U NI V ERS I T Y
OF
S OUTH C AROLI NA
D EP ARTM EN T
OF
H IST
ORY
G RADUAT E S TUD EN T H ANDBOOK
2015-2016
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GRADUATE STUDY IN HISTORY
I. CURRICULUM
AND
AT THE
UNIVERSITY
OF
SOUTH CAROLINA
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS .................................................................1
FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION ..........................................................................................1
TIMETABLES.................................................................................................................1
II. M.A. COURSE REQUIREMENTS………………………..………………………………2
M.A. (TRADITIONAL) COURSE REQUIREMENTS………………...……………………2
M.A. (PUBLIC HISTORY) COURSE REQUIREMENTS..……………………………...…..2
PUBLIC HISTORY INTERNSHIPS .....................................................................................3
PUBLIC HISTORY PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION ..............................................................3
CHOOSING
AN
ADVISOR………………………………………………………………3
FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT ............................................................................4
MASTERS’ PROGRAM
OF
STUDY FORM..........................................................................4
M.A. THESIS .................................................................................................................4
FORMAT CHECK………………………………………………………………………4
DEADLINES……………………………………………………………………………5
GRADUATION…….………………...…………………………………………….… 5
APPLYING
FROM THE
M.A. TO THE PHD PROGRAM ..................................................... 5
TRANSFERRING COURSEWORK
FROM ANOTHER
UNIVERSITY…………………
……..5
III. PHD REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................5
FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION .........................................................................................5
PHD COURSE REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................5
FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT ............................................................................6
M.A. THESIS ................................................................................................................6
ADMISSION
CHOOSING
SCHEMA
OF
TO
AN
CANDIDACY
FOR THE
PHD DEGREE/QUALIFYING EXAMS ....................6
ACADEMIC ADVISOR…………………………….…………………....7
COMMITTEES………………………………………………………… ….7
PHD COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS .......................................................................................7
WRITTEN EXAMS ...........................................................................................................8
COMPS ORAL DEFENSE ................................................................................................8
SCHEMATIC
OF THE
PROCESS
PRIOR TO THE
DISSERTATION……………………… ….8
IV. DISSERTATION ...............................................................................................................9
iii
PROSPECTUS DEFENSE ..................................................................................................9
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE…………………..………………...…………………….10
DISSERTATION DEFENSE ............................................................................................10
FORMAT CHECK AND FINAL SUBMISSION
OF
DISSERTATION….……………...............10
DEADLINES……………………………..……………………………………………..10
V. ASSISTANTSHIPS, FEES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ................................................10
ASSISTANTSHIPS ........................................................................................................11
UNIVERSITY FEES AND TUITION .................................................................................11
STIPENDS
AND
TUITION ABATEMENT .........................................................................12
HEALTH INSURANCE ..................................................................................................12
ESTABLISHING Z-STATUS ...........................................................................................13
FINANCIAL AID ..........................................................................................................13
VI. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FELLOWSHIPS,
AND
AWARDS ................................13
PUBLICATIONS ...........................................................................................................13
CONFERENCES ............................................................................................................14
HISTORY DEPARTMENT TRAVEL GRANTS ..................................................................14
CERTIFICATE
IN
MUSEUM MANAGEMENT TRAVEL GRANTS ......................................14
GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAVEL GRANTS .......................................................................15
HISTORY DEPARTMENT FELLOWSHIPS
AND
AWARDS ................................................15
DARRICK HART AWARD .............................................................................................15
UNIVERSITY FELLOWSHIPS ........................................................................................16
NATIONAL GRANTS
AND
FELLOWSHIPS .....................................................................16
GRADUATE STUDENT DAY .........................................................................................16
VII. PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT………………………………………………….…….16
VIII. GROUPS
AND
ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................17
HISTORY CENTER .......................................................................................................17
READING
AND
WRITING GROUPS ...............................................................................17
GRADUATE HISTORY ASSOCIATION (GHA) ...............................................................18
GRADUATE HISTORY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP 2012-13…………………….……18
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (GSA) ...............................................................18
SC HISTORY ADVOCATES ..........................................................................................18
EXHIBITING LOCAL ENTERPRISE (ELE) ....................................................................18
COLLECTIONS VOLUNTEER GROUP ............................................................................19
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IX. CAMPUS SERVICES ......................................................................................................19
GRADUATE COMPUTER LAB.......................................................................................19
GRADUATE LOUNGE ..................................................................................................19
GAMBRELL LOWER LEVEL COMPUTER LAB ...............................................................19
DEPARTMENT MAILING LISTS ....................................................................................19
THOMAS COOPER LIBRARY ........................................................................................20
LIBRARY CARRELS .....................................................................................................20
LIBRARY ANNEX ........................................................................................................20
COUNSELING SERVICES ..............................................................................................21
THOMPSON STUDENT HEALTH CENTER .....................................................................21
CENTER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE (CTE) .............................................................21
PARKING ....................................................................................................................21
WRITING CENTER .......................................................................................................22
GAMECOCK ATHLETICS .............................................................................................22
X. LIVING IN COLUMBIA ...................................................................................................22
(Please contact Lauren Sklaroff, Director of Graduate Studies, at [email protected] with
any questions, suggestions, or corrections)
Graduate Study in History at the University of South Carolina
Graduate study in history at USC provides training for a variety of rewarding careers. We have
concentrated our efforts in the areas of specialization in which we have significant advantages
in preparing students for a challenging profession. Through this strategy we have become a
leader in some of the most important current developments in the field of history, including the
rise of new intellectual approaches to the discipline and the increased commitment of
historians to reach broader public audiences.
We offer three different graduate degrees: the PhD, the MA, and the MA in Public History.
These are discrete degree programs, though students can take the same courses.
I. Curriculum and Degree Requirements
Fields of Specialization and Entrance Requirements
Most graduate students in history at USC concentrate in US history. US History is
divided into two different periods of specialization – US to 1877 (which includes colonial
America), and US since 1789.
Other possible fields for the PhD include Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Latin
America, and two thematically focused fields: Culture, Identity, and Economic
Development (CIED) which offers students the option of designing their own thematic
field; and Science, Technology, and the Environment (STE).
In addition to US to 1877, US since 1789, Latin America, CIED, and STE, the MA is also
offered in Ancient, Medieval, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and African history.
The MA in public history offers two concentrations: Historic Preservation and Museums.
No prior graduate degrees are required for any of these programs. Students can enter
any USC history graduate program, including the PhD, directly with a Bachelor’s degree.
It is no longer required that PhD students first earn an MA en route to the PhD. Still, a
number of our PhD students do come with a Masters in history (between 20-­­40% of
each class). Furthermore, MA students, from USC or elsewhere, are not automatically
accepted into the PhD program and must complete the USC graduate school application
including GRE scores. PhD students do have the option of simultaneously enrolling in the
MA in Public History and earning both degrees, and this option is encouraged for students
considering public history positions upon graduation.
