Undergraduate Admission

Undergraduate Admission

The Office of Admissions recruits students, evaluates applications for undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and represents the institution to external constituencies. The office also works with internal constituencies to administer various policies such as South Carolina residency, international student admissions, and NCAA admissions compliance.

Applicants must complete appropriate admission forms and submit them with required credentials, such as the application for admission, official high school and/or college transcripts, and standardized test scores to the Office of Admissions. Admissions counseling and an appointment for interview are highly encouraged and are available by calling (803) 641-3366, (803) 278-1967, or 1-888-WOW-USCA.

Applicants must apply for and take the SAT or ACT college entrance examinations well in advance of the term for which they seek admission. The applicant is responsible for having the results of all entrance examinations sent to the Office of Admissions.

Applicants over the age of 21 may not be required to submit entrance examination results. However, the applicant must submit other credentials which provide evidence of reasonable academic potential. Scores from college entrance examinations will be required in the absence of satisfactory credentials or evidence of academic potential.

A one-time, non-refundable $45.00 application processing fee is required of all applicants and must accompany the application. A check or money order should be made payable to: USC Aiken.

Applications submitted more than one year in advance of the anticipated date of enrollment will be acknowledged, but no action will be taken until admission standards for the year in question have been established. The number of students admitted and enrolled in any year will be determined by the capacity of the institution to provide for the educational and other needs of the students and by budgetary or other appropriate considerations. Admissions policies and procedures are subject to continuous review by the admission staff and the Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee and may be changed without notice.

Freshman Admission
To be eligible to be considered for admission, freshman students must meet minimum standards of standardized test scores, class rank, course selection, and USCA Predicted College Grade Point Average (PCGPA). This average represents the academic average that a freshman applicant is predicted to earn at USCA at the completion of his/her first year. The PCGPA is determined by a formula which uses two variables: the high school grade point average computed on core college prep courses (Chart 2 located at the end of the Undergraduate Admissions section), and the SAT or ACT scores. Of these two variables, the high school grade point average is the more important and has more weight in the formula.

Students should prepare for the challenges USC Aiken will present by taking strong academic courses in high school, with core academic courses taken on the college-prep, honors, or higher level. Students graduating from high school in 1988-2000 are required to have completed the high school courses listed in Chart 1 located at the end of the Undergraduate Admissions section. Those graduating in 2001-2010 must complete courses listed in Chart 2 located at the end of the Undergraduate Admissions section. Those graduating in 2011 and beyond will complete a new set of courses. Information is available at www.usca.edu/admissions. Exceptions may be made for students from out-of-state who have not completed these courses, as long as they have completed a college-prep curriculum as defined by their state.

Provisional Admission
The University provides a provisional admission program for students who do not meet requirements for regular admission, but who demonstrate academic potential. Such students may be admitted directly to the First Pace program, providing an opportunity for those students with high school grades, class rank, and/or standardized test scores which are below standards for regular admission. The program offers a summer component, including the first three semester hours of the student’s college coursework while also participating in specially tailored tutorials and academic success initiatives. In the event such action is taken, the conditions will be clearly explained in the letter of acceptance.

Another alternative is available to students who are denied regular admission. To be considered for this option, the student must submit a petition for admission to the USC Aiken Office of Admissions. The petition will be forwarded to the Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee (SS&P) for additional consideration.

Students admitted provisionally by SS&P will be required to meet stipulations as determined by this committee. Students who do not meet stipulated requirements during the first semester will not be allowed to continue their enrollment after their initial term. In the event stipulations are required, the conditions will be clearly explained in the letter of acceptance.

For additional information concerning the process of petitioning for admission, contact the Office of Admissions.

Readmission
Students who discontinue their enrollment during a fall or spring semester must apply for readmission to return to USC Aiken at a later term. Students who attend a spring semester and do not attend the following summer terms are not required to apply for readmission for the following fall semester. A $10.00 application fee is required of readmit students.

Readmission to the University and to the program in which the student was previously enrolled is not automatic. An interview may be requested and some basis for a favorable decision may be required.

A student who leaves the University in good standing, misses one or more major semesters and attends another institution while away, must submit the application for readmission and official transcripts of all college-level work attempted during his/her absence from the University. Such applicants must meet the same requirements as transfer students.

A student who leaves the University by suspension must apply for readmission upon completion of the period of suspension and qualify for readmission to the major program requested. See the "Academic Regulations" section of this bulletin for additional information.

