The University of South Carolina (colloquially known as USC, South Carolina, or Carolina) is a premier public flagship research university located in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded on December 19, 1801, as South Carolina College, it is the historic flagship institution of the University of South Carolina System. Designated among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity" by the Carnegie Foundation, the university balances world-class research output with unmatched undergraduate education, vibrant Southeastern Conference (SEC) athletic traditions, and high-ranking professional divisions. Covering a picturesque 359-acre urban campus in the heart of South Carolina's capital city, the university is anchored by the Historic Horseshoe—the original 1801 campus quadrangle listed on the National Register of Historic Places, shaded by centuries-old live oaks and bordered by historic 19th-century brick colleges including Rutledge College (1805) and South Caroliniana Library (1840, the oldest standalone college library in America). Academically, South Carolina is globally celebrated for signature powerhouses. The Darla Moore School of Business has been ranked #1 in the United States for undergraduate International Business for over 25 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, in addition to holding the #1 graduate international business ranking. The South Carolina Honors College (SCHC) is consistently ranked the #1 public honors college in the nation, providing intensive faculty mentorship, seminar-style courses, and fully funded senior research theses. The university also pioneers undergraduate retention through its acclaimed University 101 first-year seminar, and leads globally in Sport and Entertainment Management within the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM). The university operates two state-of-the-art medical schools (Columbia and Greenville) alongside the top-ranked Arnold School of Public Health.

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