BS Geological Sciences at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Get a rock-solid foundation for a career exploring the environment. You will study the inner workings of the Earth all the way to climate change and build technical skills for working in the lab or in the field. Whether you want to study earthquakes, volcanoes, groundwater, climate change or the coastal oceans, a degree in geological sciences can help you reach your goals.

Faculty: McCausland College of Arts and Sciences | Department: School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment | Duration: 120 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Learn from observing the Earth with the study of rocks and minerals, stratigraphy and sedimentary basins, igneous and metamorphic processes, structural geology, surface processes, processes of global environmental change and field geology. Enhance your skills in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, statistics and computer science.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Carbon Sequestration Scientist, Lobbyist, Researcher, Instructor, Mine Geologist, Coastal Zone Management.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Entrance Requirements New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements: Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus. Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example,...

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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