Transfer Admission
An applicant who, having graduated from high school, has attended another college-level institution and attempted one or more courses, is a transfer student, regardless of credit earned. If fewer than 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of college-level work have been attempted, the applicant must meet both transfer and freshman entrance requirements.

Transfer applicants for admission must submit:

To be considered for admission, transfer students are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 GPA scale) in all previous college-level course work. In addition, they must be in good standing and eligible to return to the institution last attended. Transcript Request Forms are available through the USC Aiken Office of Admissions. Students must request and submit official transcripts from each previous academic institution. (Hand delivered transcripts will be considered unofficial.) The applicant must submit transcripts of all previous college courses attempted whether or not credit was earned and regardless of whether the applicant wishes to transfer any credit. Failure to report all attempted college courses may constitute sufficient cause for later dismissal from the University.

Assessment of Academic Records
In addition to the general requirements for transfer admission outlined in this section, the Schools of Business Administration, Education, and Nursing, along with the Exercise and Sports Science program set additional requirements that are higher than the University’s minimum standards. Initial admission to the University does not guarantee admission to these schools or program. For more specific information concerning entrance requirements for individual schools and departments, contact the appropriate school or program.

A transfer grade point average is calculated for the purpose of admission, using all credits attempted and grades earned at other institutions, with the exception of occupational, technical or remedial courses. These credits and grades also will be included in calculating honors at graduation from the University. Schools and Departments within the University have the right to consider all attempted college-level work in determining admission to particular programs and/or advancement into upper-division or professional-level courses.

As a general rule, credits earned in courses that fall in one or more of the following categories are not acceptable in transfer to USC Aiken:

Exceptions to this rule may be made only by the designated academic official(s) on the campus where the student is majoring and only in specific cases where such courses are judged to be uniquely relevant to the student’s degree program.

Transfer credit will not be accepted for courses the equivalent of which a student has been enrolled in previously at the University, unless the academic work presented for transfer represents a minimum of a full year of resident work at the other institution. Similarly, a student cannot receive credit for a course taken at the University if he/she has received transfer credit for an equivalent course previously taken at another institution.

USC Aiken will not accept transfer credit for non-USC courses in which the student made a grade of D+ or lower.

Evaluation of Transfer Credits.  Applicants for admission with advanced standing, having completed all admission procedures and requirements, will be given a statement of credits accepted by transfer to the University. Applicability of those credits to a degree is determined by the department or major in which the student enrolls. The number of credits acceptable to the University and the number which may apply toward a particular degree may differ.

Original records may be required and evaluated for courses exempted at a previous college. Exemption credit or acceptance of transfer credit by another college has no bearing on the evaluation of transfer credit at USC Aiken. Typically, only courses taken at a regionally accredited institution of higher education which are comparable in content and credit hours to specific courses offered by USC Aiken and in which grades of "C" or higher have been earned will be accepted for transfer. (State wide policies concerning transfer credit can be found on page 37.)

Evaluation of transfer credit awarded and the application of that credit to a degree program are valid only at the time the evaluation is conducted and may not apply if the student elects to change curriculum, major, degree, or university. Transfer credit awarded to a student who has been absent from the University for more than 36 months must be re-evaluated according to the standards in effect at the time the student is readmitted. Advisors and students are urged to use the Degree Audit Recording System (DARS) to review the application of transfer credit.

Students who need additional information about a transcript evaluation or who wish to appeal an evaluation should contact the Records Office. Information about earning course credit through challenge or CLEP examinations may be obtained from the Records Office.

Parallel Advisement for Transfer Students (PATS)
The PATS program is an effort between USC Aiken and Aiken, Orangeburg-Calhoun, and Piedmont Technical Colleges to provide advisement for students enrolled at these institutions who plan to transfer and complete a degree at USC Aiken. This advisement allows students to choose courses that meet degree requirements at both campuses. For additional information about the PATS program contact the USC Aiken Office of Admissions at (803) 641-3366.

Change of Campus
Changing campuses from one USC campus to another is a relatively easy process. Students must complete and return a change of campus form (found in the Records Office at most campuses and the Deans Office in Columbia). The Records or Deans office at your original campus will forward your request to the USC Aiken Office of Admissions. To be admitted to the USC Aiken campus, change of campus students must be in good academic standing at the original campus of attendance, as well as maintaining a GPA that is above USC Aiken suspension levels. (See Academic Standing in the "Academic Regulations" section of this bulletin.) Those students who have attempted less than 30 hours of nondevelopmental course work must also meet freshman admission requirements.

