University of South Carolina facts for kids

The LEED building on the campus.

The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational university in Columbia, South Carolina. The university has about 44,557 students. It was founded in 1801. The current president of the university is Dr. Harris Pastides.

Sports

The athletics teams of the university are called the Gamecocks. They have 19 varsity teams, almost all of which compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In men's soccer, a sport that the SEC does not sponsor, the Gamecocks play in Conference USA.

Images for kids

South Carolina College as it appeared in 1850 looking from College Street
An 1872 aerial illustration of the University of South Carolina Horseshoe
The University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe, on which the university's first building was built in 1805
The Thomas Cooper Library, built in 1976, is the main student library on the University of South Carolina campus
Opened in 2002, Colonial Life Arena's 18,000 seats make it the largest arena in the state of South Carolina
Completed in May 2000, the $32 million, state-of-the-art Graduate Science Research Center is home to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina Greek Village is the home of 20 sorority and fraternity houses
The university's mascot, Cocky entertaining Gamecock fans at Gamecock Village prior to the USC vs. LousLaf game in 2007.
Andrew Card, BS 1971, U.S. Secretary of Transportation under George H. W. Bush, White House Chief of Staff under George W. Bush
Rita Cosby, BA 1989, three time Emmy Award winner, special correspondent for Inside Edition
Lindsey Graham, BA 1977, South Carolina Senator in the United States Senate
Richard Riley, JD 1959, former Governor of South Carolina, 6th United States Secretary of Education
Larry Kellner, BS 1981, former CEO of Continental Airlines, member of the Boeing board of directors
Henry McMaster, JD, current Governor of South Carolina.
Wade Hampton III, 1836, Governor of South Carolina, United States Senator, and Confederate General.
John B. Floyd, 1829, Governor of Virginia, United States Secretary of War.
Flowers in front of Thomas Cooper Library
The fountain and pond in front of Thomas Cooper Library