Academic Programs

Learning Outcomes for Associate’s Degree Programs

Graduates will be able to:

• Identify and analyze issues, develop logical and persuasive arguments, and communicate ideas clearly for a variety of audiences and purposes through writing.
• Apply the methods of mathematical, statistical, or analytical reasoning to critically evaluate data, solve problems, and effectively communicate findings verbally and graphically.
• Apply the principles and language of the natural sciences and associated technologies to historical and contemporary issues.
• Communicate in more than one language.
• Use the principles of historical thinking to understand past human societies.
• Use the principles of the social sciences to explore diverse cultural identities and to analyze political and environmental issues.
• Create or interpret literary, visual or performing arts.

AND be able to demonstrate at least ONE of the following:

• Identify and analyze issues, develop logical and persuasive arguments, and communicate ideas clearly for a variety of audiences and purposes through speaking.
• Collect, manage and evaluate information using technology, and communicate findings.
• Examine different kinds of social and personal values, analyzing the ways in which these are manifested in communities as well as individual lives.

Carolina Core - 15 Hours

These serve as general education requirements common to all associate degrees.

• CMW: Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)
  Must be passed with a grade of C or higher
• SCI: Scientific Literacy (3 Hours)
• GHS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 Hours)
• GSS: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 Hours)

Associate of Arts Degree Curriculum - 60 Hours

1. Basic Requirements (including 15 hours of Carolina Core stated above) (37-38 Hours)

All course selections are from the approved Carolina Core Learning Outcomes list unless otherwise specified.

2. Electives for A.A. Degrees (22-23 Hours)

Electives may be any additional courses not used to fulfill the previously stated requirements.  Students who intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another campus or institution are advised to work closely with an academic advisor to choose electives that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue. Of particular importance is completion of general education requirements. USC Columbia requires a minimum of 31 general education credit hours and a student planning to pursue a USC Columbia baccalaureate degree must complete these hours. These hours can be incorporated within the 60 hours required for an AA or AS degree when electives are carefully selected. Applying for an associate’s degree does not in any manner affect eligibility to apply for a baccalaureate degree, and vice versa.

Associate of Science Degree Curriculum - 60 Hours

1. Basic Requirements (including 15 hours of Carolina Core stated above) (38-42 Hours)

All course selections are from the approved Carolina Core Learning Outcomes list unless otherwise specified.

2. Electives for A.A. Degrees (18-22 Hours)

Electives may be any additional courses not used to fulfill the previously stated requirements.  Students who intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another campus or institution are advised to work closely with an academic advisor to choose electives that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue. Of particular importance is completion of general education requirements. USC Columbia requires a minimum of 31 general education credit hours and a student planning to pursue a USC Columbia baccalaureate degree must complete these hours. These hours can be incorporated within the 60 hours required for an AA or AS degree when electives are carefully selected. Applying for an associate’s degree does not in any manner affect eligibility to apply for a baccalaureate degree, and vice versa.

Other Requirements

In addition to the requirements for the A.A. and A.S. degrees stated above, the following stipulations also apply:

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations).
• The final 15 semester hours must be earned at USC Salkehatchie.
• No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees.
• Pass-Fail option on elective courses is allowed.
• No more than 15 hours of nontraditional credits, which include DANTES, CLEP, and military experience.
• No more than 3 1-hour PEDU activity courses may count toward meeting Associate’s degree requirements (any track).

Second Associate’s Degree

At times the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie confers a second associate’s degree upon candidates who have completed all requirements for the second degree, provided that the additional requirements for the second degree include a minimum of 12 semester hours beyond those required for the first degree earned at USC Salkehatchie and a minimum of 72 semester hours total. Under this policy a student may apply for two degrees at one time or separately. In either case the student would receive two diplomas.