Timetables
The PhD takes between 4-­­7 years to complete, depending on whether the student
entered with an MA and their field of research. Starting in the fall of 2012, students are
no longer required to earn an MA en route to the PhD, though they may choose to do so
if they want. PhD coursework expires after 8 years and has to be re-­ validated in order
2
to count towards a USC degree. Students who need to re-­ validate coursework should
do so when they are ready to graduate, not when the courses first expire.
The traditional MA is a two year degree, though some students use an extra semester
to complete the thesis.
The public history MA is also a two-­ year degree, though adding a certificate (e.g.,
museum management, cultural resource management) will extend the time to degree
by a semester. Many public history students complete their degree in August, though
any student considering this timetable should ensure that his or her thesis adviser will
be available in the summer.
MA coursework expires after 6 years and must be revalidated or retaken.
For details about current year deadlines, please consult the USC Graduate School’s
website.
A general (non-­ department specific) chart of the steps to the MA and PhD degrees is
available at http://gradschool.sc.edu/degreereq/
II. MA Course Requirements
The MA in history requires 30 hours of coursework. Required courses are:
●
●
●
●
●
HIST 720 (Introduction to the Study of History)
Four reading seminars in a primary field. For students concentrating in
US History this means two of the following: HIST 701/752 (Colonial US),
702 (US from 1789-­ 1877), and 703 (US from 1877-­ present), plus two
additional 700 level courses in history. For students in other areas this
means four relevant reading courses approved by the advisor and
Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Three reading courses in a second field (should not be a subset of the
primary field)
History 800 (Topics in Research) or a research seminar in which a primary
source based, article-­ length paper is written
History 799 (Thesis Preparation)
MA (Public History) Requirements
Courses
The MA in Public History requires 30 hours of coursework, plus a pre-­­approved
internship of at least 145 hours, typically performed during the summer between the
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first and second years. The internship cannot be performed in the summer prior to
official enrollment.
●
●
●
●
●
HIST 720 (Introduction to the Study of History)
Four courses in public history. At least 2 in your concentration (e.g.,
museums or historic preservation).
Three reading courses in a minor field. The minor field can be US history,
Latin America, Europe, STE, or CIED. For students in US History this
generally means two of the following: HIST 701/752 (Colonial US), 702
(US from 1789-­ 1877), or 703 (US from 1877-­ present), plus a third.
History 800 (Topics in Research) or a research seminar in which a primary
source based, article-­ length paper is written
History 799 (Thesis Preparation)
Internship -­ -­­ You must work at least 145 hours in a professional capacity. You may work
more than this, particularly if your internship is part of a formal internship program with
a set schedule. In addition, you must complete an advance contract, do the work agreed
upon, and submit a final report. Your institutional supervisor must send a written report
evaluating you at the conclusion of the internship.
For more information see the link to Internship Requirements:
http://www.cas.sc.edu/hist/pubhist/Info%20For%20Current/Guidelines%20for%20Grad
uate%20Study/internship%20guidelines.html
Portfolio Presentation -­ -­­ The Portfolio brings together all of your work over your
graduate career at USC. You should begin thinking about the Portfolio during your first
semester and systematically collect copies of everything you create: both public history
products and seminar papers from traditional history courses. The presentation is a
formal public event that is scheduled for one day at the end of the Fall, Spring, and
Summer II semesters. Each student will be asked to discuss the contents of the Portfolio
and its relation to what he/she has learned within the course of study in the Public
History Program. The presentation is intended to give you experience in public speaking
and describing your work in an interview situation. Only one Portfolio Presentation will
be scheduled each semester. For more information see the link to Portfolio Guidelines:
http://www.cas.sc.edu/hist/pubhist/Info%20For%20Current/Guidelines%20for%20Grad
uate%20Study/portfolio%20guidlines.html
General MA Requirements (for both MA and MA in Public History)
Choosing an Advisor -­­-­­ Every entering student will have an advising committee with
three members—two people in the students expected field (for public historians one
will be a public historian and the second, a historian in the student’s projected primary
4
field) and the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is encouraged to consult any or
all of these advisors in planning coursework, fields, research papers, and other
professional matters.
Foreign Language – All MA students must demonstrate competence in a foreign
languages or a relevant methodology (such as statistics or GIS). This competency can be
demonstrated by taking an exam offered by the department of Languages, Literatures,
and Culture or by taking a course in the methodology. See
http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/dllc/Geninfo/reading_exam.html and contact the
Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for information on specific language
exams. Please note that methods options must be approved by the advisor AND DGS.
Program of Study Form – As soon as possible, each student should complete a Masters’
Program of Study Form, have it signed by their advisor and the DGS and work with the
Graduate Student Service Coordinator to file it with the Graduate School. Courses can
be put prospectively (i.e., prior to taking them) on the MPoS and amended if necessary.
The form is available at
http://gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/Mastersprogramofstudy.pdf
MA Thesis – An MA degree is awarded upon successful completion of coursework
including three hours of HIST 799, the submission of an approved thesis, and an oral
comprehensive exam on the thesis. The MA thesis must meet the Graduate School’s
formatting requirements. These can be accessed at
http://gradschool.sc.edu/thesisdissertation/thesis.asp
The thesis is usually (but need not be) an extension and revision of a research paper
written in HIST 800. For this reason, it is recommended that HIST 800 be taken in the
spring of the first year (to allow for further research over the summer) and certainly NO
later that the fall of the second year. Each student will have a thesis advisor (who MUST
be regular faculty in the USC history department) and a second reader (who need not be
in the history department or even at USC, but who must be approved by the DGS). A
thesis advisor should be selected by the beginning of the second year. The second
reader of the thesis should be determined by the end of the third semester. The DGS
will request the CV of any reader outside the USC regular faculty and will ask the
student for a written justification of the reader’s suitability and credentials. These two
faculty members will provide the oral examination of the thesis.
Students must have a thesis advisor in order to sign up for HIST 799. The Graduate
Student Services Coordinator provides the course code for 799, which is specific to the
particular advisor. Students sign up to take 799 with that advisor.
Format Check and Final Submission – The student must submit the thesis electronically
to the graduate school for a format check. Students in history typically use the Chicago
Manual of Style citation and bibliographical formats. The student should endeavor to
get it right the first time. After the defense the student must submit the final version to
5
the graduate school along with several forms. See
http://gradschool.sc.edu/thesisdissertation/thesis.asp
Deadlines – see http://app.gradschool.sc.edu/calendar.asp for relevant, current filing
deadlines.
Graduation – Students must apply for graduation within fifteen days of the start of the
semester in which they plan to graduate. They must be enrolled during that semester.