Non-Traditional Students
Non-traditional students at USC Aiken are typically students who are 25 years of age or older. Non-traditional students may also be students who do not attend college the semester after they graduate from high school, transfer directly from another college to USC Aiken, or who have been employed for 2 years or more.

Admissions Requirements for Non-Traditional Students:  Non-traditional students must submit the same credentials as other students, (high school and college transcripts), with the exception (if over the age of 21) of not submitting SAT or ACT results. However, students without SAT or ACT scores, must submit other credentials which provide evidence of reasonable academic potential. If non-traditional students fail to meet regular admission requirements, they may submit a petition to the Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee for further consideration. Students must complete a written petition which requests information concerning extra-curricular and work experiences. This is an attempt to determine if the student has obtained sufficient knowledge/experience to be admitted to the University.

Awarding Academic Credit to Non-Traditional Students:  Students may validate the knowledge they have gained through work or public service experiences by submitting the results of CLEP subject exams, taking USC Aiken challenge exams (exams, portfolios, etc.), submitting documents indicating educational experiences in the military, or submitting credits earned for USC correspondence courses. Appropriate scores, which have been established by the University, will result in credit being awarded for work and/or public service experience. USC Aiken policy also states that a maximum of 30 semester hours of non-traditional credit may be applied to a baccalaureate degree.

International Student Admission
All international students applying for admission to an undergraduate degree program must complete an international student application, attach a $45 application fee, and submit it to the Office of Admissions at USC Aiken. All international students must submit bank statements or certified statements for financial ability to provide approximately $23,000 or more for twelve (12) months’ total expenses. This is required before the I-20 certificate of eligibility can be signed.

Due to the complexities of evaluating international applications, along with problems associated with postage and traveling, international students are strongly encouraged to submit an application at least six months prior to the semester the student wishes to enter. International students who do not meet regular admission requirements and decide to petition for admission may not have adequate time to complete the admissions process. In such cases, their application will be considered for the following semester.

International Freshman applicants
In addition to the application and fee indicated above, freshmen applicants from foreign countries are required to submit:

If the SAT/ACT is not offered in the student’s country, the University will consider the TOEFL and other evidence of academic potential in lieu of the SAT/ACT. The Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee will review the credentials of the student and determine whether the student should be admitted to the University.

International Transfer applicants
International students who are applying for admission and have completed courses at post-secondary institutions are considered to be transfer students, and must meet the transfer student requirements outlined on page 7, of the USC Aiken bulletin under Transfer Admission. If the applicant has completed fewer than 30 semester hours of college-level work, he/she must meet both transfer and freshman entrance requirements. In addition to the application and fee, the international transfer student must submit:

If the applicant has attempted less than 30 semester hours of college-level work, the following must also be submitted:

The TOEFL requirement will be waived for a transfer student if the student has completed the equivalent of USC Aiken’s English 101 and 102 courses with a C or better at an accredited post secondary institution in the US. If the student has only completed English 101 with a C, he/she will be required to take English 111, English as a Second Language, in their first semester at the University.

Transfer students who have earned a degree or taken any courses in countries outside the US, must have an official transcript evaluated by a professional evaluation service. This evaluation must be forwarded directly to the USC Aiken Office of Admissions from the evaluation service. (A list of several professional Evaluation Services can be obtained from the USC Aiken Office of Admissions or found on the USC Aiken web site at: www.usca.edu/admissions). Students will not be considered for admission until this evaluation is received.

Waiver of Foreign Language Requirement for Bilingual Speakers
Students whose native language is other than English, and who have scored either 500 on the paper-based or 173 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), are exempt, without credit, from USC Aiken’s languages requirement.

English-speaking students who document or certify native or near-native proficiency in a language other than English are also exempt, without credit, from this requirement.

All exemptions must be approved by the Languages Placement Coordinator and the department chair/dean of the student’s degree program.

The department encourages exempt students to use electives to pursue other language and cultural studies.

Admission of Non-Degree Students
Applicants who wish to attend the University for one semester or on some limited basis may be approved to do so upon submitting an application, an application fee and an explanation of their educational goals. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to determine the proper category of admission and to determine what credentials may be required. Applicants who have been officially denied admission are not eligible as non-degree students.

Concurrent Admission.  Concurrent Admission is a program offered by the University of South Carolina Aiken to high school juniors and seniors. It provides an opportunity for students who are capable of meeting an increased challenge to earn college credit by taking courses offered by the university while still enrolled in high school. To be considered for this program, students must submit: an application for admission, high school transcripts, SAT/PSAT or ACT scores, a letter of approval from parent or guardian, a letter of approval from high school principal or guidance counselor.

