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University of South Carolina
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University of South Carolina - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Academics

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Academics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Academics Grades:

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 18:1
Full-Time Student Population 24,162
Part-Time Student Population 4,222
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 1,152
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 486
Total FT Faculty 1,463
Faculty with Terminal Degree 83%
Average Faculty Salary $79,616
Full-Time Retention Rate 87%
Part-Time Retention Rate 36%
Transfer-Out Rate 13%
Graduation Rate 67%
Programs/Majors Offered 146
Average Course Load 15 credits
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 Students: 46%
  • 20 to 49 Students: 45%
  • 50 or More Students: 9%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

It seems impossible for students to categorize the teachers at here as good or bad. The difficulty is that the students have a range of preferences when it comes to teaching methods. While some think that the best teachers are the ones that give them an easy A, others prefer a challenge. Some prefer a lecture format and others find a Socratic-style question-and-answer session more stimulating. There are all kinds of teachers with varying teaching methods and levels of personal involvement with the students, and many students use www.ratemyprofessor.com to decide which professors to take when signing up for classes. Academic advisers are helpful when trying to find out information about particular teachers, but sometimes students are forced to rely on word of mouth and independent research to find out what teachers will best meet their needs.

There are multiple programs favorable to students excelling in their academic pursuits. The Honors College provides academic opportunities for students who qualify, offering challenging courses with the best teachers, seminars, and perks such as better on-campus housing. Similarly, students accepted to the Capstone Scholars Program enjoy special housing and opportunities to study abroad. The University 101 Program—a nationally renowned college introductory class open only to freshman—teaches students how to adapt to the university environment while they earn class credit. Students can also choose to be a part of one of USC’s nationally ranked programs like international business and marine science. This is an exciting time to be attending the University of South Carolina because of the growth and changes being made. Ultimately, the education you receive here depends on the effort you put forth, but the means of obtaining an excellent education is definitely there for those who desire to take advantage.
 

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South Carolina Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at University of South Carolina

GamecockPower

'14

Hospitality Management

5.0
A+

Awesome

The academic feel of the University is great. The professors are always available, the curriculum is challenging enough to help students understand, and workloads are reasonable. Although you have to constantly check back for the availability of the courses you want, it is well worth it.

Jan 25, 2012

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Academics at University of South Carolina

gilberl4

'15

Elementary Education

4.2
A-

More or Less Satisfied

I am in the College of Education and I have been somewhat satisfied with my experience thus far. Some of my professors are not up to the caliber that I would expect of collegiate professors. For example, one of my "professors" is a retired librarian and this is her first time ever teaching anything, let alone a college course. However, I do have some extremely good and competent professors. All of my education professors are, or have done, research in the field that the course is about. They really care about the subject and they want you to learn the material and succeed.

Jan 21, 2012

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Academics at University of South Carolina

wcfasig

'13

Graphic Design

3.8
B+

It Really Depends

Honestly, you luck out sometimes and get a great professor and sometimes it just goes the opposite way. I've had some excellent classes where I learned a lot with an amazing professor, and then I've had classes where it has been a completely joke and a waste of my time. It seems like the core classes are taken less seriously.

Nov 21, 2011

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Page 1 of 20

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

Facts

Instructional Programs Occupational: No
Academic: Yes
Continuing Professional: Yes
Recreational/Avocational: No
Adult Basic Remedial: No
Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: Yes
Dual Credit: Yes
Life Experience Credits: No
AP Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5
Undergraduate Schools/Divisions
  • Arnold School of Public Health
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering and Computing
  • College of Hospitality, Retail, & Sport Management
  • College of Mass Communications & Information Studies
  • College of Nursing
  • College of Pharmacy
  • College of Social Work
  • Moore School of Business
  • School of Music
Degrees Awarded
  • Associate degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Doctorate - Professional practice
  • Doctorate - Research/scholarship
  • Master's degree
  • Post-bachelor's certificate
  • Post-master's certificate
Most Popular Majors
  • Business Administration and Management: 3%
  • Experimental Psychology: 2%
  • Finance, General: 2%
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 2%
Special Study Options
  • Distance learning opportunities
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
  • Weekend/evening college
Best Places to Study
  • Dorm study rooms
  • Horseshoe
  • Thomas Cooper Library
Did You Know?

The University of South Carolina encompasses multiple nationally recognized programs among various academic surveys—#1 International Business for undergrads, #2 International Business for graduate students, #5 Marine Science, and #9 Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. The College of Engineering and Information Technology is a national leader in fuel cell research.

Houston Texans owner Robert McNair, Pulitzer Prizewinner Jim Hoagland, and Grammy Award-winning musicians Hootie and the Blowfish are among some of the University of South Carolina’s most notable alumni.

What is an hour? At the University of South Carolina, an hour usually refers to a credit, and doesn’t necessarily mean an hour of time. The amount of credit received for a class is measured in hours, and most classes are worth one or three credit hours.

Best Places to Study:
Thomas Cooper Library, Horseshoe, dorm study rooms

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at SC

Name: Gregory Goetz

Hometown: Fort Mitchell, KY

Major: Media Arts/Entrepreneurial Business

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school

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