Each term’s deadlines for thesis submission are available at http://gradschool.sc.edu/
Applying from the MA to the PhD Program—Students who earn an MA through the
traditional or the public history programs must re-­ apply to USC to be considered as a
PhD student. This student will be evaluated as all other applicants to the PhD program.
If the student is admitted and enrolls, the MA coursework at USC can be applied to the
PhD, assuming it has not expired (there is a 6 year expiration date on MA courses).
Transferring Graduate Coursework from Other Universities – Students Students with
an MA from another institution must have their coursework vetted by USC faculty (a
process coordinated by the DGS) in order to count toward the PhD on the official
program of study. Typically, no more than 9 hours is approved.
III. PhD Requirements, prior to dissertation
Fields -­­-­­ PhD students choose three fields of specialization. The primary field is chosen
from US to 1877, US since 1789, Early Modern Europe, Modern Europe, Latin America,
Culture Identity and Economic Development (CIED), or Science Technology and the
Environment (STE). These can also be minor (secondary or tertiary) fields, though trans-­­
national, thematic areas (such as comparative slavery or Atlantic World) can also be
designated minor fields. The student can also choose to do one field outside of
history—as either the secondary or tertiary field—with an examiner from outside the
department.
Courses -­­-­ The PhD degree requires 60 hours total. It is no longer required to earn an
MA en route to the PhD, though a student can do so at his or her discretion. Of the 60
hours, there are 42 hours (14 courses) of classes required. These are broken down as
follows.
●
●
●
●
●
●
History 720 (Intro to the Study of History) taken in the first semester (3 credits)
4 seminars in the primary field (12 credits)
3 seminars in the secondary field (9 credits)
2 seminars in the tertiary field (6 credits)
2 research seminars (can be taken as either HIST 800, Topics in Historical
Research, or as a reading seminar in which a primary source based, article-­ length
paper is produced) (6 credits)
History 783 (History and Theory) (3 credits)
6
●
●
History 815 (Dissertation Prospectus) – typically taken after the comprehensive
exams are done. (3 credits)
Students must take enough HIST 899 (Dissertation Prep) to equal 60 total hours.
Typically this is 18 hours, taken 6 hours per semester for three semesters. After
that students are encouraged to move to special enrollment status (see “Z-­
status,” below).
Foreign Language Requirement -­ -­­ In order to take comprehensive exams, students must
pass an exam offered by the Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department showing
reading competency in a foreign language. These are usually ~500 word passages which
must be translated in a 2 hour period, usually using a dictionary (but not an online
translation aid). See http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/dllc/Geninfo/reading_exam.html.
Students may substitute an appropriate methodology such as Statistics or GIS with
permission of their advisor and the DGS. Such a competency is usually demonstrated by
passing a class at USC on the method.
MA Thesis – HIST 799 may be taken if the student desires an MA degree. An MA degree
is awarded upon successful completion of: three hours of HIST 799, the production of an
approved thesis and an oral comprehensive exam on the thesis. The MA thesis is NOT a
requirement of the PhD degree.
Admission to Candidacy for the PhD Degree—Students are admitted to candidacy upon
completion of the “qualifying exam.” This isn’t really an exam, per se. It requires:
1.
2.
3.
15 hours of graduate coursework at USC with an average of B or better.
The (electronic) submission and approval (by the student’s primary advisor and the
DGS) of an original research paper (usually completed in HIST 800 or another
research seminar). Papers are submitted to the Graduate Student Services
Coordinator.
The filing of a Doctoral Program of Study (DPoS). As soon as possible, each student
should complete a DPoS, have it signed by their advisor and the DGS and work with
the Graduate Student Service Coordinator to file it with the Graduate School.
Courses can be put prospectively (i.e., prior to taking them) on the DPoS and
amended if necessary. The form is available at
http://gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/Doctoralprogramofstudy.pdf
Oddly, “admission to candidacy” precedes the comprehensive exams at USC (it follows
the completion of the “qualifying exam” which isn’t an exam at all in the history
department). This is different from many other institutions, where admission to
candidacy occurs upon completion of the comprehensive exams.
7
Choosing an Academic Advisor—Every entering student will have an advising committee
with three members—two in the student’s projected primary field (who will be possible
comp examiners and also possible dissertation directors) and the Director of Graduate
Studies. The student is encouraged to consult any or all of these advisors in planning
coursework, fields, research papers, and other professional matters. At the
end of the second year this committee will be replaced with a comprehensive exam
committee consisting of the four examiners, though any members from the advisory
committee can be carried forward to the comps committee. After comps, there is a
dissertation committee, consisting of the dissertation director, at least two readers who
are members of the USC regular graduate faculty (history or another department), and
an outside reader. The committee must have at least 4 members. The outside reader
can be from another department at USC or can be from another university. A member
of the regular graduate faculty at USC in another department can serve as either an
inside or outside member of the dissertation committee. Any committee member from
outside the USC regular graduate faculty must provide a CV and be approved by the
DGS. Students are strongly encouraged to seek a committee member from outside USC,
in consultation with their dissertation director. There is a Graduate School form for the
comps and dissertation committees that is filed by the Graduate Student Services
Coordinator.
Schema of Committees:
Years 1-­­2: Advisory Committee assigned by DGS (3 members)
Years 2-­­3: Comprehensive Exam Committee chosen by student (4 examiners. Committee
can have 5 members, including 4 examiners and a neutral chair. if comp committee
members are all from history department.)
Years 3-­­6+: Dissertation Committee chosen by student (4+ members, including one
outside the USC Department of History)
PhD Comprehensive Exams – Before the end of the third year, and ideally by January of
the third year (following the fifth semester of graduate study at USC), students will
complete four written exams in three fields. These are the three fields in which courses
have been taken, though the exams cover more than a mere conglomeration of
coursework. There are four exams and four examiners – two in the primary field and
one for each of the minor fields. Following the last of the written exams, no later than
30 days after the last one is written, an oral defense of the exams is required. If
examiners are unable to agree on a time and date within the 30 day deadline, the
student should inform the Director of Graduate Studies or the Department Chair.
Advisors are typically chosen for each field during the first four semesters-­ -­ the earlier,
the better. There is also a comprehensive exam committee chair who does not offer an
exam but who oversees the oral exam; this need not be someone in the history
department, and, in fact, is often a faculty member in another department. By May of
the second year, all the advisors should be chosen and should have agreed to offer the
8
exams in the timeframe proposed. Students should work with their advisors to
construct a reading list of books and articles that the exam will cover. Advisors have
great discretion about the size of the list and the format of the questions. Readings and
exam formats should be tailored to serve the needs of the individual student. With
approval of the graduate director, one of the examiners can come from outside the
history department, typically for a cognate field.
