Already the proud home of several highly ranked undergraduate programs, including #1 rankings for international business and the first-year experience, the University of South Carolina (USC), with over 100 major programs across more than a dozen schools and colleges, strategically equips its students with the skills they need to excel as graduates. Starting in 2023, students have an additional opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary certificate in tandem with their major, without adding time to degree completion.
The implementation of interdisciplinary undergraduate certificates has garnered significant interest among students, who recognize the value in broadening their intellectual horizons beyond the confines of their major. These certificates offer a comprehensive, integrative education that equips students with a diverse skill set. Conceived and crafted by the Interdisciplinary Council—comprised of faculty members nominated by each dean—the five certificates were strategically designed to cultivate students’ critical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills. By encouraging the application of interdisciplinary reasoning in cutting-edge fields, these certificates provide graduates with a competitive edge over their peers who lack such specialized credentials. This innovative approach not only enhances students’ employability but also prepares them to tackle complex, real-world challenges with a multifaceted perspective that employers across various industries increasingly seek out.
The certificate areas were chosen based on extensive research into the most in-demand competencies in today’s rapidly evolving job market. Because the standard computer skills have evolved beyond simple spreadsheet and presentation capabilities, graduates are now expected to have advanced capabilities in data analysis and visualization, understand their role within an organization’s digital strategy, and demonstrate responsible utilization of artificial intelligence in professional settings. Similarly, traditional communication skills alone no longer meet employer expectations. Employers seek candidates with project management expertise, team leadership abilities and the capacity for strategic communication across various organizational levels. Responding to these industry demands, the Interdisciplinary Council proposed a set of certificate topics that received enthusiastic endorsement from both faculty governance and the Board of Trustees. This initiative aims to ensure our graduates are not only well versed in their major fields but also possess the multifaceted skills necessary to actively participate in and potentially spearhead key organizational functions from the outset of their careers.
Artificial Intelligence Literacy (available fall ’25)
The Artificial Intelligence Literacy Certificate is currently under approval. Its purpose is to equip students with essential knowledge and skills to navigate and engage with AI technologies confidently and responsibly. This certificate draws from various disciplines, including computer science, ethics, humanities and social sciences, to offer a well-rounded perspective on AI. Upon completion, students will be able to apply AI fundamentals to their chosen field and make immediate use of the knowledge in their workplace.
Data Analytics and Visualization
The Data Analytics and Visualization Certificate provides students with skill training in organizational data interpretation, developmental processes for managing data and data use for informing business decisions in the workplace. Raw data is everywhere, from social media post statistics to sales records to location data. In today’s workplace, crucial decisions hinge on these markers of engagement, financial flow and product use. While raw data can appear as a complicated maze of numbers and statistics, this certificate provides analytical skills that transform complex information into meaningful insights, offering training applicable across virtually every professional domain.
Digital Studies
The Digital Studies Certificate brings together academic departments from the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Information and Mass Communications, and the College of Arts and Sciences to provide students with the opportunity to produce their own digital content and critically assess the digital content they encounter. The program includes hands-on experiences that prepare students for their future careers while becoming more skilled at using digital technologies in their everyday lives. Students engage in web design, video production, database management, computer networking, social media content design, data visualization and much more.
Project Leadership and Management
The Project Leadership and Management Certificate provides work-ready leadership training to enhance management readiness for undergraduate students. Project leadership and management are two skills that are critical for success in almost any industry but often can only be learned on the job. This certificate gives students entering the workforce an advantage by providing the foundation for building this skill set. Students who enter the workforce with extracurricular leadership positions may have an edge in experience, but this credential allows any student to take advantage of the opportunity to practice managing individuals and projects. Whether they’re majoring in the humanities or STEM, this certificate program will prepare students to enter a company ready to implement best practices for managing teams and steering projects with confidence.
Strategic Thinking and Communications
The Strategic Thinking and Communications Certificate provides students with the skills to think ahead, anticipate outcomes and communicate those outcomes effectively in the workplace. It aims to assist students in structuring their thought processes and communication strategies, enhancing their efficiency and making collaboration smoother. The intended goal of this program is to build an internal framework, transforming students’ ability to communicate effectively and to be more strategic leaders.
Each certificate requires at least twelve credit hours and is intentionally made up of courses that have minimal prerequisites, which allows for greater student access. Upon completion, students receive a hard copy certificate document in addition to their traditional diploma.
The interdisciplinary nature of these credentials is an important part of their design. The opportunity to have faculty from diverse backgrounds come together to select the courses from their disciplines that best exemplify the particular topic is what keeps them both current and relevant to the current student body. In addition, course options from various disciplines ensure students have the opportunity to explore topics outside their chosen major and thereby diversify their skill sets for their career path after graduation.
The University of South Carolina has seen a surge in student interest for its interdisciplinary certificate programs since their introduction in fall 2023. These certificates are offered at no extra cost and do not extend the time required for degree completion, making them an attractive option for students seeking to enhance their skill sets. The initial graduates who have earned these certificates have reported significant added value to their educational experience. To maintain the relevance and effectiveness of these programs, we solicit regular assessments and feedback from employers. This ongoing evaluation process ensures certificates continue to provide students with a competitive advantage as they enter the job market and transition into their professional roles. The university remains committed to adapting these programs to meet evolving industry demands, thereby equipping graduates with the cross-disciplinary skills highly employers seek.
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