A Useful Guide to Life in the USC History Department
The following helpful hints will make your transition to life here at the University of South Carolina more comfortable, and they'll help you avoid the plaintive cry of "I never knew that!" View a map of the USC campus.
Computer Lab
The History Department has its own computer lab for graduate student use, located in Gambrell 217. You can obtain the passcode from the History Department Office. This computer lab has a printer and Windows and Macintosh computers outfitted with Microsoft Word.
Graduate Lounge
The graduate student lounge is in Gambrell 248B. You can obtain the passcode from the History Department Office. Every graduate student has a mailbox, located in this room. You should check your mailbox regularly. There is also a refrigerator and a bulletin board for announcements.
Mailing Lists
The main form of departmental communication is two email listserves, GradHist and ApplHist. GradHist is for all graduate students, regardless of area of specialization. To subscribe to GradHist, send the following command in the body of an email to listserv@listserv.sc.edu: ubscribe gradhist Your_Name Replace "Your_Name" with your actual name.
To send a message to this list, use the address . Note that this message will go to all graduate students, so make sure that you intend to send it to everyone before you hit "send." Searchable archives of this list are available at: Searchable Archives
Members of the Public History program should also subscribe to a second list, ApplHist. To subscribe to ApplHist, send the following command in the body of an email to listserv@listserv.sc.edu : subscribe applhist Your_Name Replace "Your_Name" with your actual name. To send a message to this list, use the address .
This website includes a wide range of scholarly listservs on diverse topics. These lists are a good source of information on upcoming conferences and also a good place to inquire for historical questions after you have exhausted other resources.
Parking
Unless you are willing to purchase a pass for one of the parking lots, there are few guaranteed parking spaces near Gambrell Hall or the Thomas Cooper Library. As a graduate student, you are entitled to purchase a "GS" parking sticker from the university. This sticker, displayed in the rear window of your vehicle, allows you to park in certain lots (including the lot on Greene street behind Gambrell Hall) beginning at 4 pm Monday-Friday. The lot is open to all vehicles after 5 pm. For more information on parking at the University, visit Vehicle Management and Parking Services at: Vehicle Management and Parking Services
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority has several buses that pass by the University of South Carolina. For route information, contact the CMRTA at 255-7133.
University Libraries
The main library on campus is Thomas Cooper Library. Other campus libraries/collections that may be of interest for graduate students include South Caroliniana Library, Hollings Library, Moving Image Research Collections, Music Library, and Library Annex
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta is a national history honors organization. USC is proud to have had a chapter for over 30 years. The organization focuses on helping students succeed in their academic career and help to move into a professional career through workshops, seminars, networking with professionals, etc. It also offers opportunities to visit local historical sites and get behind-the-scenes tours. If you were previously a member at another institution, transferring your membership is easy. To get more information, contact Andrew Berns aberns@mailbox.sc.edu.
A Few Things about Moving To Columbia
General information
General information about South Carolina can be found on the following website: General Information
Finding a Place to Live
The University of South Carolina maintains a webpage where you can search for off-campus housing: You may also want to try the advertisements in the State Newspaper, which is Columbia's daily newspaper: For property close to USC, try searching for "Downtown," "Shandon," "Five Points," or "USC."
Car registration
For information on registering your car in South Carolina, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles at: Department of Motor Vehicles
The process is long and painful. You have been warned.