Written Exams—Exams can be taken three times per year: January before the start of
spring classes, May after end of the spring semester, or August before the start of the
fall semester. The exam period will be set by the DGS and coordinated by the Graduate
Student Services Coordinator. The four written exams can be taken together in the
same exam period or can be taken over different periods, though they all should be
completed by January of the student’s third year (before the start of the sixth
semester). Students who fail to complete their exams in the third year will not be
considered to be making adequate progress and risk a loss of funding. Students with
MAs in hand should endeavor to complete them by the end of the second year, though
satisfactory progress still requires only that they be completed in the third year. Exams
are proctored by the Graduate Student Services coordinator, and students take them on
campus in the department computer room or the library. Each written exam is
scheduled for four hours. Each examiner stipulates what materials can be used during
their exam. The written exams are graded on an A, B+, B, or F scale by the examiner and
the grades recorded in the student’s departmental file.
Comps Oral Defense—An oral exam will be taken as quickly after the final written exam
as can be scheduled. The oral exam will gather all of the examiners who will ask
questions about the exam and in some cases about the reading lists. Each examiner will
be provided an opportunity to ask questions of the student. The exam will take
between 1-­­1/2 and 2 hours. There will be a chair who allots time to each examiner and
may also ask questions. At the end of the oral exam, after the examiners confer
privately, the student will be informed as to whether s/he passed, passed with
distinction, or failed. A graduate school comprehensive exam verification form
(http://gradschool.sc.edu/DocLibrary/pdf/comprehensive_exam_verification.pdf) is
required to be submitted immediately after the exam. The student’s official DPOS
(program of study) form is typically submitted at this time.
Schematic of Process to the Dissertation:
Our process is as follows:
1. Complete at least 15 hours of coursework, then
2. Hand-­ in an original research paper to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator
for DGS approval (who will contact the professor for whom the paper was
produced). With these two requirements complete, the DGS files a “qualifying
exam” memo/form with the Graduate School.
9
3. Ask Student Services Coordinator to file Comprehensive Exam Committee Form
with Grad School.
4. Student may begin written comprehensive exams as soon as they have selected
an examiner and they and their examiner agree upon the scope of literature that
the exam will cover. Typically, once the relevant courses have been completed,
the written comp should be scheduled.
5. Student completes 39 hours of required coursework and passes language exam.
Once these requirements are met, students are eligible to complete their
comprehensive exams.
6. Students should plan to take 815 right after completing comps in either August
or January. 815 is typically offered in the spring term. Students completing
comps in May should consult with their advisors and the DGS to determine
whether 815 should be taken before the completion of comps.
7. Completion of comps means a student is officially ABD (all but dissertation). 815
is typically the last course required, although students are still able to enroll in
courses after comps.
IV. The Dissertation
The dissertation is usually the single most important exercise of a graduate education in
history. There are good resources on the American Historical Association’s website
about conceptualizing and writing a dissertation. See
http://www.historians.org/grads/StartToFinish.cfm#concept. Preparing to write a
dissertation requires significant reading in addition to the reading lists for the
comprehensive exams, knowledge of where possible sources are, and the experience of
writing research and historiographical articles, which are essentially dissertation
chapters. Ideally one or both of the research papers produced in the research seminars
can be re-­­shaped into dissertation chapters, but in some cases the dissertation research
takes an interesting turn rendering the prior work irrelevant. The course HIST 815
(dissertation prospectus workshop) helps students prepare to write a dissertation and
should be taken during the spring following (or simultaneous with) the completion of
the comprehensive exams.
Prospectus Defense The AHA provides a useful guide for producing a dissertation
proposal at http://www.historians.org/grads/DissertationProposals.pdf. Students
should have a defense of their prospectus including all USC-­ based members of their
committee. The purpose of the defense is to get feedback on the prospectus and to
allow the committee to exchange their views about the dissertation project. Upon
completion of a successful defense, the student is considered to be ‘ABD’ (all but
dissertation).
10
Dissertation Committee -­­-­­ In the semester prior to the completion of the dissertation,
the committee should be formalized and a dissertation committee form filed (or
modified) with the Graduate School. Every committee must have an outside reader
whose institutional home is outside the USC history department. However, committees
can be interdisciplinary; that is, non-­­history faculty at USC can count as either inside or
outside members of the committee. A committee member from outside the university
(or outside the regular graduate faculty of the university) needs to provide a CV and be
approved by the DGS. Students are encouraged to seek one reader outside USC in
consultation with their dissertation advisor.
Dissertation Defense – The student has to be enrolled during the semester the
dissertation is defended. Fifteen days after the start of the term in which the student
plans to finish, the student should apply for graduation. There is no penalty if one
applies then is unable to finish. Upon approval of the dissertation director, an oral
defense of the dissertation is scheduled. A form must be filed announcing the
dissertation defense at least 14 days prior to the defense. This includes the dissertation
director, two readers, outside committee member and a ‘neutral’ chair who runs the
actual defense. All committee members should sign the form if the student passes the
defense (which is contingent upon having an approvable dissertation). At the end of the
defense the student should have a list of the minor changes that need to be made in
order to the final submission to be approved. The final submission is also governed by
the deadlines on the Graduate School’s website. The dissertation defense has to occur
by the dissertation defense deadline listed on the Graduate School’s homepage
(http://www.gradschool.sc.edu/) in order to qualify for and walk in graduation. There is
a special doctoral hooding ceremony in conjunction with graduation.
Format Check and Final Submission – The student must submit the dissertation
electronically to the graduate school for a format check. Students in history typically
use the Chicago Manual of Style citation and bibliographical formats. The student
should endeavor to get it right the first time. After the defense the student must submit
the final version to the graduate school along with several forms. See
http://gradschool.sc.edu/current/thesisdiss.asp.
Deadlines – For current, relevant filing dates, see
http://app.gradschool.sc.edu/calendar.asp
V. Assistantships, Fees, and Financial Assistance
Assistantships
11
The department helps students support themselves during graduate school through a
variety of assistantships. Almost all PhD candidates and many students pursuing an MA
in History work as teaching assistants or as research assistants for department faculty.
Students in the Public History program are eligible for these assistantships, but they can
also work in assistantships designed to provide experience and professional contacts in
museums, archives, and other non-­ academic settings. There are several different kinds
of assignments for teaching assistantships. Some students work as graders in lecture
courses without discussion sections. Other students lead discussion sections of lecture
courses and grade undergraduates’ work in those courses.
A few advanced PhD students are the instructors of record in courses that they design
and teach independently. To be eligible, students must have passed all of their
comprehensive exams. Students on the job market who have not taught their own class
yet will be given priority. Students who have taught two or more times before will be
given a lower priority, which means that some will be assigned to TAing again (if they
have funding remaining). This is not a “demotion,” but rather a decision to offer this
opportunity to as many of PhD candidates as possible. Students with 3 or more
semesters of funding (i.e., most 4th year students) remaining will also be a lower priority.
