI: Scientific Literacy (8-12 Hours)
     Must include at least 2 laboratory science courses
   • GFL: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-3 Hours)
     One 3-hour language course at any level or score of “2” on placement exam
   • GHS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 Hours)
   • GSS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)
   • AIU: Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (6 Hours)
     
     Choose ONE of the following three options (3 Hours minimum):
     • CMS: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)
     • INF: Information Literacy (3 Hours)
     • VSR: Values, Ethics and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)
2. Electives for A.A. Degrees (18-22 Hours)
   
   Electives may be any additional courses not used to fulfill the previously stated requirements.  Students who intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another campus or institution are advised to work closely with an academic advisor to choose electives that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue. Of particular importance is completion of general education requirements. USC Columbia requires a minimum of 31 general education credit hours and a student planning to pursue a USC Columbia baccalaureate degree must complete these hours. These hours can be incorporated within the 60 hours required for an AA or AS degree when electives are carefully selected. Applying for an associate’s degree does not in any manner affect eligibility to apply for a baccalaureate degree, and vice versa.

Other Requirements

In addition to the requirements for the A.A. and A.S. degrees stated above, the following stipulations also apply:

• Students must have an institutional GPA of 2.00 or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations).  
• The final 15 semester hours must be earned at USC Lancaster.
• No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees.
• Pass-Fail option on elective courses is allowed.
• No more than 15 hours of nontraditional credits, which include DANTES, CLEP, and military experience.
• No more than 3 1-hour PEDU activity courses may count toward meeting Associate’s degree requirements (any track).

Second Associate’s Degree

At times the University of South Carolina Lancaster confers a second associate’s degree upon candidates who have completed all requirements for the second degree, provided that the additional requirements for the second degree include a minimum of 12 semester hours beyond those required for the first degree earned at USC Lancaster and a minimum of 72 semester hours total. Under this policy a student may apply for two degrees at one time or separately. In either case the student would receive two diplomas.

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Palmetto College

Palmetto College combines the resources of the University of South Carolina system with the flexibility of course delivery formats including on-campus, traditional classes, two-way video classes, and online classes.

Faculties from Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, and Union, as well as Extended University in Columbia, use two-way interactive video to teach students at multiple sites simultaneously as well as fully online, asynchronous instruction.  These delivery mechanisms give students access to many more course options than are available face-to-face on their campuses.

• Liberal Studies, B.A.   
• Organizational Leadership, B.A.  

Other Associate’s Degrees

In addition to the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees, USC Lancaster offers associate degrees in the following fields: business, technical nursing, and criminal justice. Students must also meet the following criteria:

1. 2.00 GPA or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations);
2. final 15 semester hours must be earned at USC Lancaster;
3. grade of C or above in ENGL 101  and ENGL 102 .

Associate in Science in Business

The Associate in Science in Business degree seeks to provide educational opportunities that will prepare students for careers in business and industry as well as meet many of the preliminary requirements for four-year majors in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management.

Learning Outcomes

• Accounting and Financial Skills: Students completing the Associate of Science in Business degree program at USC Lancaster will be able to perform the basic functions of business financial operations, such as interpreting basic financial statements and reconciling accounts.
• Knowledge of Basic Legal Concepts: Students completing the Associate of Science in Business degree program at USC Lancaster will be able to describe basic legal concepts and the judicial system, with emphasis on business law.
• Management Skills: Students completing the Associate of Science in Business degree program at USC Lancaster will be able to apply basic management theories to reach appropriate business decisions.
• Effective Communication: Students completing the Associate of Science in Business degree program at USC Lancaster will be able to communicate effectively for a business environment.

The associate degree business program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.

Required Courses

Electives

Other requirements:           

In addition to the requirements stated above, students must also meet the following criteria for an Associate in Science in Business degree:

1. 2.00 GPA or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations);
2. final 15 semester hours earned at USC Lancaster.

Associate Degree Nursing Program

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is a cooperative program between York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster and is approved by the Board of Nursing for South Carolina, (Synergy Business Park, Kingstree Drive, Suite 202, Columbia, South Carolina, 29210, phone: (803)896-4550 or fax: (803)896-4525, and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC, 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326, phone: (404)975-5000 or fax: (404)975-5020) . The Associate Degree Nursing Program prepares men and women for the practice of registered nursing to provide direct client care across the life span. The practice of the associate degree nurse is primarily directed toward clients who have health needs and require assistance to maintain or restore their optimum state of health or support to die with dignity. The associate degree nurse is prepared to address acute and chronic health care needs and common well-defined health care problems in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and certain community health agencies.

The graduate of an associate degree nursing program functions in three basic roles within the health care delivery system: provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Computer Adaptive Testing of the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses. Graduates who successfully pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses are eligible to apply for licensure to practice as a registered nurse in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories.

