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Academic Programs

The University of South Carolina Lancaster offers the following academic degrees:

    Associate in Arts
    Associate in Science
    Associate in Science degree in the following concentrations: business, technical nursing, and criminal justice

Two to three years of credit toward a baccalaureate degree offered by other institutions is also offered in many areas.

Associate’s Degree Programs

Associate in Arts and Associate in Science

The University of South Carolina Lancaster offers the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree to those students who have earned 60 hours of credit approved by the dean of USC Lancaster. These degrees are awarded to those students who have completed the following requirements:

Associate in Arts

Required Courses
Semester Hours
ENGL 101, ENGL 102 (must earn grades of C or higher)
6
Numerical and Analytical Reasoning (Mathematics 111 or higher, Computer Science, Statistics 110 or 201, Philosophy 110-111)
3
Natural Sciences
3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Government, History, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies)
6

Humanities and Fine Arts (African American Studies; Art; English, 200 level or above; Foreign Language; Music; Philosophy [excluding 110-111]; Religious Studies; Theatre and Dance)

9
Other courses, as appropriate
33
Total
60

Associate in Science

Required Courses
Semester Hours
ENGL 101, ENGL 102 (must earn grades of C or higher)
6
Numerical and Analytical Reasoning (Math 111 or higher, Computer Science, Statistics, 110 or 201, Philosophy 110-111)
6
Natural Sciences
7-8
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Government, History, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies)
6
Humanities and Fine Arts (African American Studies; Art; English, 200 level or above; Foreign Language; Music; Philosophy [excluding 110-111]; Religious Studies; Theatre and Dance)
3
Other courses, as appropriate
31-32
Total
60

In addition to the requirements stated above, students must also meet the following criteria for an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree:

1. 2.00 GPA or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations);

2. final 15 semester hours earned at USC Lancaster.

Many students who enter the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science degree programs intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree at a four-year institution. These students are advised to work closely with their academic advisors to outline a program of study for the first two years that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue.

Other Associate’s Degrees

In addition to the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees, USC Lancaster offers associate degrees in the following fields: business, technical nursing, and criminal justice. Students must also meet the following criteria:

1. 2.00 GPA or better (does not include course grades earned by challenge examinations);

2. final 15 semester hours must be earned at USC Lancaster;

3. grade of C or above in ENGL 101 and 102.

Business Curriculum

The Associate in Science in Business degree seeks to provide educational opportunities that will prepare students for careers in business and industry as well as meet many of the preliminary requirements for four-year majors in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management.

The associate degree business program is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. 

General Education Requirements

A. Humanities and Social Sciences
Semester Hours
ENGL 101 Composition (must earn a grade of C or higher)
3
ENGL 102 Composition and Literature (must earn a grade of C or higher)
3
HIST 111 or 112 History of the U.S.; or POLI 201 American National Government
3
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
3
SPCH 140 Public Communication
3
ECON 224 Principles of Economics
3
One Fine Arts course
3
B. Mathematics
MATH 122, or CSCE102, or PHIL 110, or STAT 110, or STAT 201
3

Related Area Courses

ACCT 225 Fundamentals of Accounting I
3
TSTM 240 Business Law, or ACCT 324 Survey of Commercial Law
3
PHIL 318 Business Ethics
3
MGMT 371 Principles of Management or RETL 344 Personnel Organization and Supervision
3

Professional Concentration Courses

TSTM 143 Advanced Business Document Preparation
3
TSTM 164 Introduction to Office Automation
3
TSTM 270 Records Control
3
TSTM 342 Business Communications
3
MGSC 290 Computer Information Systems in Business
3

Electives

3 courses from the following: TSTM 243 Word Processing Concepts and Technology, TSTM 338 Integrated Document Production, TSTM 347 Advanced Office Procedures, RETL 351 Small Business Organization and Operation, UNIV 101 The Student in the University, MGSC 291 Statistics for Business and Economics, MKTG 350 Principles of Marketing, RCAM 141 Introduction to Computer Keyboarding, RCAM 142 Business Document Preparation, CSCE 101 Introduction to Computer Concepts, ACCT 226 Introduction to Managerial Accounting, Foreign Language
9
Total
60

Associate Degree Nursing Program

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is a cooperative program between York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster and is fully approved by the Board of Nursing for South Carolina and accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The Associate Degree Nursing Program prepares men and women for the practice of registered nursing to provide direct client care across the life span. The practice of the associate degree nurse is primarily directed toward clients who have health needs and require assistance to maintain or restore their optimum state of health or support to die with dignity. The associate degree nurse is prepared to address acute and chronic health care needs and common well-defined health care problems in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and certain community health agencies.

The student of an associate degree nursing program functions in three basic roles within the health care delivery system: provider of care, manager of care, and member within the discipline of nursing. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Computer Adaptive Testing of the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses. Graduates who successfully pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses are eligible to apply for licensure to practice as a registered nurse in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories.