Students are most likely to get evening school teaching in their 5th or 6th year,
constituting 1 year—and only 1 year—beyond their guaranteed funding. Students
should be planning to finish their dissertation in that academic year or during the
summer following it. Students’ commitment to teaching and qualities as teachers will be
also considered, through teaching evaluations and written evaluations of their work as
TAs. Students can show their interest and commitment to teaching through attending
teaching workshops, Center for Teaching Excellence sessions, and other programs.
The type of assistantship to which a student will be assigned depends on the student’s
preferences and the needs and resources of the department. Funding for all students is
dependent upon making satisfactory progress in their program of study.
University Fees and Tuition
The Office of the Bursar manages financial fees and services for graduate students.
Tuition payments are generally due each semester on the first day of classes. Students
can view their tuition bill and make payments through the Self-Service Carolina website
at https://my.sc.edu/. The Bursar’s Fee Schedule lists tuition and fees for all University
campuses. Please note that tuition abatements provided by the History Department
cover tuition of up to nine hours of graduate-­ level coursework. Additional costs such as
the University fee, technology fee, or health insurance are not covered by the abatement
and must be paid at the beginning of each semester. For the Spring 2013 semester, the
technology fee was $200 and health insurance for the Spring/Summer semesters totaled
$681 (students who already have health insurance can waive out of the health insurance
plan). For more information, visit the Office of the Bursar website
at http://www.sc.edu/bursar/.
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Stipends and Tuition Abatement
PhD candidates with teaching or research assistantships receive stipends of $15,250 per
year and abatement of all tuition for the normal full-­ time course load of nine hours of
graduate-­ level classes each semester. The tuition abatement does not cover University
or technology fees, parking, summer tuition, or health insurance. Abatments also do not
cover courses that do not contribute to the program of study, such as undergraduate
courses or recreational courses. Students who enter the PhD program with an MA can
ordinarily expect to receive four years of renewable departmental funding, assuming
good progress to degree. Students who enter the PhD program with a B.A. can ordinarily
expect to receive five years of renewable departmental funding with good progress.
Traditional MA candidates with teaching assistantships receive $14,250 per year and
abatement of all tuition for the normal full-­ time course load. They are eligible for two
years of renewable departmental funding with good progress.
Public History MA candidates receive $12,000 stipends for full-­­time teaching
assistantships. Most first year public history students are offered teaching
assistantships, while we seek to place second years with public and university agencies
in relevant public history-­ oriented positions. Assistantships with external agencies in
the Public History program are set by the sponsoring organizations (such as the South
Carolina State Museum or the Historic Columbia Foundation), though the department
pressures the agencies to match the $6000 university stipend for 20 hour/week
positions. Some public history positions are guaranteed 50% abatements of tuition. Any
student with an assistantship of at least $1,200/semester-­­-­ whether teaching, research,
or public history–is eligible for the in-­ state-­ resident rates for tuition. Please check your
initial offer letter for details of the financial package you were guaranteed.
Health Insurance
The University requires that all full-­ time graduate students (enrolled in 9 credit hours or
more), all Graduate Assistants, and all international students either purchase the
University’s health insurance plan or provide evidence of coverage on another
comparable health insurance plan to waive the USC fee. If no waiver is submitted, the
cost of the University’s health insurance plan will be automatically added to their
semester tuition and fees bill. The University will provide a contribution toward the
premium for all graduate assistants to help offset the cost of the USC mandated policy
through Pearce & Pearce, Inc. In 2011-­­12, the subsidy totaled $275, bringing down the
annual cost for health insurance to $1,125. For more information on Student Health
Insurance, benefits, cost, and the waiver process, see the Student Health Services Health
Insurance webpage at www.sa.sc.edu/shs/billing/insurance/.
Establishing Z-­­Status (‘special enrollment status’)
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Z-­­status allows advanced PhD students to enroll for only one credit hour but still be
classified as full-­­time for the purposes of receiving their stipend. This status is for senior
PhD students who have already taken enough HIST 899 credits to graduate. To qualify
for Z-­­status, students must have completed all coursework on their program of study;
be working on the dissertation at least half-­ time and thus be employed no more than
half-­­time otherwise; and may not be employed outside of their Graduate Assistantship.
Students who request this exemption from full-­­time enrollment for financial aid
purposes must submit the Special Academic Enrollment Release form available in the
forms library on the Graduate School webpage:
gradschool.sc.edu/doclibrary/documents/zstatus.pdf.
Financial Aid
For students requiring additional financial assistance, the Financial Aid Office provides
resources regarding loans, summer aid, and other programs and services. For more
information, visit the Financial Aid Office website at
www.sc.edu/financialaid/index.html.
VI. Professional Development, Fellowships and Awards
Success in the historical profession requires significant effort outside the classroom for
both traditional and public historians. To this end the department, the College of Arts
and Sciences, and the Graduate School all allocate resources for the professional
development of its graduate students. Funds are available for travel to conferences,
archives and other source materials, to support summer research, and to support a final
year of dissertation work unfettered by teaching responsibilities. In addition, awards
recognize excellent work in research and teaching by graduate students. The
competitiveness of these various opportunities vary.
Students are also encouraged to seek extramural funding, and HIST 720 and 815 both
offer information about the seeking external grants.
Publications
Journal articles and other peer-­ reviewed publications allow students to showcase their
research and have increasingly become a necessity to be competitive on the job market.
For public history students, producing exhibitions, National Register nominations, or
field reports are equally important for professional development. The American
Historical Association offers resources for students interested in publishing their
research: www.historians.org/pubs/overview.cfm.
Conferences
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Conferences are a great opportunity to integrate into the historical community by
getting feedback on your work, learning about current scholarship, and networking with
other professionals. Traditionally, graduate students at USC have made strong showings
at conferences such as the Southern Historical Association Annual Meeting and the
National Council on Public History Conference.
History Department Travel Grants
The department assists students financially by providing support for travel to scholarly
conferences at which the students present their research. Many students take
advantage of this funding to travel to one or more conferences per year. In order to be
considered for departmental funds, students must fill out a History Department Travel
request, which includes an estimate of the cost of travel, lodging, and conference
registration. Upon receiving departmental approval, students then must go online and
complete a University Travel Authorization (TA) outlining estimated expenses. After
returning from the conference, students must submit a University Travel
Reimbursement Voucher (TRV), original receipts, and an official conference program for
reimbursement.
The Public History Conference Fellowship Travel Fund provides additional funding for
public history students attending conferences. This support pays up to $100 towards
conference expenses. To apply for funding, send Professor Robert Weyeneth a letter
(hard copy only) describing the conference you are attending, the dates and locations of
the conference, how attendance will facilitate your professional development, and a
budget outlining your anticipated expenses. If approved, he will reply with a letter
asking that upon your return you submit original receipts for the expenses you wish
reimbursed, and a brief report on the specifics of your attendance, your social security
number, and the address to which the check should be mailed. Please note that in
recent years these funds have been allocated to pay for group travel to the National
Council on Public History Annual Conference in lieu of awarding individual students.
