Engineering Dual-Degree Program
Charleston Southern offers a dual-degree program in engineering in cooperation with several engineering schools, including Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Citadel. Students complete a three-year liberal arts program (consisting of at least 90 hours) at Charleston Southern before transferring to Clemson/USC/Citadel to focus on engineering. After they complete their fourth year in the dual-degree program, earning a total of at least 125 credit hours, the Charleston Southern residency requirement for graduation will be waived, allowing students to receive a B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics from Charleston Southern. Upon completion of the entire dual-degree program, students will be awarded a degree in engineering from Clemson/USC/Citadel. This program does not require a minor. Refer to the Applied Mathematics section of this catalog for more details.
Honors Program
The Honors Program, designed to challenge and encourage the most academically distinguished students at CSU, combines academics with a variety of cultural and social activities. The program is open to approximately forty new students each year and candidates normally enter as freshmen, though current students and transfer students whose transcripts indicate progress and performance consistent with CSU Honors Program standards are eligible to apply. The notation of successful completion of the Honors Program on a transcript often provides an advantage for both employment and graduate school application.
Incoming students with an SAT score of 1200 or higher (or an ACT score of 27 or higher) and a high school GPA of 3.5 may be eligible for participation in the Honors Program. Current students and transfer students are encouraged to apply if they have not completed more than their freshman year, and their college transcripts show evidence of sustained academic excellence (a 3.5 GPA earned in no more than 30 hours of coursework, including credit for English 111, English 112, and the Math core requirement).
During the freshman year students must successfully complete the Honors Seminar offered in the fall semester and at least two Liberal Arts Core courses under Honors instruction. The first-year Honors Seminar (GNED 102-50) requirement may be waived for students who enter the program after their freshman year; if necessary, these students may also substitute Honors Credit in major, minor, or core classes for the Honors Liberal Arts Core courses. During the sophomore year students must successfully complete the Honors Seminar on Ethics and Leadership offered in the spring semester. During the sophomore, junior, and senior years students must obtain “Honors” credit in a minimum of 18 credit hours (total for all years), of which at least 12 credit hours must be in their designated field of study. In addition, the student will complete a Senior Honors Project during the senior year. To remain in the Honors Program students must successfully complete a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester, unless the Honors Program Council grants an exception, and maintain high academic standing with the university as evidenced by their cumulative GPA. The GPA requirements are as follows:
| Hours attempted |
Cumulative GPA |
| 30 |
3.2 |
| 60 |
3.3 |
| 90 |
3.4 |
| 125 |
3.5 |
All admissions to the program are based on the decision of the Honors Program Council, who will notify candidates of their acceptance into the program. Students wishing to apply should submit a letter of application to the Director of the Honors Program, c/o the Office of Enrollment Services.
Bridge Program
The Bridge Program is a comprehensive developmental program designed for those students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission to the University, and for those who are not prepared to enroll in Math 111 and/or English 111. The focus is primarily on reviewing basic algebraic skills, composing cogent error-reduced written prose, and developing effective learning and studying strategies. For details, refer to the types of acceptance under Enrollment Services and departmental information under the Bridge Program found in this catalog.
Preathletic Training Program
Students seeking admission into the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) are considered to be in a Preathletic Training Major status. Students are not Athletic Training Majors until they meet all curriculum criteria and are selected into the Athletic Training Education Program. The ATEP director will notify the Office of the Registrar to activate all new majors at the end of each semester.
Preprofessional Programs
Charleston Southern University offers students an opportunity to pursue pre-professional studies in the areas of predentistry, pre-engineering, prelaw, and premedicine and then transfer to the professional school of their choice. For specific courses in each preprofessional program students should consult the entrance requirements of the professional institutions they wish to attend upon graduation from Charleston Southern University. The fields included are:
Predental
Most students entering dental schools have the baccalaureate degree. Some schools, however, will accept applicants with three years of prescribed study. Predental students are advised to consult with the catalogs of their prospective dental schools for specific requirements and to consult the Chairperson of the Chemistry Department at CSU.
Pre-Engineering
A student may follow a closely prescribed sequence of courses which will apply toward baccalaureate degrees in most branches of engineering. For detailed transfer requirements, students should consult the catalog of the school of their choice, and the Chairperson of the Mathematics Department at CSU.
Prelaw
“Prelaw” refers to a student’s engaging in a course of study, including the selection of a major and a minor and the selection of elective courses, under the guidance of the prelaw advisor in the Department of Criminal Justice. The goals are preparing the student to perform well in law school and increasing the likelihood of admission to the law school of the student’s choice.
Although a prelaw student may select any major/minor combination and any courses needed for general elective credit, the Supreme Court of South Carolina has found that taking courses in Accounting, Economics, English, Communication, History, Literature, Logic, Political Science, and Philosophy are very beneficial in taking the bar examinations.
Premedicine
Because of the competition, the majority of students entering medical schools have a baccalaureate degree. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required and it should be taken in the spring of the Junior year. Premedical students should be advised by the Chairperson of the Chemistry Department at CSU.
Prepharmacy
Pharmacy schools require two years of prepharmacy courses and three years of the professional pharmacy curriculum. Students desiring to major in prepharmacy should consult the School of Pharmacy of the university in which they plan to transfer for prerequisite requirements. For advising, the student should consult the Chairperson of the Chemistry Department at CSU.
ROTC Programs
Charleston Southern University offers Air Force and Army ROTC programs. For more information, see the College of Science and Mathematics section of this catalog. |