Academic Requirements
To successfully complete the Bridge Program and receive admission to Clemson for your second year of college, you must earn a minimum of 30 transferable credits and earn a 2.5 GPA during your first year at Tri-County. We have provided details regarding these requirements for you below.
Earn a Minimum of 30 Transferable Credits
Only course credits earned at Tri-County after high school graduation and designated as transferable on the Transfer Credit Equivalency List will count toward satisfying the 30 credits.
AP/IB and dual-enrollment credits do not count toward the 30-hour credit, but they may transfer to Clemson and help you complete your degree. For a list of AP/IB and dual-enrollment courses that will transfer to Clemson, visit Course Transfer Information.
If you have not met the 30-credit hour/2.5 GPA requirement by the end of the spring term, you can attend summer school at Tri-County.
- Housing is available on the Clemson campus during Summer sessions.
- If you complete 30 credits with a 2.5 GPA at Tri-County by the end of the Summer session, you will be invited to attend a Clemson transfer student Orientation session before the start of Fall semester.
Credits and grades earned in Tri-County Comprehensive Studies courses do not count toward the 30-credit/2.5 GPA.
- If you need to enroll in Comprehensive Studies courses, we encourage you to complete these courses prior to your enrollment at Tri-County so that you will be prepared to enroll in courses that count for Clemson University transfer in the Fall semester.
Contact the Tri-County Bridge Programs staff about pre-Bridge year enrollment via email at bridgetoclemson@tctc.edu.
Earn a 2.5 Grade-Point Average (GPA) During Your First Year at Tri-County
- As a Bridge student, you cannot enroll in classes at Clemson. You must enroll in classes at Tri- County your first year. You can view the Tri-County academic calendar for key dates each
- As a Bridge student, you will have access to all Tri-County and Clemson academic success resources to help you thrive and earn a high GPA. We encourage you to explore the many academic resources available to you on our Student Resources page.
Accuplacer Placement Testing
Accuplacer is an educational assessment tool Tri-County uses to assess your skill level in reading, writing and mathematics when you initially enroll. The results from your Accuplacer test will be used to help determine which courses are best for you at Tri- County.
Accuplacer FAQs
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What do scores on the Accuplacer test mean to me as a Bridge Student?
- You should give your best effort when completing each section of the Accuplacer test because Tri-County uses your scores in the reading, writing and mathematics sections to properly place you into appropriate Tri-County courses.
- South Carolina students who have taken the Accuplacer placement test prior to their senior year of high school are encouraged to take the test again to provide a more accurate representation of their
- Accuplacer provides resources for you to practice for the test, and Tri-County will allow you to take each section of the Accuplacer placement test a maximum of two For additional information and practice questions, visit the Tri-County Assessment Center.
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Are all students required to complete the Accuplacer assessment?
If you have earned credit for college-level coursework (through AP/IB exam scores and/or dual-enrollment course credit with a grade of C or better) in English and/or mathematics, you do not need to complete the Accuplacer section for that subject area.
- For example, if you have earned AP/IB credit or a grade of C or higher for a college-level English course, you only need to take the mathematics portion of the Accuplacer assessment
If you have credit for both college-level English and mathematics courses, you are not required to complete the Accuplacer assessment test.
However, there are some Clemson majors with specific mathematics course requirements. If you have not already earned credit for the specific required
mathematics course(s) through AP/IB credit and/or dual enrollment, you will need to complete the Accuplacer mathematics assessment to make sure you are placed in the appropriate mathematics course for your intended Clemson major.
If you are currently enrolled in AP and/or IB courses, you are required to take the Accuplacer assessment as AP/IB exam scores are typically not delivered until late July.
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Can my SAT or ACT test scores be used in place of the Accuplacer assessment?
No. Tests such as the SAT and ACT are not specifically designed for course-level placement, and Accuplacer is specifically designed to assess your current skill level in reading, writing and mathematics. Tri-County utilizes Accuplacer scores to determine initial course placement.
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When is Accuplacer offered?
Accuplacer is offered at the Tri-County Assessment Center Monday through Friday on a walk-in basis. Appointments are not required unless otherwise noted. Please visit the Tri-County Assessment Center for walk-in schedule information.
To complete course registration at Bridge Orientation, you must complete the Accuplacer assessment and submit any AP/IB score reports or dual-enrollment college transcripts to Tri-County Student Data Center prior to June 1.
Choosing and/or Changing a Major
As a Bridge student, you can choose from 80+ majors offered at Clemson and begin the process of completing degree requirements for your intended Clemson major.
During the academic year, some space- or GPA-restricted majors may become closed. These are specific Clemson majors that, due to enrollment limitations, are closed and not immediately accessible. It is important to note that you must wait until you finish your Bridge program and enroll at Clemson for your second year before you can go through the change-of-major application process for closed majors.
If you are interested in any of the closed majors, email bridgetoclemson@tctc.edu for more information, and please note that some majors may require more than four years to complete.
The opportunity to change into one of the closed majors listed here cannot be guaranteed:
- Communication.
- Construction science and management.
- Health science (all concentrations).
- Language and international health.
- Nursing.
- Sports communication.
The following majors are subject to space restrictions, GPA restrictions or department approval:
- Architecture.
- Art.
- Business.
- Education (all majors).
- Engineering.
- Graphic communication.
- Landscape architecture.
- Performing arts (music, audio technology and theatre).
- Psychology.
- Visual art.
You can change your major while enrolled in the Bridge program if your new major is not listed above. If, however, you are dedicated to one of these majors, you should speak with an adviser at Clemson University to fully understand the competitive change-of-major application process, procedure and timelines.