Students are also encouraged to seek out external funds to subsidize travel costs. Many
conferences offer travel grants targeted specifically at graduate students or participants
presenting for the first time.
Certificate in Museum Management Travel Grants
Students in the museums track, as well as those in the preservation and archives tracks
who are completing the Certificate in Museum Management, can apply directly to
McKissick Museum for an additional $100 of reimbursement towards conference
expenses. For additional information, contact Faculty Curator Lana Burgess at
[email protected].
Graduate School Travel Grants
15
The Graduate School provides additional support for PhD students to travel to
conferences to make presentations on behalf of the University. The grants encourage
and support student presentations of research at professional meetings nationally and
internationally. Qualified students normally may receive one travel grant each fiscal
year. In 2012, awards ranged up to $500 for domestic travel and $1,000 for international
travel.
Eligibility:
●
Students must be currently enrolled and degree-­­seeking in a Doctoral or MFA
program when they apply and when they travel.
● Students must present a paper/poster/creative work at a conference/meeting
of national or international stature.
● Students must be first or sole author of work and provide a PDF copy of their
invitation to present or acceptance notification.
For information, visit the Graduate School website at
app.gradschool.sc.edu/travelgrants/.
History Department Fellowships and Awards
Every year the History Department offers summer fellowships and prizes. These awards
recognize excellence in writing and teaching while also providing funds for summer
research. In 2013, the History Department made the following awards:
●
Robert H. Wienefeld Essay Prize (Evan Kutzler)
● William H. Nolte Graduate Assistant Teaching Award
● Smith Richardson Fellowship (for summer research and travel) (Evan Kutzler)
● Wilfrid and Rebecca Callcott Award (for summer research and travel) (Rachel
Monroy)
● John G. “Jack” Sproat Summer Research and Dissertation Fellowship (Nathan
Saunders)
The awards offered are subject to change each year. Applications are typically due
immediately after Spring Break and winners are announced at Graduate Student Day in
late March or early April.
Darrick Hart Award
The award, given in memory of Darrick Hart, recognizes outstanding contributions to the
field of public history by a public history student over the course of his/her graduate
career at the University of South Carolina in the areas of historic preservation, museums
and material culture, or archival administration and library and information science.
Nominees must be currently-­ enrolled MA students in the Public History Program at the
University of South Carolina or recent graduates who received an MA in Public History
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during the previous calendar year. The award recipient is selected by a committee of
faculty and alumni from the Public History Program. Nominations may be made by
faculty, students, alumni, and members of the wider public history community. Self-­­
nominations are also welcome. Nominations are due February 15.
University Fellowships
Graduate students in the department have an excellent record in competitions for
University fellowships awarded on the basis of departmental nominations. These funds
augment the stipends received through assistantships. For more information, consult
the Graduate School website at app.gradschool.sc.edu/faaw/.
In addition for the past few years the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Dr. Mary
Anne Fitzpatrick) has been offering “Dean’s Dissertation Fellowships” for students in
their final year of dissertating. A call is circulated among the graduate students in the
spring of each year seeking self-­ nominations for this award, those nominations are
vetted by the graduate committee and the Chair and then ranked and sent to the Dean
for selection. The graduate students of the history department have been successful in
winning 1-­ 2 of these highly competitive awards each year.
National Grants and Fellowships
History graduate students have also proven competitive in receiving national grants and
fellowships. The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs can assist students in
submitting applications to awards such as Fulbright, Javits, Boren, and DAAD. For more
information, visit their website at www.sc.edu/ofsp/.
Graduate Student Day
Every spring the University of South Carolina honors outstanding graduate students at
an awards ceremony. The day also features presentations of papers and posters on
graduate research, for which cash prizes are awarded. Details about this competition
are posted on the website of the Graduate School: www.gradschool.sc.edu.
VII. Professional Placement
Students earning graduate degrees at USC have a proven track record in securing
employment in both academic and non-­ academic positions. Students should recognize,
however, that competition for these positions is very tight. Early in the program,
students are advised to seek ways of improving their chances of obtaining a post after
graduation. Besides writing a solidly respectable thesis or dissertation, this will include
presenting aspects of your work at appropriate conferences; getting to know and
becoming known to others working in your area; having a successful internship;
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publishing your work in recognized journals; organizing exhibits, websites, historic
register nominations, or working in other public venues; winning grants; and teaching
and showing the efficacy and success of your teaching.
Students seeking academic employment are strongly encouraged to have at least one
refereed article published by the time they go on the job market, and it can easily take
2-­­3 years to get an article into print so start early. The American Historical Association
(www.historians.org) provides helpful information for students entering the job market.
There are also non-­­academic options for history PhDs. See
http://www.historians.org/pubs/careers/index.htm for more (but by no means
comprehensive) information.
Graduates of the Public History Program compete in the national job market for
employment in preservation agencies, historic sites, museums, and libraries and
archives centers. The Public History webpage provides a list of agencies where alumni
have worked as well as resources regarding employment:
www.cas.sc.edu/hist/pubhist/. Additional information can be found on the National
Council on Public History website: www.ncph.org.
VIII. Groups and Organizations
The History Center
The History Center, with generous support from the College of Arts and Sciences and
the Office of the Vice President for Research, offers a variety of variety of programming,
including public lectures, seminars, colloquia, guest lecturers, and sessions on pedagogy.
Through the works-­ in-­­progress series, graduate students can share drafts of conference
presentations, articles, or dissertation chapters to get critical feedback on their work.
The History Center has also worked with graduate students in coordinating conferences,
workshops, and guest lecture series. For more information, visit the History Center’s
website: http://www.cas.sc.edu/hist/hc/.
Reading and Writing Groups
Students and faculty members have formed numerous reading and writing groups to
exchange intellectual ideas and get feedback on their work. Examples include HOSTE (a
weekly reading group for the history of science, technology, and environment), stemcell
(an interdisciplinary work-­ in-­­progress colloquium for science studies), CCP (classics in
contemporary perspective reading group), dissertation writing groups, and groups
focused on pedagogy.
Graduate History Association (GHA)
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The Graduate History Association (GHA) represents the student body within the History
Department. It works to support graduate student life both professionally and socially.
Its roles include sponsoring departmental functions, facilitating social events,
coordinating student travel to major conferences, and planning Brown Bag discussions.
The GHA worked with the Graduate Director in creating this manual. All graduate
students and faculty are encouraged to become dues-­ paying members of the GHA
(students $15; faculty $20).
GHA Leadership
The leadership team of the GHA is elected each year. The President of the GHA in 2013-­­
14 is Mark Vandriel, ([email protected]); Jamie Wilson is the Vice
President ([email protected]); Robert Greene is the Secretary
([email protected]): and Katie Crosby is the Treasurer ([email protected]).
