BARSC Requirements

The Baccalaureus Artium et Scientiae (“Bachelor of Arts and Sciences,” or “BARSC”) is a unique and highly selective degree offered only by the South Carolina Honors College. Students must have a minimum cumulative 3.6 GPA to apply for admission and the application and admission process is typically completed by the end of a student’s first year. Students interested in pursuing this degree should start by making an appointment to talk about their interest with their Honors advisor and the director of the BARSC program.

BARSC Curriculum

The individualized curriculum of a BARSC degree candidate is supervised by an advisory committee, which aids BARSC candidates in course selection and career orientation. In place of the university’s traditional major and other requirements, BARSC students complete 120+ hours of interdisciplinary coursework designed to develop intellectual inquisitiveness. Degree requirements include the completion of: 

• Carolina Core requirements
• South Carolina Honors College requirements
• 69 Honors course credit hours
• U.S. and non-U.S. history courses
• An additional social behavioral science and English/literature course beyond Carolina Core requirements
• Major course requirements, as set by each student’s advisory committee
• Senior thesis or project (9 credit hours instead of the typical 3 credit hours)
• Graduation with the BARSC degree requires a 3.50 cumulative GPA

Additional information regarding BARSC degree requirements and progression can be found in USC’s undergraduate academic bulletin and the BARSC Major Map.

Aside from these requirements, you will, along with your committee, design an individualized curriculum that has no major, minor or cognate, but reflects your interests, strengths and weaknesses. The Senior Thesis/Project represents your effort to pull the strands of this unique educational opportunity together in an extended research/scholarly experience.

The BARSC director will be able to map out a plan with you that will help you meet both BARSC and graduation requirements.

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