BA Religious Studies at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

An interdisciplinary major on the world's religious traditions and the meaning and purpose of life, with small classes and faculty research opportunities; an intensive option adds research and a thesis.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Courses draw on philosophy, anthropology, history, art, literature, sociology and theology, with a spring student research conference.

Career pathways

Lawyer, doctor, educator, theologian, Peace Corps volunteer, activist, in religion, education, medicine, nonprofit and legal settings.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University of South Carolina Columbia first-year (freshman) applicants: admission is based mainly on grades in high school core classes, class standing or rank where available, and rigor of coursework. Applicants are expected to meet the South Carolina college-prep core curriculum, including four English units, four math units (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and a fourth higher-level unit) and three social studies units including one U.S. history. SAT/ACT scores are optional for the 2027 terms. South Carolina applicants ranked in the top 10% of their high school class who apply by December 1 and complete the core with no grade below C are guaranteed admission.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year and transfer applicants: Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May) and Summer (June-July). Transfer applications for Spring open Sept. 1 and for Summer and Fall open Feb. 1.

First-year applicants: Early Action deadline Oct. 15 (decision by mid-December, credentials due Nov. 1); Honors College deadline Nov. 15 (decision by mid-February, credentials due Dec. 1); Regular Decision deadline Dec. 1 (decision by mid-March, credentials due Jan. 15). Applicants apply with the USC Application or the Common App. The application fee is $70 for domestic first-year and transfer applicants and $100 for international applicants. USC is test-optional for fall, spring and summer 2027 terms; SAT/ACT scores are not required.

Transfer application deadlines (USC Columbia majors): Spring Nov. 1 (credentials Dec. 15); Summer May 1 (credentials May 15); Fall July 1 (credentials Aug. 1). Business majors: Summer May 1 (credentials May 1); Fall May 1 (credentials June 1); the Darla Moore School of Business does not enroll new spring transfer students. The transfer application fee is $70.

International first-year applicants: Early Action Oct. 15, Honors College Nov. 15, Regular Decision Dec. 1; the application fee is $100. Minimum English proficiency scores: TOEFL iBT 77, IELTS 6.5, PTE 53, Duolingo 115.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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