Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A.I.S. (College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management)

The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) program in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM) at the University of South Carolina is a degree program that assists students in exploring interdisciplinary fields of study. The BAIS degree provides a pathway for degree completion with a goal of creating an integrated, interdisciplinary learning environment for analyzing and resolving issues in a variety of fields.

• Students will be able to identify and/or analyze issues/problems in a chosen career field. 
• Students will be able to develop logical and viable solutions to an issue/problem in a chosen career field. 
• Students will be able to communication ideas, issues/problems, solutions and/or research-based information clearly. 

Progression Requirements

Entrance Requirements are: 

1. students have previously completed at least 60 hours of college credit with at least a 2.0 institutional GPA or 
2. be newly entering students, who are at least 25 years of age.

Requirements including students having previously completed at least 60 credit hours of college credit or be at least 25 years of age and having at least an Institutional 2.0 GPA are required.

Each student must work with a B.A.I.S. advisor to design an individualized program of study. The program of study must include at least 36 hours of 300-level UofSC course work and conform to all general University academic regulations for the baccalaureate degree. The B.A.I.S. requires a minimum of 120 approved hours to graduate. A minimum Institutional GPA of 2.0 is required for graduating from the program.

A minimum of 30 UofSC hours must be earned after acceptance into the B.A.I.S. program.

Subject to University and departmental policy, students may apply up to 60 semester hours earned in an accredited associate degree program toward fulfillment of B.A.I.S. requirements. All courses accepted toward fulfillment of the BAIS requirements, must be a C or better.

Interdisciplinary Studies majors may pursue a minor in any course of study offered by the College of HRSM as well as any other University program with an approved minor. College of HRSM required courses may not be counted toward a minor.

The College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management has a pre-professional and a professional division of student classification. All new students will begin in the pre-professional division. Progression into the professional division requires the approval of the department and the successful completion of the requirements indicated under each departmental heading.

In addition to the academic admission requirements of the University and of the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management for admission to the pre-professional division, an enrollment limit into the professional division may be imposed by various departments. Such a limit would become necessary if enrollment levels exceed available department staffing and facility resources. In the event of an enrollment limit, admission to a department may take into account the applicant's grade point average and other factors which may include the applicant's potential for success in that major.

Freshmen Students

In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, freshmen applicants must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Transfer Students

In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, transfer applicants from outside of the UofSC system must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have at least a 2.25 GPA. The Sport and Entertainment Management and the Retailing majors requires a higher GPA than the minimum University entrance standards. Transfer applicants for Sport and Entertainment must have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 on all college-level work attempted. Transfer applicants for Retailing must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 on all college-level work attempted. 

Students from other UofSC campuses who wish to enter the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management must fulfill one of the following requirements:

1. Be in good standing, meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and have the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).

Required GPA for Change of Campus: hospitality management - 2.25; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.50; tourism management - 2.25; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.

Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus must meet the following GPA requirements on all work taken: hospitality management - 2.25; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.50; tourism management - 2.25; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.

International applicants must be proficient in the English language. A score of 550 or above on the paper version of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required. (A score of 210 or higher on the computerized version is required, and a minimum score of 77 on the Internet version is required.) The Office of Undergraduate Admissions also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the PTE Academic Test (PTE). Students must score at least a 6.5 on the IELTS, or at least a 53 on the PTE.  English proficiency scores are not required for international students from countries where the primary language of instruction is English nor from graduates of high schools in the United States.

An English proficiency test will be administered to international students, except those from English-speaking countries, upon arrival at the University. All international students must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in written and oral English to progress at the University level. Students who are not proficient in English will be required to take noncredit, concentrated English language training until proficiency is demonstrated.