In collaboration with USC’s eleven baccalaureate colleges and schools, the University Advising Center (UAC) for Academic and Post-Graduation Success coordinates campus-wide student success initiatives serving 28,000 undergraduate students annually across 160 majors and concentrations. 

The UAC supports the university’s academic mission through a wide variety of student services, programs, and offices, including:

• New comprehensive four-year academic advising program designed to provide discipline specific support for students in their academics, experiential learning, and career readiness
• Exploratory advising and academic coaching, including assistance for students who have not yet declared a major
• Specialized transfer student advising
• Direct transfer tracks with South Carolina Technical Colleges/Commission on Higher Ed (CHE)
• Four-year curriculum mapping
• Curricular analytics
• Consultations with faculty on curriculum design
• Special initiatives (faculty/student mentorship, academic intervention and outreach, the Transfer Student Advisory Council, Academic Advising Student Council, annual system-wide Advisors Educational Conference, the University Advisors’ Network, academic recovery initiatives)
• Advising technology implementation and utilization (i.e. DegreeWorks, EAB Navigate, My USC Experience, Self-Service Carolina). 

UAC is at the forefront in developing new policies and programs to support student learning.  Since the office’s inception in 2015, the UAC has received six national awards from the National Academic Advising Association (including the #1 Outstanding Advising Program for Advisor Training and Certification) and has been featured in multiple publications including The Chronicle of Higher Education for having one of the best Advising programs in the country.

GARNET (Graduation and Retention Network) supports a variety of courses, programs, and initiatives that help students get ahead, catch up or stay on track for degree completion. GARNET directs the programming for:

• Summer Semester
• Winter Session
• Jump Start Summer Transfer Program
• Interdisciplinary Certificates
• Complete Carolina
• Accelerated Study Plans

GARNET works with campus partners to ensure all students have the best opportunities for success, and to further the University’s mission of retention and timely graduation. 

The First-Generation (First-Gen) Center at the University of South Carolina is dedicated to supporting first-generation students as they navigate their academic journey. A first-generation student is a student whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year college or university degree. Our mission is to create a thriving environment where first-gen students can excel both inside and outside the classroom, with robust support from faculty and staff. 

The First-Gen Center oversees several key initiatives, including: 

• Faculty-Led Living and Learning Community: A specialized residential community that fosters academic success and personal growth through direct engagement tailored to first-gen students.
• Collaborative Campus Support: A dedicated space on campus for first-gen students to access to essential resources, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
• High-Impact Practices: Opportunities for students to participate in activities that enhance retention and support degree progression, such as research and internships.
• Basic Needs Support: Organized efforts to ensure that first-gen students have access to essential resources like food, housing, and financial assistance, helping to alleviate any barriers to their academic success.
• Mentoring: The First-Gen Mentoring Program pairs first-generation students with faculty, staff, and graduate student mentors who provide personalized guidance, support, and encouragement. This program is instrumental in helping first-gen students build strong connections and achieve their graduation goals. 

For more information or inquiries, please contact us at [email protected] or visit sc.edu/firstgen. 

The Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning (CIEL) cultivates beyond-the-classroom learning and supports transformative educational experiences that bridge academic knowledge with real-world applications. The center serves as a hub for the academic community to foster collaborative approaches that promote interdisciplinary integration and hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students on the Columbia and Palmetto College campuses. 

Two signature initiatives, Graduation with Leadership Distinction and Experience by Design, guide and engage students in meaningful reflection on their experiences and prepare them for success after graduation.

Faculty-led LLCs are communities of students that live together in the residence halls and have shared interests (academic and/or personal) that often cut across traditional majors and degree programs. 
Faculty-student interaction within the communities can lead to positive outcomes in GPA, retention, persistence and social integration. USC has 7 faculty-led Living Learning Communities, each led by a Faculty Director, who sets the direction and vision for the LLC, works to create co-curricular programs, and connects students to other faculty in intentional way.

• Capstone Scholars 
• First-Generation
• Galen Health Fellows
• Global Fellows 
• LEAF at Green Quad 
• I.D.E.A. 
• Preston Residential College for Leadership
• Rhodos

At USC we pair within-the-classroom learning with beyond-the-classroom engagement. From the first week on campus until graduation day, Carolina students match courses that interest them with opportunities for leadership development, internships, service learning, independent research and global study. By integrating learning “24/7,” Carolina students gain the knowledge and skill that they need to succeed in college and life. For more within-the-classroom learning opportunities, check out the Carolina Core course offerings and information on more than 100 program majors. 

For Faculty and Staff

Phi Beta Kappa is both the oldest and the most prestigious undergraduate honor society in the country. It was founded at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, in 1776, as a society to preserve academic freedom and liberal arts education. The Greek initials stand for the motto Philosophia Biou Kybernetes: "Love of wisdom (is) the (helmsman) guide of life."

Not sure about what to major in? Talk with your advisor and the USC Connect office about how to explore the options. The Career Center offers helpful resources, too. By sophomore year you will be well on your way to finding your major and discovering your passion.

View a complete listing of undergraduate majors and minors in the undergraduate bulletin.

Beyond The Classroom Matters records engagement and learning in experiential courses and the co-curriculum.