Study Liberal Arts in South Carolina

South Carolina has a long history that makes it an interesting place. Long before Europeans explored the area in the late 1500s, indigenous populations had explored and settled what would become the east coast of the United States. What would become South Carolina was a popular area for indigenous peoples to live, hunt, and gather, given the temperate climate and the proximity to the bounties of the ocean.

Fast-forward to today and South Carolina still provides many of these advantages – and many more, of course. It’s a popular destination for tourists with recreational opportunities in every corner of the state. Given the size and scope of the state’s system of colleges and universities, it’s also a popular destination for getting a higher education.

If you are ready to advance your education with a liberal arts degree, South Carolina is a great choice. Some of the popular programs outlined below are among the best the state has to offer!

Best Accredited Liberal Arts Colleges and Bachelor's Programs in South Carolina Online

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Programs in South Carolina

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in South Carolina:

  • University of South Carolina
  • Limestone University
  • University of South Carolina-Beaufort
  • University of South Carolina Upstate
  • Furman University
  • Wofford College
  • Claflin University
  • Presbyterian College
  • Newberry College
  • Francis Marion University
  • Lander University

The University of South Carolina

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at the University of South Carolina is an online program that maximizes the flexibility for earning your college degree. Not only can you complete the degree from the comfort of your own home, but you can also design your degree to fit your specific academic and occupational interests.

For example, you can choose from many different emphasis areas to focus your studies. Fields you can choose from include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Professional Studies
  • Public Health
  • Arts and Society
  • Human Studies
  • History and Politics

Alternatively, you can design your own area of emphasis, provided you incorporate studies from two disciplines into your degree plan.

In all, you must take 120 credits of coursework to graduate with this degree. This includes general education courses (e.g., basic science, math, and social studies), electives, and major-area work.

Your major area work includes 27 credits of courses in your chosen fields plus 12 hours of classes in a cognate area of study. You must also pass a South Carolina Studies course as part of the graduation requirements.

A unique feature of this online program is that you are required to take part in either an internship or a service-learning project. Projects like these put you in a real-world learning environment so you can apply the skills you’ve learned in the program in a related field of work.

Choosing the internship option requires you to arrange an internship and spend at least 140 hours onsite completing necessary internship activities with your supervisor. The service-learning project option requires 40 hours of work. These hours can be completed online, so there is no onsite requirement.

Additionally, this program requires you to complete a senior capstone course. Like the internship and service-learning project options, the capstone is completed during the final year of the program. The capstone is a reflective exercise that allows you to revisit what you’ve learned throughout the program and explore how your newfound knowledge and skills can help you in the future.

You must submit the following documentation to apply as a first-year student:

  • A $65 application fee (or application fee waiver if you qualify)
  • Unofficial high school transcripts
  • Transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit

The University of South Carolina is a test-optional institution, meaning you don’t have to provide ACT or SAT scores with your application. However, you can submit them voluntarily if you feel your scores help your case for admission.

Limestone University

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies

Limestone University’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies is an online program that offers asynchronous classes. In other words, there are no set times for classes or required meetings with your professors. Instead, you can complete your studies at your own pace, provided you meet deadlines for submitting assignments, completing exams, and turning in projects.

This program requires 120 credits to graduate. As is the norm for undergraduate degrees, a significant number of these credits are in the form of introductory coursework spanning many different fields of study. These general education requirements form a foundation upon which you can explore more advanced topics in your Liberal Studies program.

This program is completely customizable to your specific needs, whether you want to devise a program that prepares you for grad school, develop studies that support a future career, or somewhere in between. In fact, if you are unsure what career you’d like to pursue, the Limestone University staff will help you identify a path forward that supports many different vocational pursuits.

Your studies in the liberal arts focus on the humanities, the arts, and social science. These courses are offered by divisions and departments across the university to give you a true broad-based learning experience.

The only required course for this degree is an Academic Research class that prepares you to conduct research in various disciplines. Other degree requirements are much more forgiving. For example, you must meet the following requirements to obtain your degree:

  • Complete the University’s Competency and General Education Curriculum
  • Complete 18 or more credits of 200-level courses or above
  • Complete 27 or more credits from at least two different academic divisions at the 300 level or above
  • Complete 6 credits of AWE courses

The flexibility of this program is in the 45 credits of 200 and 300-level courses. This is where you choose courses that support your future goals. You must have the permission of the Coordinator for Liberal Studies to proceed with these courses, though. This is to ensure your degree plan meets the University’s requirements for graduation. It also ensures that the courses you take are preparatory for your chosen career path.

Applying as a first-year student requires you to submit the following:

  • High school transcripts (or GED scores)
  • Evidence that you have completed a high school or GED diploma
  • SAT or ACT scores (this is optional for traditional first-year students; students over 21 years of age or those in the military must provide test scores)

The University of South Carolina-Beaufort

Bachelor’s – Interdisciplinary Studies

The Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort culminates in a Bachelor of Arts degree. While this program is non-traditional in the sense that you study multiple fields rather than concentrating on a single major, it also has many traditional features.

For example, this is an on-campus program, meaning you must attend traditional in-person classes in Bluffton, South Carolina. Additionally, this program requires 120 credits to graduate, which is the traditional number of semester credits needed for an undergraduate degree.

This program is broken down into several components. The first component is at least 46 credits of general education requirements. This portion of the program includes introductory studies in language arts, math, science, and foreign languages, among other fields.

Next is the interdisciplinary studies Program Requirements, of which there are two required courses – Interdisciplinary Research Methods and Seminar in Liberal Studies among the Disciplines. Both courses prepare you for college-level inquiry in a diverse range of academic fields.

