Undergraduate Admissions

REGULAR ADMISSION

Regular admission to baccalaureate and associate degree programmes (minors not included) shall be on the basis of any certificate giving regular university entrance status for the country of origin of the student making the application.

This may include one of the following:

Three O-level GCE or CXC passes and 2 A-level GCE or CXC passes, including English language.

• Business Education, Computer Science, Computing, AS General Business Emphasis, and Engineering Technology students are in addition required to present mathematics.
• Biology students are in addition required to present biology (grade C or II or better) and mathematics (grade C or II or better) as two of the five passes.
• Students with A-level passes may be awarded up to 10 credits for each A-level pass as advanced standing toward the four-year programme, as appropriate.

Five O-level GCE or CXC passes, including English language.

• Business Education, Computer Science, Computing, AS General Business Emphasis, and Engineering Technology students are also required to present mathematics as one of the five passes.
• Biology students are in addition required to present biology (grade C or II or better) and mathematics (grade C or II or better) as two of the five passes.
• Entrance Requirements for Computer Science: Five (5) O-Level (or equivalent) passes including Mathematics (CXC grade I or II / GCE grade A or B), English (CXC grade I, II or III / GCE grade A, B or C), and a Science Subject – preferably Information Technology (CXC General Proficiency - grade I, II or III / GCE equivalent grade A, B or C). Three O-Level (CXC or GCE) passes and two A-Level Passes (CAPE or GCE). These passes must include mathematics, English and a science subject at any level.
• BS Elementary Education students must have matriculated from an approved teacher training programme. Persons who have not completed such a programme must have CXC or GCE O-level passes in English, mathematics and a science subject among the five presented.
• No credits will be awarded as advanced standing toward the four year degree programme.

Four O-level GCE or CXC passes, including English, if a student has completed two full years in a teacher training college and has earned a Teacher’s Certificate.

• Transfer credits will be awarded as approved by the USC School of Education.
• There will be a reduction of 6 semester credits from the transfer credits for the missing O-level GCE or CXC pass. The USC Associate Registrar for Admission, in collaboration with the dean of the school for the applicants’ major, will determine which credits will be used as make-up, and inform the student accordingly. The makeup credits will not be counted towards graduation.
• Bachelor of Science in Individualized Major In Educational Service. This B.S. degree is designed to serve a unique clientele, namely, educators who have earned the Trinidad or equivalent two-year elementary teacher preparation certificate, and the three-year University of the West Indies continuing education diploma.
  Requirements:
  - Trinidad or equivalent two-year elementary teacher preparation certificate.
  - Three-year University of the West Indies Continuing Education diploma. Students with a two-year University of the West Indies continuing education diploma may enter the programme, but must take 14 additional credits of course work at USC.
  - Five O-level GCE or CXC passes or equivalent, including English, met at the time of the applicant’s first teachers college matriculation.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

Provisional admission to baccalaureate and associate degree programmes may be given if a student has one of the following:

• Three O-level GCE or CXC passes, and recognized mature age in his/ her country of origin, and has satisfied the University that he/she can do university level work. Individual evaluation will be made based on such evidence as work experience, examination results, interviews, and prior academic work.
• For Trinidad applicants, the mature age is 30 years.

Note: When students are accepted on a mature age basis, and lack O-levels (3 are normally required), they may take an additional 18 credits of first year college course work at USC (6 credits per missing O- level) to meet admission requirements. Such credits will be included on the University transcript but will not be counted towards graduation requirements.

• For applicants from Caribbean countries outside Trinidad, the mature age recognized for university entrance in the country of origin will apply.
• Three O-level GCE or CXC passes and a GED certificate with an average composite score of 45, with no single score below 40 on the GED examination.
• A GED certificate with an average composite score of 50, with no single score below 45 on the GED examination.
• Mature age and a GED certificate with an average composite score of 45, with no single score below 40 on the GED examination.
• The total number of required passes but without a pass in English language, if coming from an English speaking secondary school, or without the required passes in Biology or Mathematics as listed in Regular Admission l. (i) and (ii) or Regular Admission 2. (i) and (ii) above.