1. Carolina Core (33-45 hours)

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

must be passed with a grade of C or higher​

• any CC-CMW courses

Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (8 hours) 

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• MATH 141 - Calculus I  
• MATH 142 - Calculus II  

Scientific Literacy — SCI (7 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I  & 111L  
• PHYS 211 - Essentials of Physics I  

Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (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.

• CC-GFL courses

​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.

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

• any CC-GHS course

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

• any CC-GSS course

Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding —  AIU (3 hours)

• any CC-AIU course

Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

Information Literacy* —  INF (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course

Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

*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 (16-19 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours) 

• only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

Analytical Reasoning (7 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• CSCE 145 - Algorithmic Design I  
• STAT 509 - Statistics for Engineers  OR STAT 515 - Statistical Methods I  

History (3 hours) 

The College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement. Accordingly, please select one of the following:

• One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111 , 112 , 214 , or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Science to fit this geographic category.

OR

• One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101 , 102 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 108 , 109 , GERM 280 , FAMS 300 , or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.

Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (6 hours)

• Courses Acceptable for Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences  
  • Three hours of Social Science
  • Three hours of Fine Arts or Humanities

3. Program Requirements (24-39 hours)

Supporting Courses (24 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II  & 112L  
• PHYS 199 - Measurement and Analysis in Physics  
• PHYS 212 - Essentials of Physics II  
• PHYS 306 - Principles of Physics III  
• MATH 241 - Vector Calculus  
• MATH 242 - Elementary Differential Equations  OR MATH 520 - Ordinary Differential Equations  
• Select six additional hours of Mathematics courses from the following:
  • MATH 300 - Transition to Advanced Mathematics  OR MATH 344 - Applied Linear Algebra  OR MATH 500-level and above (selected with advisor)
  • MATH 500-level and above (selected with advisor)

Cognate

The required mathematics courses satisfy the cognate requirement.

Electives (0-15 hours)

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. Major Requirements (32-54 hours)

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

Major Courses (32 hours)

• PHYS 307 - Introduction to Modern Physics  
• PHYS 308 - Classic Experiments in Physics I  & PHYS 309 - Classic Experiments in Physics II  OR PHYS 310 - Intermediate Experimental Physics  
• PHYS 501 - Quantum Physics I  
• PHYS 502 - Quantum Physics II  
• PHYS 503 - Mechanics  
• PHYS 504 - Electromagnetic Theory  
• PHYS 506 - Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics  
• PHYS 541 - Advanced Experimental Physics I  
• Experimental Physics (4 hours) choose one below
  • PHYS 509 - Solid State Electronics  
  • PHYS 510 - Digital Electronics  
  • PHYS 511 - Nuclear Physics  
  • PHYS 512 - Solid State Physics  
  • PHYS 514 - Optics, Theory, and Applications  
  • PHYS 521 - Biophysics  
  • PHYS 542 - Advanced Experimental Physics II  

Engineering Physics Concentration (52-54 hours) optional

In order to select the Engineering Physics Concentration a student must have achieved a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 with at least 15 hours taken at USC-Columbia. In addition, the student must have passed MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or higher. (An AP or IB exam score that provides credit for MATH 141 also satisfies this requirement.)

Select either the Electrical or Mechanical Option.

Electrical Option (52-53 hours)

• CSCE 211 - Digital Logic Design  
• ELCT 102 - Electrical Science  
• ELCT 201 - Introductory Electrical Engineering Laboratory  
• ELCT 221 - Circuits  
• ELCT 222 - Signals and Systems  
• ELCT 301 - Electronics Laboratory  
• ELCT 371 - Electronics  
• PHYS 307 - Introduction to Modern Physics  
• PHYS 308 - Classic Experiments in Physics I  & PHYS 309 - Classic Experiments in Physics II  OR PHYS 310 - Intermediate Experimental Physics  
• PHYS 311 - Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods   
• PHYS 501 - Quantum Physics I  
• PHYS 503 - Mechanics  
• PHYS 504 - Electromagnetic Theory  
• PHYS 506 - Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics  
• PHYS 541 - Advanced Experimental Physics I  
• Physics Elective (3-4 hours) choose one below
  • PHYS 502 - Quantum Physics II  
  • PHYS 509 - Solid State Electronics  
  • PHYS 511 - Nuclear Physics  
  • PHYS 512 - Solid State Physics  
  • PHYS 514 - Optics, Theory, and Applications  
  • PHYS 521 - Biophysics  
  • PHYS 542 - Advanced Experimental Physics II  

 Mechanical Option (52-54 hours)

• EMCH 200 - Statics  
• EMCH 260 - Introduction to the Mechanics of Solids  
• EMCH 290 - Thermodynamic Fundamentals  
• 4 courses (at least 12 hours) from EMCH 300 and above
• PHYS 307 - Introduction to Modern Physics  
• PHYS 308 - Classic Experiments in Physics I  & PHYS 309 - Classic Experiments in Physics II  OR PHYS 310 - Intermediate Experimental Physics  
• PHYS 311 - Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods   
• PHYS 501 - Quantum Physics I  
• PHYS 503 - Mechanics  
• PHYS 504 - Electromagnetic Theory  
• PHYS 541 - Advanced Experimental Physics I  
• Physics Electives (6-8 hours) choose two below
  • PHYS 502 - Quantum Physics II  
  • PHYS 506 - Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics  
  • PHYS 509 - Solid State Electronics  
  • PHYS 511 - Nuclear Physics  
  • PHYS 512 - Solid State Physics  
  • PHYS 514 - Optics, Theory, and Applications  
  • PHYS 521 - Biophysics  
  • PHYS 542 - Advanced Experimental Physics II