There are legal limitations for state licensure in South Carolina for graduates with prior convictions and/or disciplinary action. The policy from the Board of Nursing for South Carolina will be distributed to all applicants by Student Services/Office of Admissions. The policy is also in the Nursing Student Manual, which is distributed the first day of class. Clinical facilities may require drug screens and/or background checks before allowing students to participate in clinical rotations. Students participating in clinicals may be required to have a drug screen at any time during their rotation. Students will be required to attend multiple clinical facilities throughout the curriculum. Students accepted to the program must be eligible to attend clinical at all facilities.

Learning Outcomes

• Client Assessment: Each student will demonstrate setting appropriate client care priorities based on initial and focused client assessment.
• Medication Administration: Each student will demonstrate safe medication administration related to the rights (patient, route, time, dose, medication, reason, and documentation).
• Professional Writing: Each student will demonstrate professional writing skills.
• Critical Thinking: Each student will demonstrate critical thinking strategies appropriate to the class level.
• Nursing Literacy: New graduate will be able to demonstrate foundational understanding of nursing practices and skills sufficient for passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Admissions Criteria

Applicants for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program must meet the entrance requirements of the parent institution.* Admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program requires the student to be a high-school graduate or equivalent. Students must complete one course of high-school, college-preparatory general chemistry with a minimum grade of C or complete one college chemistry course with a minimum grade of C prior to acceptance into the nursing program.

And one of the following:

1. SAT scores of 480 critical reading and 540 math or ACT scores of 21 reading and 23 math. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher. SAT/ACT scores must be no more than 5 years old at the time a student seeks admission to the ADN program.
   OR
2. Completion of all approved courses (below) with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.
   • BIOL 243 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  
   • BIOL 243L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory  
   • BIOL 244 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
   • BIOL 244L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory  
   • PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology  
   • BIOL 250 - Microbiology  
   • BIOL 250L - Microbiology Laboratory  
   • MATH 111 - Basic College Mathematics  
   • ENGL 101 - Critical Reading and Composition  
   • ENGL 102 - Rhetoric and Composition  
   • Minimum of 3 approved electives (one elective must be chosen from humanities)

Note: Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better on the 1st or 2nd attempt of Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, Anatomy and Physiology II, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, Microbiology and Microbiology Lab (or the equivalent courses from other institutions) to meet the admission and curriculum requirement for the ADN program. Grades of “W”, “D”, “F”, or “WF” are considered unsuccessful attempts.

Required science courses that are more than seven years old must be repeated or the student has the option to exempt the courses through testing on content.

^{*Students are expected to graduate from the school where the initial nursing course is taken.}

To enhance potential for success in the program, the faculty recommends completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program and work experience as a CNA.

Admission by Transfer

Transfer credit may be granted for courses taken in another associate or baccalaureate degree nursing program to a student meeting the following criteria:

1. The student must meet present admission criteria to the Associate Degree Nursing Program.
2. The student must submit a letter from the previous school attended stating that he/she left in good standing and is eligible for readmission.
3. The student must may be required to provide the nursing department manager chair with a detailed course syllabus showing course and unit objectives and a clinical evaluation tool indicating criteria met in the clinical component of the courses. Courses for which transfer credit is given must meet the objectives of the comparable York Technical College/University of South Carolina Lancaster courses.
4. The student must demonstrate competencies in the course to be transferred either by exam, by previous grade and documentation, or both.
5. The Nursing Evaluation Committee will review requests for transfer credit and will make a recommendation for official action to the Registrar/Admissions Officer.
6. The York Technical College/University of South Carolina Lancaster Cooperative Nursing Program is considered by the State Board of Nursing for South Carolina to be one nursing program administered jointly by York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster. Transfers will only be considered from nursing students who are currently in good standing in the nursing program at the college in which they were previously enrolled.
7. Admission by transfer is on a space-available basis.

Note: Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better on the 1st or 2nd attempt of Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology I Lab, Anatomy and Physiology II, Anatomy and Physiology II Lab, Microbiology and Microbiology Lab (or the equivalent courses from other institutions) to meet the admission and curriculum requirement for the ADN program. Grades of “W”, “D”, “F”, or “WF” are considered unsuccessful attempts.

LPN Advanced Placement

Students will be admitted based on the South Carolina Statewide Articulation Model.

Direct Transfer:

A minimum of 15 semester hours of nursing credit will be awarded without educational mobility testing or validation if the applicant meets the following criteria:

Individual Validation:

Individual validation of credit awarded will be determined by the receiving institution through exemption testing if the applicant is a:

A minimum of 15 semester hours of nursing credit will be awarded upon completion of validation if the applicant meets the following criteria:

Other requirements:

Program of Study

In order to receive an Associate in Science degree in technical nursing, students must complete 70 semester hours of study.

^{*Courses that require a minimum grade of “C”.}

Nursing classes include campus and clinical laboratory hours. Students are required to drive to a variety of clinical agencies to complete the clinical component of the nursing courses. Students are expected to drive to either campus for classes according to the class schedule.

A student must have a “C” or better in each nursing course to progress in the program. Required science courses that are more than seven years old must be repeated or the student has the option to exempt the courses through testing on the content. Required nursing courses more than three years old must be repeated.

Students may be assigned to a morning, afternoon, or evening clinical anywhere in the tri-county area. Clinical experience may range from four to twelve hours per clinical day.

