The South Carolina Honors College and the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law offer an innovative “fast track” program for Honors students who seek a law degree. The program enables students complete the BARSC undergraduate degree (“Bachelor of Arts and Sciences,” or “BARSC”) in the South Carolina Honors College, followed by a juris doctor from the USC Rice School of Law. Students admitted to this program typically complete their undergraduate degree and their law degree in six years.
Only first-year Honors College students are eligible to apply. Accepted students are enrolled in the BARSC major and complete all pre-law and BARSC requirements in three years. The major requires an internship and a thesis component. Law school starts in the fourth year of the program and is completed in three years.
Benefits
Students admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. Program enjoy several advantages, including:
- Early acceptance to the USC Rice School of Law
- No LSAT requirement
- Guaranteed scholarship (in-state) or tuition reduction (out-of-state)
- Undergraduate financial aid may be utilized to fund the first year of law school
- Waiver of the J.D. application fee
- Waiver of the $500 law school seat deposit
- Waiver of the LSAT Writing requirement
- Opportunities to connect and engage with the USC Rice School of Law community throughout their undergraduate experience
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a first-year South Carolina Honors College student who has completed one semester at the USC-Columbia campus
- Have a minimum institutional GPA of 3.75 at the time of application
- Demonstrate performance at or above the 85th percentile nationally on the ACT or SAT at the time the examination was taken
- Submit one letter of recommendation
- Complete the program application by the published deadline
The LSAT is not required. Students with a valid LSAT score are not eligible for admission through this program. Students admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. Program also agree not to register for future administrations of the LSAT.
Required Testing
Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. applicants must provide evidence that they scored in the 85th percentile nationally on the ACT or SAT examination at the time the test was taken. This information can be located on a student’s ACT/SAT score report.
The LSAT is not required. Students with a valid LSAT score are ineligible for admission through this program. Students who are accepted to the Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. program agree not to register for future administration of the LSAT.
Letters of Recommendation
One letter of recommendation is required with the application to the Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. program.
Additional letters of recommendation may be required when students are completing an abbreviated law school application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) by Dec. 1 during their third year of their undergraduate program, prior to matriculation to the USC Rice School of Law.
Matriculation to the USC Rice School of Law
Students must complete an abbreviated law school application through LSAC between September 1 and December 1 of their third year of their undergraduate program.
Candidates must have a minimum institutional GPA of 3.75 as reported by LSAC at the time of application to the J.D. program (fall semester of their third year of the undergraduate program) and must satisfactorily complete a character and fitness review as required for all J.D. students and as mandated by the South Carolina Supreme Court. These questions and the required review will be discussed during the initial interview process before acceptance to the undergraduate program.
Steps To Apply
- Application link and instructions will be available here no later than Dec. 1.
- Submit the application online no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, January 15.
- Letter writers must submit the letter of recommendation directly to Elizabeth Leverette (levereec@mailbox.sc.edu) no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, January 15.
Timeline
| Date | Deadline |
| December 1 | Online application opens |
| January 15 | Online application closes |
| January 30 | Interview invitations sent |
| February | Applicant interviews begin |
| March 1 | Decisions sent to selected applicants |
Applicants accepted to the program will have two weeks to accept or decline the program.
Financial Support
Students admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate to J.D. Program who successfully matriculate to the USC Rice School of Law will receive financial support upon enrollment.
- South Carolina Residents: A guaranteed scholarship of $10,000 per year.
- Non-Residents: Eligibility for the Non-Resident Scholar reduced tuition rate.
This financial support is in addition to the program benefits of early admission, application fee waiver, seat deposit waiver and LSAT requirement waiver. For example, fourth year funding through a student’s general university scholarship and/or state scholarship can be used to fund the first year of law school.
Have Questions?
Students who would like more information should email the Honors College manager of special programs, Elizabeth Leverette, M.Ed.