There are legal limitations for state licensure in South Carolina for graduates with prior convictions and/or disciplinary action. The policy from the Board of Nursing for South Carolina will be distributed to all applicants by Student Services/Office of Admissions. The policy is also in the Nursing Student Handbook, which is distributed the first day of class. Clinical facilities may require drug screens and/or SLED background checks before allowing students to participate in clinical rotations. Students participating in clinicals may be required to have a drug screen at any time during their rotation.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program must meet the entrance requirements of the parent institution.* Admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program requires the student to be a high-school graduate or equivalent. Students must complete one course of high-school, college-preparatory general chemistry with a minimum grade of C or complete one college chemistry course with a minimum grade of C prior to acceptance into the nursing program.

And one of the following:

1. SAT score of 920 (480 verbal, 440 math) if taken after April 1, 1995, or 800 (400 verbal, 400 math) if taken before April 1, 1995, or ACT score of 20 (21 verbal, 19 math)

OR

2. Completion of all approved general education courses (below) with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.

BIOL 243 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 243L Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
BIOL 244 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 244L Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
PSYC 101 General Psychology
BIOL 330 Microbiology
BIOL 330L Microbiology Laboratory
MATH 111 College Algebra
ENGL 101 Composition
ENGL 102 Composition and Literature
Minimum of 3 approved electives (one elective must be chosen from humanities)

All biophysical science courses must have been completed within seven years prior to admission to this nursing program.

*Students are expected to graduate from the school where the initial nursing course is taken.

To enhance potential for success in the program, the faculty recommends completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program and work experience as a CNA.

Admission by Transfer

Transfer credit may be granted for courses taken in another associate or baccalaureate degree nursing program to a student meeting the following criteria:

1. The student must meet present admission criteria to the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

2. The student must submit a letter from the previous school attended stating that he/she left in good standing and is eligible for readmission.

3. The student must provide the nursing department manager with a detailed course syllabus showing course and unit objectives and a clinical evaluation tool indicating criteria met in the clinical component of the courses. Courses for which transfer credit is given must meet the objectives of the comparable York Technical College/University of South Carolina Lancaster courses.

4. The student must demonstrate competencies in the course to be transferred either by exam, by previous grade and documentation, or both.

5. The Nursing Evaluation Committee will review requests for transfer credit and will make a recommendation for official action to the registrar/admissions officer.

6. The York Technical College/University of South Carolina Lancaster Cooperative Nursing Program is considered by the state Board of Nursing for South Carolina to be one nursing program administered jointly by York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster. Only those students in good standing who are eligible for readmission will be considered for transfer.

7. Admission by transfer is on a space-available basis.

LPN Advanced Placement

Students will be admitted based on the South Carolina Statewide Articulation Model.

Direct Transfer:

A minimum of 15 semester hours of nursing credit will be awarded without educational mobility testing or validation if the applicant meets the following criteria:

  • graduate from an NLNAC-accredited school of nursing
  • has a current, active LPN license
  • meets admission and progression requirements of York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster.

Individual Validation:

Individual validation of credit awarded will be determined by the receiving institution through exemption testing if the applicant is a:

  • graduate from a non-NLNAC-accredited program
  • graduate from a noncredit-bearing program.

A minimum of 15 semester hours of nursing credit will be awarded upon completion of validation if the applicant meets the following criteria:

  • has a current, active license
  • meets admission requirements of York Technical College and the University of South Carolina Lancaster.

Exemption Credit:

Candidates may exempt by examination through York Technical College. The cost for each written exam is $50, and the cost of the clinical exemption is $100. The student must earn an 80 on the written component and a "Satisfactory" on the clinical component. Candidates must schedule the exemption examination(s) with the program manager. Candidates may take the exemption exam for any course one time only.

In order to receive York Technical College exemption credit for courses, the student must enroll in the program within 12 months following the administration of the test.

Each candidate receiving exemption credit is required to enroll in NUR 201 Transition Nursing. Candidates may take NUR 201 before the first nursing course or simultaneously with the first nursing course taken.

Students who successfully exempt will be placed in the next appropriate nursing course pending space available.

Students who do not successfully exempt a nursing course must meet admission requirements for entry into the program. Students will be placed on the list for entry on the day they meet all requirements.

Other requirements:

1. must have completed health form

2. current healthcare provider CPR certification

3. proof of health insurance

4. proof of liability insurance (through York Technical College)

Program of Study

In order to receive an Associate in Science degree in technical nursing, students must complete 68 semester hours of study.