Please feel free to speak to any one of them to make suggestions for activities of both a
professional and social nature.
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is dedicated to the advancement and
development of Graduate and Professional Students at USC. It serves to advocate on
behalf of the interests of over 6,000 graduate and professional students at the
University of South Carolina. See http://www.sa.sc.edu/sg/graduate-­ student-­­
association/
South Carolina History Advocates
SC History Advocates is a group of students and faculty concerned with the effect public
policy has on the field of history. They promote the history discipline while also
educating others about the importance of advocacy. In addition to increasing the
visibility of local institutions, SC History Advocates are engaged nationally by traveling
annually to Washington, D.C. to advocate on Capitol Hill alongside other museum
professionals. To learn more, follow or "like" SC History Advocates at
twitter.com/Hist_Advocates and facebook.com/schistoryadvocates, or simply email
them at [email protected].
Exhibiting Local Enterprise (ELE)
ELE is a collaboration between the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
and USC’s Public History Program. Graduate students are developing a series of learning
tools that help local museums develop online exhibits to showcase their local business
history. These online exhibits serve as local counterparts to the Smithsonian’s national
exhibition American Enterprise, scheduled to open in 2015. To learn more you can reach
ELE by phone at 803-­ 777-­ 0041 or by email at [email protected].
Collections Volunteer Group
19
The Collections Volunteer Group offers graduate students who have an interest in
collections management hands-­ on experience in the museum field while providing extra
assistance to museums located in or near Columbia.
IX. Campus Services
Graduate Computer Lab
The Graduate Computer Lab is located in Gambrell 217. Graduate students may access
the lab during regular class hours (including many nights) and when Gambrell is
unlocked on the weekends (Sunday). Students can obtain the passcode from the History
Department Office. The lab features ten desktop computers, a printer, and two cubicles.
The computer lab provides space for graduate students in the History Department to
work, print, study, or grade in a quiet environment. Graduate students are allotted
$35.00 of printing credit each semester. This credit may be applied to the lab printer
and other printer facilities campus wide.
Graduate Lounge
The Graduate Lounge, in Gambrell 248B, provides History Department graduate students
with a space to eat, socialize, read/study, receive mail, or even take a quick nap.
Students can obtain the passcode from the History Department Office. Graduate student
mailboxes, a fridge, and a microwave are located in the lounge, as well as tables and
couches for eating, working, etc.
Gambrell Lower Level Computer Lab
The lower level lab is located on the basement level of Gambrell Hall. The lab contains
multiple computer labs with both PCs and Macs. There are also scanning, printing, and
other services available. The lab’s hours are:
Monday-­­ Thursday 7:45am-­ 9:00pm
Friday 7:45am-­­5:00pm
Closed Saturday
Sunday 4:00pm-­­8:00pm
Department Mailing Lists
The main form of departmental communication is two email listservs, GradHist and
ApplHist. GradHist is for all graduate students, regardless of area of specialization. To
subscribe to GradHist, send the following command in the body of an email to
[email protected]:
subscribe gradhist Your_Name
Replace "Your_Name" with your actual name.
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To send a message to this list, use the address [email protected]. Note that this
message will go to all graduate students, so make sure that you intend to send it to
everyone before you hit "send."
Searchable archives of this list are available at: Searchable Archives
Members of the Public History program should also subscribe to a second list, ApplHist.
To subscribe to ApplHist, send the following command in the body of an email to
[email protected]:
subscribe applhist Your_Name
Replace "Your_Name" with your actual name.
To send a message to this list, use the address [email protected].
There is also a listserv for the history of science, technology and environment-­­-­
[email protected] Interdisciplinary events pertaining to the entire science
studies community at USC are posted there. Contact Dr. Johnson to be added to the list.
Thomas Cooper Library
Thomas Cooper Library, the University’s main library, is located between the Longstreet
Theater and the Russell House. During fall and spring semesters, Thomas Cooper is open
twenty-­ four hours a day, except on holidays. A student ID is required to remain in the
library after 10 pm. Thomas Cooper contains numerous resources for graduate
students, including these departments: Government Information, Digital Collections,
Interlibrary Loan, Rare and Special Collections, Modern Political Collections, Microforms,
and the Educational Film Collection. Their Interlibrary Loan Service (ILL) is particularly
useful for securing published items unavailable at USC. Requests are made
electronically at http://library.sc.edu/ill/.
Library Carrels
Study carrels are available in Thomas Cooper Library. Carrels may be checked out for 24hour periods at the circulation desk. Group study rooms must be reserved in advance at
http://libcal.library.sc.edu.
Library Annex
Because the current holdings of the library exceed the capacity of the shelves, the
library is in the process of moving materials out to an annex. Materials that are at the
annex are still listed in the electronic catalog. These materials are still available, but
21
they must be requested from the annex at the following webpage:
http://library.sc.edu/annex/.
Counseling Services
The University’s Counseling Center provides a number of mental healthcare services for
graduate students and undergraduates, ranging from counseling sessions on stress,
anxiety, and eating disorders to suicide prevention. The Center is a useful resource for
teaching assistants concerned about a student’s wellbeing. The Center is located in the
Byrnes building, 7th floor. The number for the center is: 803.777.5223. The Center is
open during regular business hours during the fall and spring semester, 8am – 5pm.
Thompson Student Health Center
Graduate students are eligible for care from Student Health Center (SHC), paid for by
the student health fee. The SHC offers a number of services, including: General
Treatment (for routine illnesses, etc), women’s care, counseling & human development
center, campus wellness, sexual assault and violence intervention & prevention,
pharmacy, psychiatric services, and a medical laboratory. Full-­ time graduate students
must have health insurance as a condition of enrollment. Students are automatically
enrolled into the university’s health insurance plan until they demonstrate an
acceptable form of alternative coverage. Be aware that laboratory tests, x-­ rays, and
other non-­ routine medical needs are not covered with the student health fee. For
students with non-­ student health insurance (Pearce & Pearce), it is often financially
smarter to visit a non-­­university affiliated doctor for many medical needs.
Center for Teaching Excellence
The Center for Teaching Excellence is a resource for faculty and graduate student
instructors and teaching assistants. The CTE holds a number of workshops and other
events on topics related to enhancing pedagogical knowledge. CTE events cover a wide
range of teaching issues, techniques, and philosophies including course development,
assessment, principles for teaching practices, time management, and incorporating
technology into the classroom. There is a listserv of all its activities if you are interested
in being informed of its program. The CTE is located in the Cooper Library. For more
information, visit the CTE’s website: www.sc.edu/cte/.
