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2015-2016 USC Sumter Bulletin (Archived Copy)
Sumter Campus
   
2015-2016 USC Sumter Bulletin (Archived Copy) 
    
 
  Mar 29, 2024
 
2015-2016 USC Sumter Bulletin (Archived Copy) [Archived Catalog]

Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A.I.S. (College of Arts and Sciences)


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Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate effective skills in academic research.
  • Students will demonstrate skills in effective written communication.

Basic Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degrees (120 Hours)


Note: Bachelor of Arts degrees require 120 hours. Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees require additional hours; see Program of Study  for major requirements.

  1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
  2. Major
  3. Cognate or Minor Requirements
  4. Electives

1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements


Note: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees follow General Education Requirements for the BA except where specified in Programs of Study for major requirements.

CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)


  • Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6-8 Hours)


SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy (8 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two 4-credit hour laboratory science courses.

GFL: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Communicate Effectively in More than One Language (0-9 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. 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: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two courses in History (HIST) at the 100 level, one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History.

GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 Hours)


Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements:

  • Up to two of these requirements may be met in overlay courses. At least one of these requirements must be satisfied by a course not applied elsewhere in general education. (3-9 Hours)

CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)


INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 Hours)


VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)


Other Required General Education Courses from the College of Arts and Sciences


Fine Arts and Humanities Requirements (9 Hours)


  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require 3 Hours in the fine arts. (May be taken as Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding.)
  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require an additional 9 Hours in the fine arts or humanities.

2. Interdisciplinary Studies Major (36 Hours)


Each student must complete a program of studies designed by an interdisciplinary program committee appointed by the assistant dean and approved by the college Interdisciplinary Studies Committee. The program shall include a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit in courses numbered 300 or above and in two or more fields. No course submitted in fulfillment of the general education requirements may be included in the program requirements. A maximum of 15 semester hours of independent study courses may be applied to the interdisciplinary studies program requirement.

3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (12-18 Hours) for B.A. Degrees


Cognate


The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve  (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.

Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .

For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.

It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.

For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Minor


In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .

4. Electives for B.A. Degrees and B.F.A.


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.

Procedure


The following procedures shall be followed in designing a program of interdisciplinary studies.

  1. The candidate shall apply to the assistant dean for declaration of an interdisciplinary studies program.
  2. The candidate must submit to the assistant dean a written statement of goals concerning a potential interdisciplinary studies program.
  3. The assistant dean will help the candidate formulate an interdisciplinary program committee, which shall consist of faculty members from the student’s areas of interdisciplinary interest. The members of the interdisciplinary program committee shall be appointed by the assistant dean, who will designate one member as chair and as the student’s academic advisor.
  4. The interdisciplinary program committee shall meet with the student and prepare a program of studies leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. This program shall include a written justification for the specific program of studies designed with the student. The program of study must be approved by the committee prior to the completion of 75 hours. The committee and assistant dean must approve any subsequent changes in the student’s program.
  5. The candidate’s academic advisor shall advise the student each semester and shall sign the necessary registration and other advisor’s forms. Advising shall adhere to the student’s approved program of studies. The academic advisor shall consult with the interdisciplinary program committee for approval should deviation from the original program become necessary or advisable. All changes shall be registered with the assistant dean.
  6. The college Interdisciplinary Studies Committee shall review and give final approval to individual programs of interdisciplinary studies.

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