Freshman Year
Fall
Spring
ENGL 101*, 102*
3
3
*BIOL 243,243L, 244, 244L
4
4
*LANU 104
4
0
*LANU 106
2
0
*LANU 206
2
0
*LANU 159
0
6
*LANU 211
0
4
PSYC 101
3
0
Summer
Summer I
*LANU 209
5
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring
*LANU 229
6
0
*LANU 214
0
4
*LANU 219
0
4
*BIOL 330, 330L
4
0
*MATH 111
3
3
Elective (one elective must be chosen from humanities)
3
5
Total
68

*Courses that require a minimum grade of C

Nursing classes include campus and clinical laboratory hours. Students are required to drive to a variety of clinical agencies to complete the clinical component of the nursing courses. Students are expected to drive to either campus for classes according to the class schedule.

Students may be assigned to a morning, afternoon, or evening clinical anywhere in the tri-county area. Clinicals may range from four to eight hours per clinical day.

Practical Nurse (PN) Exit option--Students successfully completing the first three semesters are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and for licensure as a PN.

ADN Progression--Students may apply for NCLEX-PN after three semesters and continue on in the program to complete the last two semesters. Students successfully completing all semesters are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and for NCLEX-RN.

Retention and Promotion Policy

For retention and promotion in the nursing program, the student must, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of health, conduct, and scholastic achievement. In addition to meeting the established criteria of the parent institutions, the student:

1. must schedule all courses to meet the requirements for this course of study in a course sequence as outlined in the curriculum display in the University of South Carolina Lancaster catalog;

2. must achieve a cumulative 2.00 grade point average on all courses that count toward graduation in the program;

3. must make a grade of C or better in theory in each nursing course attempted and receive a clinical evaluation of "Satisfactory";

4. who receives a D, F, or W in any required nursing course may repeat that course one time only. A maximum of two nursing courses may be repeated. If a student fails the same course twice, that student may not progress in the program. In order to repeat a nursing course, the student must follow the readmission policy for the nursing program, found in the current Nursing Student Handbook. Readmission will depend on space available in the course to be repeated.

5. must achieve a grade of C or above in ENGL 101, 102, and all science courses.

6. will be eligible for academic forgiveness five years after the last nursing course attempted and may apply for readmission to the first nursing course. Required science courses that are more than seven years old must be repeated.

Criminal Justice Curriculum

The criminal justice curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in law enforcement, investigation, corrections, law enforcement management, probation and parole, the court system, jail administration, juvenile rehabilitation, insurance investigations, and community service.

In order to receive an Associate in Science in Criminal Justice, students must complete 60 semester hours of required courses as outlined in the criminal justice curriculum.

Curriculum

1. General Education Requirements
ENGL 101, 102 (must earn grades of C or higher)
6
One course chosen from ENGL 282 or above or SPCH 140
3
Four courses from the following fields: Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology
12
Two courses from History and/or Government
6
Four courses from Math, Computer Science, Business Administration, and/or Economics
12
2. Major Requirements
Five courses to be chosen from: CRJU 101, 211, 221; LCRJ 271, 272, 281, 282
15
3. Electives
6
Total
60

Transfer of Credits to the B.A.I.S. Degree

Credits earned in courses designed especially for programs leading to associate’s degrees may be transferable for credit toward a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A.I.S.). The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies is a unique four-year degree program offered by the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management at USC Columbia.

In certain instances, credit in such courses may be obtained by validation examination, given upon approval of the dean of the college in which the subject is taught. Grades earned in courses completed in programs leading to an associate’s degree that are validated by examination will not be counted in computing the grade point average for baccalaureate degree programs.

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Many students who enter the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science degree programs intend to apply these credits toward a baccalaureate degree awarded by another institution. These students are advised to work closely with their advisor to outline a program of study for the first two years that will meet preliminary requirements of the four-year major they wish to pursue.

These students are also strongly advised to obtain and use a copy of the bulletin for the Columbia campus when determining specific degree requirements. Preliminary course work toward the following USC baccalaureate degree programs may be completed at USC Lancaster:

Arts and Sciences

Aerospace Studies
African American Studies
Anthropology
Art
Biological Sciences
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Classics
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Economics
English
European Studies
Film Studies
Foreign Languages
French
German
Italian
Russian
Spanish
Geography
Geological Sciences
History
Interdisciplinary Studies
International Studies
Latin American Studies
Marine Science
Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Sociology
Speech
Statistics
Theatre and Dance
Women’s Studies

Business Administration

Accounting
Business Economics
Finance
Insurance and Risk Management
Management
Management Science
Marketing
Real Estate

Education

Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Middle Level Education
Physical Education
For other areas of study, see "Arts and Sciences," above

Engineering

Chemical Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management

Technology Support and Training Management
Interdisciplinary Studies
Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management
Retailing
Sport and Entertainment Management

Journalism and Mass Communications

Advertising
Journalism
Print Journalism
Public Relations

Music

Nursing

Pharmacy

Public Health

Communication Sciences and Disorders
Exercise Science
Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior
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