About Chemistry at USC Aiken

The Department of Chemistry and Physics offers an ACS certified Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Chemistry. Students pursuing a major in chemistry will be exposed to all major areas of chemistry: Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical.

The BA Degree in Chemistry prepares students for further education in professional schools such as medical, dental, pharmacy, or veterinary. The BA degree allows for more flexibility than the BS Chemistry degree because some of the senior-level course requirements have been replaced with elective courses that can be used to satisfy prerequisites for professional school. The BA Chemistry degree program has also been designed in a way that a student can graduate in a total of three years, plus some summer classes. The BA degree is not intended for students who want a job in the chemical industry or who want to attend graduate school.

Opportunities and Resources

Chemistry majors have access to tutoring and a dedicated Facebook group exclusive to chemistry students.

Career Opportunities

The career paths chosen by chemistry alumni testify to the excellent preparation USC Aiken's department provides. Many have also continued their education by pursuing Ph.D. degrees in chemistry at graduate schools throughout the country. You can find more information about career options by visiting What Can I Do With This Major?

USC Aiken Career Services offers numerous resources which provide more information about career opportunities for students in this major.

Visit the Department of Chemistry and Physics website

We are please to offer faculty the resources needed for online course development, online course facilitation, technology, quality assurance, best practices, accessibility, and copyright.

USC Aiken Online Course Development Overview

The Office of Distance Learning has compiled resources, templates, quality assurance, and best practice strategies to help you start your online course planning. 

We will help you:

• determine an appropriate mix of technologies for course development and facilitation

• develop high-quality online course content based on best practices

• employ assessment tools for educational outcomes

• provide pedagogical advice for online teaching methods

• provide consultations on how and when to include technologies to improve instructional strategies

• develop skills in using various technologies (Blackboard, Lecture capture, Video chat, multimedia, etc.)

• design instructional activities

• ensure compliance with copyright and accessibility

Introduction to Online Course Development at USC Aiken

The following resources provide an overview of the development process for online courses.

• USCA Faculty Resources for Online Course Development

• Request a USCA Blackboard Development Site

Another valuable resource is USC Columbia's Distributed Learning Toolbox web page. Topics include accessibility, course design models, learning objectives, open educational resources, quality assurance, assessments, best practices, active learning, student engagement, tools and technology, journals, newsletters, etc.

Preparing for Online Course Development

The Office of Distance Learning urges you to contact a representative to help you plan your online delivery strategy. Until then, plese consider:

1. You do not have to do this alone. Contact an instructional designer and talk about the best ways to get started building content for online learning.

2. Discover your teaching philosophy and teaching model for online learning.

3. Think about ways you might translate traditional classroom instructional strategies to online instructional strategies.

4. Apply the Quality Matters rubric for online/hybrid course development and delivery in an effort to adhere to quality control.

5. You should be aware that developing an online course is very labor-intensive. You must be willing to learn and improve your skills in the use of technology (including Blackboard) and online pedagogy.

6. You should be able to clearly articulate your instructions and expectations to your online students. How will you assess your online students?

7. Are you prepared to pursuse ongoing professional development in online/hybrid pedagogy?

8. Online instruction continuous evaluation in order to revise your delivery and improve your course offering. 

9. Collaborataration with seasoned professionals is essential to stay current on the latest trends and best practices in online teaching.

10. Successful instructors mentor their peers and build a network of diverse instructors.

About Communication and Digital Arts at USC Aiken

In the Communication and Digital Arts degree program, students learn to communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, listen well, think critically, and understand and produce persuasive media messages. By combining courses from speech communication, media, and visual/digital communication technology, majors are prepared for careers in social media and integrated marketing, public relations, sports information, visual communication, desktop publishing, video editing, etc. It is also a great option for students who will pursue graduate study in related programs. 

Visit the Department of Communication website

We are please to offer faculty the resources needed for online course development, online course facilitation, technology, quality assurance, best practices, accessibility, and copyright. If there are categories of interest that you wish to have added to the list, please email your comments, questions, and/or concerns to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

USC Aiken Online Course Development Overview

The Office of Distance Learning has compiled resources, templates, quality assurance, and best practice strategies to help you start your online course planning. 

We will help you:

• determine an appropriate mix of technologies for course development and facilitation

• develop high-quality online course content based on best practices

• employ assessment tools for educational outcomes

• provide pedagogical advice for online teaching methods

• provide consultations on how and when to include technologies to improve instructional strategies

• develop skills in using various technologies (Blackboard, Lecture capture, Video chat, multimedia, etc.)

• design instructional activities

• ensure compliance with copyright and accessibility

Introduction to Online Course Development at USC Aiken

The following resources provide an overview of the development process for online courses.

• USCA Faculty Resources for Online Course Development

• Request a USCA Blackboard Development Site

Another valuable resource is USC Columbia's Distributed Learning Toolbox web page. Topics include accessibility, course design models, learning objectives, open educational resources, quality assurance, assessments, best practices, active learning, student engagement, tools and technology, journals, newsletters, etc.

Preparing for Online Course Development

The Office of Distance Learning urges you to contact a representative to help you plan your online delivery strategy. Until then, plese consider:

1. You do not have to do this alone. Contact an instructional designer and talk about the best ways to get started building content for online learning.

2. Discover your teaching philosophy and teaching model for online learning.

3. Think about ways you might translate traditional classroom instructional strategies to online instructional strategies.

4. Apply the Quality Matters rubric for online/hybrid course development and delivery in an effort to adhere to quality control.

5. You should be aware that developing an online course is very labor-intensive. You must be willing to learn and improve your skills in the use of technology (including Blackboard) and online pedagogy.

6. You should be able to clearly articulate your instructions and expectations

7. How will you assess your online students?

8. Are you prepared to pursuse ongoing professional development in online/hybrid pedagogy? Online instruction continuous evaluation in order to revise your delivery and improve your course offering. 

9. Collaborate with seasoned professionals to stay current on the latest trends and best practices in online teaching.

10. Peer mentor each other and build a network of diverse instructors.