Birmingham Southern College

A private liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Birmingham-Southern College serves around 1,200 students annually. BSC enrolls only undergraduate students, offering five types of bachelor's degrees: arts, fine arts, music education, musical arts, and science. Degree candidates can choose from more than 50 majors and minors, including subjects such as applied computer science, Asian studies, environmental studies, musical theater, and sociology. BSC offers a selection of online courses but no fully online degrees. BSC supports students through a variety of service-learning opportunities, primarily offered through the school's Krulak Institute for Leadership, Experiential Learning, and Civic Engagement. This institute connects students to internships, study abroad opportunities, community service, and leadership building programs. Students draw connections between academic study, professional practice, and community engagement. These programs encourage students to develop their sense of civics as well as a strong resume.
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Admissions Breakdown
Acceptance Rate Insight
80% of students
were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools
with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but
are still accessible to many students who apply.
Retention Rate Insight
87% of full-time
students stayed to continue their studies the following academic
year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall
2020.
Graduation Rate Insight
72% of students
graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their
studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are
not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners.
Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.
Application Considerations
Test scores: | Required | High school transcript: | Required |
High school rank: | Recommended | Letter of recommendation: | Not required or recommended |
High school GPA: | Required | Open admission: | No |
Completion of college prep program: | Required | Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL): |
Transfer Credit Policy
Dual enrollment: Yes
Advance placement (AP) credits: Yes
Credit for qualified life experience*:
ⓘ
*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials,
or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a
portfolio to earn credit.
Learning Environment
38k
Students enrolledOnline student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio
90%
Online student enrollmentStudent to faculty ratio
20:1
Student to faculty ratio
Degrees Awarded by Program
Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.
# | Programs | BA | MA | Doc |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
2 | Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
3 | Biological And Biomedical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
4 | Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
5 | Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
6 | Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
7 | Education | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
8 | Engineering | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
9 | English Language And Literature/Letters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
10 | Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
11 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
12 | Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
13 | Health Professions And Related Programs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
14 | History | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
15 | History | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
16 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
17 | Legal Professions And Studies | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
18 | Library Science | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
19 | Mathematics And Statistics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
20 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
21 | Natural Resources And Conservation | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
22 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
23 | Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
24 | Philosophy And Religious Studies | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
25 | Physical Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
26 | Psychology | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
27 | Public Administration And Social Service Professions | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
28 | Security And Protective Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
29 | Social Sciences | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
30 | Visual And Performing Arts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |