Communication
A degree in communication helps prepare you for success in this fast-paced and changing world. By studying and applying communication theories and principles, you will learn to be a better partner, employee, leader, and citizen. A communication degree prepares you well for a wide range of careers including public relations, marketing, journalism, sales, broadcasting,and sports communication or for graduate study in diverse fields.
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English
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in English is designed to be flexible enough to provide the student with an adequate background for graduate studies in English or preparation for such professions as law, medicine, the ministry, advertising, communications, technical writing, and library science.
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History, Political Science, and Philosophy
The Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy offers majors in History and Political Science, along with minors in History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Religion. Within the Political Science major, students can choose between concentrations in Comprehensive Political Science, Campaign Management and Elections, International Service, and Public Service. The History major does not have concentrations, but includes the HIST 300: Historian’s Craft and HIST 499: Senior Capstone courses, both of which require major writing and research projects. The department offers internships on a limited, competitive basis in both Political Science and History and offers opportunities for faculty-led professional research. Extra-curricular clubs related to the department include the Political Science Club, the History Club, Philosophy Club, and Pacer Law Society.
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Languages, Literatures and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers basic and advanced language and literature courses in French, German and Spanish and basic courses in Italian and Latin. Additionally, the department offers a minor in Spanish and an add-on teacher certification in Spanish. The Department’s courses in second languages are an integral and indispensable component of USC Aiken’s general education curriculum, and, to that end, the department offers a multitude of basic courses in French, German and Spanish every semester and during the Maymester and summer sessions.
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Sociology
Sociology is a valuable liberal arts major for students planning careers in a wide variety of fields including social research, criminology, demography, social psychology, public administration, gerontology, education, rehabilitation, social work, and market research. Students have the opportunity to earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology in one of three concentrations: general, human services, or criminology and criminal justice.
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Anthropology and Human Geography
The Anthropology and Human Geography Minor offers students a holistic, cross-disciplinary perspective on cultural and physical attributes of major world regions in order to examine the various ways humans adapt and have adapted to their environments. Faculty expertise ranges from ethnicity studies in China to local food system development in the U.S.
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Criminology and Criminal Justice
A six-course minor in criminology and criminal justice is available to students who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree in areas other than sociology. The requirements for the minor are flexible, allowing students to tailor the curriculum to their specific interests. This program is especially suited for students who have career interests in the forensic sciences and are majoring in chemistry, biology, or psychology.
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Women’s and Gender Studies
The minor in Women’s and Gender Studies provides an interdisciplinary environment for students to study the significance of gender in society and how gender is socially, culturally, economically, politically, and historically constituted. The minor draws on a wide range of courses to explore gender difference, changes in gender roles as well as gender inequality across social institutions. The minor provides a broad overview of gender and is designed to complement any major at USC Aiken.
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Visual & Performing Arts
Art
With airy, well-lit studios, we offer the student a wide range of art courses. Design, drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography, and graphic design are all available. Upper level students enjoy specialized and independent study classes. We run a full schedule of exhibits that includes a student art show in the spring. Our students exhibit locally and regionally and have gone into successful careers in a range of areas.
In Art History, we offer survey as well as specialty classes (that include American, Greek, and Twentieth Century Art and Western and oriental architecture).
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Music
Emphasizing small classes and individual attention, study in music is fostered in an atmosphere that encourages personal and musical growth and nurtures individual accountability and leadership. Students are challenged to think critically and creatively, to communicate effectively, and to acquire a breadth and depth of knowledge in their chosen field. As a part of the liberal arts curriculum, all students at USC Aiken may find a variety of opportunities within the music program by participating in music classes, musical ensembles, and applied lessons.
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Theatre
Our production-oriented program, the University Theatre, produces both the O’Connell Season, which consists of at least three fully-staged productions. Students may choose from a range of courses including, but not limited to, acting, stagecraft, stage lighting, theatre history and directing. University Theatre is an organizational member of the South Carolina Theatre Association and the Southeastern Theatre Conference. We also are active participants in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival.