University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina (also known as USC, South Carolina, or simply Carolina) is a public, coeducational, research university. The main campus is located in Columbia, South Carolina and is part of the University of South Carolina System. Founded in 1801, the university offers programs of study leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from sixteen degree-granting academic divisions. It currently enrolls over 26,000 students; the president of USC is Andrew J. Sorensen.

Campus

The first building at South Carolina College was Rutledge College, which served as a residence hall, chapel, administrative office and academic building at the same time.

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Soon after, DeSaussure College was built. Surrounding these two buildings, others were constructed in the shape of a horseshoe. Among them was Caroliniana Library, the first freestanding library in the United States.

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The Horseshoe is situated in downtown Columbia, one block to the southeast of the State Capitol. During the 20th century, the campus began to spread out dramatically in every direction but northwest. Today it includes the student union, 21 residence halls, numerous academic buildings, Longstreet Theatre, the Koger Center for the Arts, the Carolina Coliseum, the Colonial Center, Sarge Frye Field, and various facilities for Olympic sports.

Related Topics:
Colonial Center - Sarge Frye Field

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Recent additions to the campus are the Greek village and the Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center, the largest facility of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

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West Quad was opened in the fall of 2004, and this residence hall is believed to be one of only four in the world to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

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Future plans include the construction of a research campus, mainly between the horseshoe and the Congaree River; a new home for the Arnold School of Public Health; and a new baseball stadium adjacent to the Colonial Center.

Related Topics:
Congaree River - Arnold School of Public Health

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