Parking
Unless you are willing to purchase a pass for one of the parking garages, there are few
non-­­metered parking spaces near Gambrell Hall or Thomas Cooper Library. Graduate
students are entitled to purchase a "GS" parking sticker from the University. This sticker,
displayed in the rear window of your vehicle, allows graduate students to park in the
“Student” or “Any Decal” lots at any time and in certain lots (including the lot on Greene
Street behind Gambrell Hall) beginning at 4pm Monday-­ Friday. For more information on
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parking at the University, visit Vehicle Management and Parking Services at
www.sc.edu/vmps/.
Metered parking on university property takes only quarters; overtime meter parking
tickets are $5. City meters take all silver change; city parking tickets are $7 for the first
ticket, then more for each subsequent ticket ($12, then $19). Most meters, either city
or university, allow up to 5 hours parking, though there are some 2 hours meters and
some thirty minute meters (usually painted red).
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority has several buses that pass by the
University of South Carolina. For route information, contact the CMRTA at 255-­ 7133.
Writing Center
The Writing Center, located in Byrnes 703, is a great resource for undergraduates and
teaching assistants/instructors. Students with writing issues or concerns should be
encouraged to take advantage of the Writing Center services. The center offers
consultations and a writing hotline.
○
○
○
○
○
Hours:
Monday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday: 10:00am -­­ 7:00pm
Wednesday: 10:00am -­­ 5:00
Thursday: 10:00am -­­ 4:00pm
Friday: 10:00am -­­ 4:00pm
Gamecock Athletics
In order to obtain tickets for USC football, baseball, or basketball games, graduate
students must pay an optional “university fee.” Upon paying the fee, students must go
through the online ticket lottery system to obtain tickets at the student price. For other
sporting events, tickets may be obtained at the venue for a small fee or possibly for free.
X. Living in Columbia
There are several pleasant neighborhoods near the university. Living within a few miles
of campus offers several social and educational benefits, not least of which is
convenient access to the department and library for classes, research, and attendance
at outside speakers’ talks. In seeking housing, it pays to consult current graduate
students about what the best options are. In the spring, the GHA prepares a guide to
housing, including up-­­to-­­date contacts for rental companies.
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What follows is an informal and impressionistic guide to Columbia’s neighbors,
particularly focusing on those near the university. A map of Columbia that has detailed
information about Columbia’s neighborhoods can be found at http://www.city-­
data.com/nbmaps/neigh-­­Columbia-­ South-­ Carolina.html.
USC
There are some good places to live on the streets in or immediately adjacent to campus. Look
principally at the area around Pendleton, located north of campus. Also, there are some nice
places on Greene Street, and the streets that feed it, located on the south edge of campus, and
Laurens to the East. Beware that a lot of these residences – particularly the apartment
complexes – cater to undergraduates.
Shandon
This neighborhood is just southeast of campus and five points between Devine, Harden, and
Rosewood. It is where many graduate students and faculty lives, and is a short walk or bike ride
to Gambrell. Houses are primarily bungalows and there are many rentals. It is a nice
heighborhood for being outdoors with wide streets and sidewalks on most streets. It is also
close to the Publix on Rosewood, Earthfare on Devine, and the Food Lion on Harden. Shandon is
also nicely situated close to the restaurants, bars, and cafés in Five Points, Rosewood, and on
Devine, without being too close.
There are several apartments for rent along Devine, Blossom, and Harden, as well as houses
that are affordable as well, if you are looking for a roommate.
Old Shandon
Located to the north of Shandon with Devine street serving as a border, Old Shandon is similarly
close to campus and similarly enviously placed close to the amenities of five points. Be careful
with some of the areas on the northern border of the neighborhood, as well as the area close to
five points and MLK Park.
Melrose Heights
Melrose Heights is located to the west of Old Shandon on the other side of Millwood and
between Millwood and Trenholm streets. It has much of the same vibe as Shandon. Lots of
single houses and some converted homes into duplexes. Rent tends to run $600--­900 depending
on the property. One of our graduate students rents a 2 bedroom cottage here for $675.
Rosewood
Rosewood is located south of the University (and south of Shandon), extending to the south of
Rosewood Avenue. Much of the neighborhood is within 2--­3 miles of campus and there is a
Publix grocery store and a natural foods store (Rosewood Market) centrally located, as well as
24
quite a few restaurants and bars popping up. There are also two well--­regarded elementary
schools—Rosewood and AC Moore—on Rosewood Ave. Housing is less expensive than Shandon
and still largely bungalow style.
Olympia/ Granby/ Wales Garden
This is the area to the southwest of campus, located west of Assembly and south of the Vista
and west of Assembly. Close to the amenities of Devine Street, Rosewood Avenue and the Vista,
this is an area that has a lot of affordable houses and apartments and is fairly close to campus.
The area around Olympia Avenue and Whaley Street is particularly interesting. It is also close to
the Publix on Rosewood, and the urban farm, City Roots (in Rosewood).
Five Points
While Five Points is located quite close to Gambrell, just southeast of campus, be wary of finding
an apartment here as it is the epicenter of undergraduate nightlife at USC. That said, there are a
number of apartment complexes and condos that some of our students live in successfully.
The Vista
This is one of the more “up and coming” parts of town. Located on either side of Gervais Street
between Assembly and the river, northwest of campus. The Vista caters to young professionals
and is thus a fairly expensive area of town. It is close to numerous nice restaurants and bars and
good shopping. However, the housing here is generally outside of the grad student price range.
Downtown
Columbia’s downtown – bordered by Gervais Street, Harden Street, Park Street, and Elmwood
Avenue – is close to campus and to the amenities of the Vista. Furthermore, it offers a number
of housing options. Several students live in apartments on or close to Main Street, which is
undergoing revitalization and has several nice restaurants, and the Columbia Museum of Art,
which is solid for a city of Columbia’s size. Also, the “historic houses” district is similarly in a
“state of transition,” and a number of our students rent houses in or near this part of town. The
Historic Columbia Foundation – where many of our public history students work and intern – is
located here.
Elmwood/Cottontown
Located due north of the University, toward the Interstate 126 entrance, this is an affordable,
quiet, older neighborhood with primarily single family houses (many well--­renovated), including
a number of rentals. Most streets are wide with sidewalks, and it is 2--­5 miles from campus,
straight down Bull St. The closest supermarket is the Publix on Gervais and there are a number
of restaurants on Elmwood. It is conveniently located to the interstate.
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West Columbia/ Cayce
Just on the other side of the Gervais and Blossom Street bridges respectively, these areas is
close enough to campus and to the city of Columbia proper. The area around Meeting and State
streets has recently become a hot area of town, with several nice spots, including the best music
venue in town, the New Brookland Tavern. However, it’s important to be choosey when looking
at West Columbia and Cayce. While there are many cheap housing possibilities here there are
some seedy areas as well. Furthermore, be cautious about the large apartment complexes here
that cater to undergraduates.
WELCOME EVERYONE!!
(Please contact Dr. Sklaroff, Director of Graduate Studies, at [email protected] with any
questions, suggestions, or corrections)