The third portion of the degree encompasses the Major Requirements. These courses are 300 or 400-level electives in interdisciplinary studies. The courses you take are up to you, provided your choices meet the specific graduation requirements for this degree.

The fourth and final aspect of this degree is an 18-credit course of study in an approved minor. Adding a minor to this major expands your academic experiences and gives you all the more opportunities to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills. You can choose, however, to take a group of courses of your own choosing (with departmental approval) if there isn’t a minor available that’s of interest. Building your own minor requires you to complete 18 credits of upper-level courses in one discipline.

You can apply to the University of South Carolina-Beaufort online. If you are a first-year student, you must submit your high school transcripts when you apply. Though you are not required to provide SAT or ACT scores for admission, you must provide test scores if you wish to apply for financial aid.

If you apply as a transfer student, you must additionally provide transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit. If you have fewer than 30 college credits, you must also provide your high school transcript.

The application deadlines for the University of South Carolina-Beaufort are as follows:

  • July 1st for fall admission
  • December 1st for spring admission
  • May 1st for summer admission

The University of South Carolina Upstate

Bachelor’s – Interdisciplinary Studies

The University of South Carolina Upstate offers a program in Interdisciplinary Studies that results in either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. This 120-credit program gives you many different options for completing a program of study tailored to your specific needs.

For example, you can complete this program as a traditional 120-credit bachelor’s degree that takes about four years of full-time studies at the University of South Carolina Upstate Campus. This option comes with the choice of 12 different concentration options, each of which includes major area studies in two disciplines.

There are six concentrations available in the technology, communications, and management fields:

  • Technology and Communications
  • Technology and Management
  • Communication and Management
  • Informatics and Management
  • Informatics and Communication
  • Informatics and Technology

Alternatively, you can choose from two options in the child advocacy field: Child Advocacy and Communication or Child Advocacy and Management. An additional four options are available in the nonprofit space:

  • Nonprofit Administration and Communication
  • Nonprofit Administration and Management
  • Nonprofit Administration and Informatics
  • Nonprofit Administration and Child Advocacy

A non-traditional option that’s also available is what the University calls its Three-Plus-One Program. If you choose this option, you can complete up to 30 semester hours of classes at an accredited professional school approved by the university. Then, you can apply those 30 credits toward the 120-credit BA or BS option at USC Upstate.

No matter which path you take to complete this degree, you will benefit from expert instruction from your professors and high-level learning activities throughout your coursework. This program emphasizes the development of numerous skills and competencies, too. These include the following:

  • Effective oral and written communication skills
  • Improved critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Effective research skills
  • The ability to examine problems or issues from an interdisciplinary perspective

You can apply to the University of South Carolina Upstate online. You must submit the following materials when applying as a first-year student:

  • A $45 application fee
  • High school transcripts
  • Transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit
  • SAT or ACT scores (some applicants might qualify for admission without SAT or ACT scores)

If you are a transfer student, you must be in good academic standing at your current school and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher to be considered for admission. If admitted, you may be eligible to transfer most, if not all, of the credits you’ve earned thus far. USC Upstate also offers college credit for work and life experience. You might earn credit for experiences like military service, foreign language expertise, or workplace certifications, to name a few.

Is University of South Carolina a Liberal Arts School?

The University of South Carolina (USC) is not exclusively a liberal arts college. It is a comprehensive public research university offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across various fields, including business, engineering, law, medicine, and more.

However, USC does have a strong commitment to liberal arts education through its College of Arts and Sciences. This college offers numerous programs in the liberal arts disciplines, such as humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

While students at USC can pursue specialized professional degrees, they also have the opportunity to engage in a liberal arts curriculum, especially through general education requirements and elective courses.

Is Clemson a Liberal Arts School?

Clemson University also is not primarily known as a liberal arts school. It is a comprehensive public research university. Clemson is particularly known for its strong programs in engineering, science, business, and agriculture.

Clemson has incorporated liberal arts education within its broader academic offerings. The College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson offers a variety of programs in fields like language, history, philosophy, and the arts, which are fundamental to a liberal arts education.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in South Carolina?

As noted earlier, South Carolina is rich in history and has a robust tourism industry. These areas are prime choices as a liberal arts major, given the emphasis many such programs have on social sciences, history, and communications. These fields of study are important for many careers related to history and tourism.

For example, you might focus your studies on history and use those experiences to find employment in one of the dozens of museums throughout South Carolina. Senior positions are usually reserved for people with advanced degrees and considerable work experience. However, as a recent graduate, you can certainly find entry-level positions to start your career in museum administration, archiving, or related disciplines.

As another example, you might use your liberal arts program to focus on marketing, management, and other tourism-related fields to prepare for a job in the South Carolina tourism industry. The possibilities for careers in this field are virtually endless. For example, you might find employment as:

  • A historical tour guide in Charleston
  • A park ranger at a state or national park in South Carolina
  • A self-employed travel agent in Myrtle Beach

A completely different career path you might consider is in social services. Many liberal arts majors focus their studies in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and related fields, which prepares you for entry-level work as a probation officer, corrections officer, or case manager for a social services organization.

For example, you might go to work for the South Carolina Department of Social Services and work as a case manager. This position usually involves helping individuals, couples, and families who are struggling with any number of issues, from addiction to abuse to financial instability. Your job is to help stabilize their lives by linking them to relevant resources, such as employment assistance, housing assistance, or counseling.

But, with a liberal arts, liberal studies, or interdisciplinary studies degree, the employment opportunities awaiting you in South Carolina go well beyond these examples. By customizing your course of study to the career you want, you should be able to make a smooth transition to the South Carolina workforce upon graduation.

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