Student Eligibility

Students admitted to this program will be enrolled in regular college courses in general subject areas, and will be chosen in consultation with the student so as to complement their high school program. Students who are successful in their first course(s) may be able to continue their enrollment in this program during subsequent terms.

Early Admission.  Under exceptional circumstances a high school student wishing to leave high school prior to graduation and enroll full-time at USC Aiken may apply to this program. The student must demonstrate both academic and social skills needed for college. To be considered for this program, the student must submit:

The Early Admission applicant will then be interviewed by the Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee, which will act on the application.

Non-Degree students are those wishing to take a course(s) for personal enrichment or professional enhancement. Entrance exams, transcripts and recommendations are generally not required. Students admitted in this classification may not earn more than 30 semester hours of credit and must be admitted as regular, degree-seeking students before credits may be validated and applied toward any USC degree. Applicants who have been officially denied admission as degree seeking students are not eligible as non-degree students. Non-degree students are subject to all standard University regulations.

Auditing.  A person may audit courses of his/her choice at USC Aiken. A person desiring to audit courses must apply as a special student. Auditing is granted on a space-available basis only. An admission application and the application fee must be submitted. Once audited, a course may not be taken for credit. See Registration in the "Academic Regulations" section of this bulletin for further information.

Transient.  Admission to undergraduate courses for one semester or two summer terms may be granted to students from other colleges and universities who are certified to be in good academic standing and whose program of study at USC Aiken has been approved by their academic dean or registrar.

Unclassified Students.  Students who hold a baccalaureate degree may be admitted to undergraduate credit courses upon submission of an application and transcript showing graduation with a bachelor’s degree from a college or university, or a copy of their diploma. This category is designed for those students not desiring to attend graduate school but seeking instead credits for teacher accreditation and similar purposes.

The period of enrollment in these categories is limited by either time or number of allowable credits. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid or housing during the fall or spring terms.

Special Students.  Those persons not meeting the above criteria for admission may petition the Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee for special consideration, and may do so by request through the USC Aiken Office of Admissions. The right of personal interview and appeal is available (also see Right of Petition on page 30). Students wishing to petition for admission must meet the following deadlines:

For information on academic advisement for non-degree students, see Academic Advisement on page 33.

Admission of Senior Citizens
South Carolina state law (59-111-320) authorizes USCA to permit SC residents at least sixty years of age to attend classes without the payment of tuition, on a space available basis, provided that such persons meet admission and other standards deemed appropriate by the university, and that neither such persons nor their spouses receive compensation as full-time employees. (Application fee, books, supplies, parking decals and other fees are not covered by this law and will be the responsibility of the senior citizen).

College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
The University of South Carolina Aiken supports the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program, which allows high school students the opportunity to pursue college level courses in their own schools and to be taught the material by their own teachers. After completion of the AP courses, students take the appropriate AP test to determine their level of achievement. For college credit to be awarded, a student must have official score reports from the College Board sent directly to the Office of Admissions at USC Aiken.

In accordance with policies established by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, USC Aiken will award credit for AP scores of three or higher, unless evidence is presented for good cause not to do so. In addition, the S.C. Commission on Higher Education has issued the following policies:

Because of the major overlap in course content between the two English AP exams, the awarding of AP credit in English should be treated separately from that of other disciplines as follows:

For additional information concerning the awarding of AP credit, contact the USC Aiken Office of Admissions.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Policy
The University of South Carolina Aiken recognizes the academic challenge inherent in the IB Program and encourages students who have completed the IB diploma to apply. IB graduates who score well (4-7) on their Higher Level exams will be awarded college credit as determined by the academic departments. No credit is awarded for subjects passed at the Subsidiary level of IB, nor for scores below 4 on the higher level exams. IB credit is awarded for IB Higher-Level examination scores in the following areas: English A1, Biology, Business and Organization, Chemistry, Computing Studies, Economics, Foreign Languages, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Psychology, Social Anthropology. To receive credit, the student must have the official examination results sent to the Office of Admissions, USC Aiken, Aiken, SC, 29801.

For additional information concerning the awarding of IB credit, contact the USC Aiken Office of Admissions.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The University awards credit by examination to CLEP subject examinations only. By attaining an acceptable score, a student may receive credit equal to that normally earned in the comparable University course. To receive credit, the student must have the official examination results sent to the Office of Admissions, USC Aiken, Aiken, SC, 29801. The department chair/dean will make the decision to award credit based on the score.