Students must have a completed health form and criminal background check. Current CPR certification for children, infants and adults is required. Students must have proof of health insurance. Liability insurance is also required (through York Technical College).

Practical Nurse (PN) Exit option-Students successfully completing the first three semesters are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and for licensure as a PN.

ADN Progression-Students may apply for NCLEX-PN after three semesters and continue on in the program to complete the last two semesters. Students successfully completing all semesters are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and for NCLEX-RN.

Retention and Promotion Policy

For retention and promotion in the nursing program, the student must, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of health, conduct, and scholastic achievement. In addition to meeting the established criteria of the parent institutions, the student:

1. Upon admission to the nursing program students must complete courses in the sequence as outlined in the Program of Study in the University of South Carolina Lancaster Academic Bulletin;
2. Must achieve a cumulative 2.00 grade point average on all courses that count toward graduation in the program;
3. Must make a grade of “C” or better in theory in each nursing course attempted and receive a clinical evaluation of “Satisfactory”;
4. A student who receives a “D”, “F”, “W” or “WF” in any required nursing course may repeat that course one time only. A maximum of one nursing course may be repeated. In order to repeat a nursing course, the student must follow the readmission policy for the nursing program, found in the current Nursing Student Manual. Readmission will depend on space available in the course to be repeated.
5. Must achieve a grade of “C” or better in ENGL 101 , ENGL 102 , MATH 111 , and all science courses.
6. Students will be eligible for academic forgiveness five years after the last nursing course attempted and may apply for readmission to the first nursing course. Required science courses that are more than seven years old must be repeated.

Associate in Science in Criminal Justice

The criminal justice curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, investigation, corrections, law enforcement management, probation and parole, the court system, jail administration, juvenile rehabilitation, insurance investigations, and community service.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge of Justice Systems: Students will be able to identify the core components of the criminal justice system, including local, state, and federal agencies related to delinquency, law enforcement, the criminal courts system, and/or corrections.

Effective Communication: Students will be able to effectively communicate criminal justice concepts and issues.

Utilization of Technology: Students will be able to utilize technology to locate relevant information on criminal justice issues and problems.

In order to receive an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice, students must complete 60 semester hours of required courses as outlined in the criminal justice curriculum.

Required Courses

Electives

In addition to the requirements stated above, students must also meet the following criteria for an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice degree:

1.  2.00 GPA or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations);
2. final 15 semester hours earned at USC Lancaster.

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Many students who enter the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science degree programs intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another institution. These students are advised to work closely with their advisor to outline a program of study for the first two years that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue.

These students are also strongly advised to obtain and use the bulletin for the Columbia campus when determining specific degree requirements. Preliminary course work toward the following USC baccalaureate degree programs may be completed at USC Lancaster:

Arts and Sciences

• African American Studies
• Anthropology
• Art Education
• Art History
• Art Studio
• Biological Sciences
• Cardiovascular Technology
• Chemistry
• Classics
• Comparative Literature
• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Dance
• Economics
• English
• European Studies
• Environmental Sciences
• Film and Media Studies
• Foreign Languages
• French
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Spanish
• Geology
• Geophysics
• History
• International Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Marine Science
• Mathematics
• Media Arts
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sociology
• Theatre
• Statistics
• Women’s and Gender Studies

Business Administration

• Accounting
• Business Economics
• Finance
• Insurance and Risk Management
• Management
• Management Science
• Marketing
• Pre-International Business (Subject to separate admission after the freshman year.)
• Real Estate

Education

• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education
• Middle Level Education
• Physical Education (Athletic Training)
• Physical Education (Teacher Preparation)
• (Students interested in secondary education (grades 9-12) should earn a major in the specific subject area they wish to teach and a cognate/component in education. Upon earning an undergraduate BA or BS degree, students pursue a Master of Teaching (MT) degree through which teacher certification requirements are met. Students wishing to earn secondary certification should select a subject area major under one of the colleges or schools. Students interested in K-12 programs in art education (College of Arts and Sciences), music education (School of Music), or physical education (College of Education) can earn a bachelor’s degree in one of these areas and meet teacher certification requirements.)

Engineering and Computing

• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Science
• Mechanical Engineering

Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management

• Business and Technology Education
• Hospitality Management
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Retailing
• Sport and Entertainment Management
• Technology Support and Training Management
• Tourism Management

Journalism and Mass Communications

• Advertising
• Broadcast Journalism
• Information Science
• Journalism Print
• Public Relations
• Visual Communications

Music

• Composition
• Jazz Studies
• Education (Band, Strings, or Vocal)
• Performance (Brass, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Voice, or Woodwinds)
• Theory

Nursing

• Nursing

Pharmacy

• Pre-Pharmacy
• (This college is the result of a merger of existing programs at the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. Pre-pharmacy is offered as an academic track designed to prepare students to apply for admission into the pharmacy professional program. Acceptance into the pre-pharmacy program does not guarantee later admission into the pharmacy professional program.)

Public Health

• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Social Work

• Social Work