CLEP credit is awarded in the following subject areas: Introductory Accounting, Introductory Business Law, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Freshman College Composition, Analysis and Interpretation of Literature, American Literature, English Literature, American History I: Early Colonization to 1877, American History II: 1865 to the Present, Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648, Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present, College Algebra, College Algebra and Trigonometry, Calculus with Elementary Functions, Trigonometry, General Biology, General Chemistry, American Government, General Psychology, Educational Psychology, Introductory Sociology.

For additional information concerning the awarding of CLEP credit, contact the USC Aiken Office of Admissions.

Credit by Examination (Challenge Exam)
For more information see Credit by Examination under "Academic Regulations" on page 39.

Credit Granted for Educational Experiences in the Military
USCA recognizes the educational experiences and training that members of the armed forces receive during their time of enlistment. Academic credit may be awarded for educational experiences in the military if they are in accordance with recommendations published by the American Council on Education (ACE) and are consistent with University policy on transfer of credit. Credit will be applied to a degree program upon the approval of the Department Chair or Dean from which the degree is to be awarded.

For additional information concerning the awarding of credit for military training, contact the USC Aiken Office of Admissions.

A cooperative tuition-reduction agreement among 14 Southern Regional Education Board states is in place to allow students to take academic programs not available in their state.

USC Aiken has 2 programs recognized by the Academic Common Market. They are Business Administration - Marketing of Golf Course Services and Industrial Mathematics.

If interested in these programs, students must be admitted to USC Aiken as a degree seeking student. Then contact your state coordinator for additional information.

The purpose of the mathematics placement test is to assess each student’s ability in mathematics and help place her/him in the proper initial mathematics course. Those students who have scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the Educational Testing Service Calculus Advanced Placement (AP) Exam will not need to take the mathematics placement test.

Starting Fall Semester 2007, the mathematics placement test is required for all incoming students who plan to enroll in Math 108 (Applied College Algebra) or above. Since Applied College Algebra is required for many of the programs of study on campus, it will be necessary for most incoming freshmen and transfer students to take the mathematics placement test. If a student chooses not to take the placement test, her/his initial math course will be Math 103 (Mathematics in Society) or Math 104 (Mathematics for Practical Purposes) depending upon her/his major.

Transfer students and students who have already earned a baccalaureate degree who have partially or completely satisfied the math requirement of their major, or have successfully completed at the minimum a college algebra course at their previous institution, will not have to take the test. Those students may then proceed to the next required math course for their major or the prerequisite course for the required math course for their major.

The mathematics placement test is a user friendly computerized test which consists of multiple choice questions designed to measure an individual’s proficiency in the areas of elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, college algebra and trigonometry. All students will begin testing in the elementary algebra area. The test is adaptive, which means that each student is prepared for those questions. The test will end when the student reaches the highest level of questions she/he can answer. Test results will be available when students come for orientation, advisement and registration. The results of this test will be used by the academic advisor to determine the particular mathematics course which is most appropriate for the student based upon her/his level of proficiency and the requirement of her/his academic major. Students are strongly encouraged to review previously learned math concepts before testing. Scores from the test will be valid for one year for non-matriculated students.

If a student takes the mathematics placement test and does not place into the course they desire, he/she will be allowed to retake the test one time before being placed into a course. Refresher workshops will be offered throughout the summer months for students who wish to review mathematical topics that may increase their chances of doing well on the mathematics placement test. A student may choose to attend one of these free workshops before the first or second attempt at the placement test.

For additional information regarding mathematics placement test, contact the Advisement Services Office.

Placement in Languages, Literatures and Cultures (French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish)

Ø Students beginning to study a new language enroll in 101.

Ø Students enrolling in a second language that they have previously studied (whether in high school or college) will be placed at the appropriate level based on previous second-language courses and grades. Each student’s advisement folder will contain written information that specifies the level of the language in which they have been placed.

Ø Students who place in 210 and pass the course with a grade of C or better will have completed USC Aiken’s languages requirement.

The University of South Carolina Aiken requires all undergraduate and graduate students born after December 31, 1956, to provide proof of immunity to measles (rubeola) and German measles (rubella). Proof of immunity and/or immunization requires documentation of one of the following:

The following vaccines are recommended for all students but are not mandatory: Meningococcal, Hepatitis B, and Varicella (if no prior history of Chicken Pox).

High School Course Prerequisites for Freshman who graduated from high school 1988-2000

High School Course Prerequisites for Freshmen who graduated from high school 2001 and beyond