S.C. REACH Act

South Carolina Act 26 of 2021, the S.C. REACH Act, requires undergraduate students to complete a three-credit course that features, at a minimum, reading the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, five Federalist Papers and one document foundational to the African American Struggle. (Review the bill by the S.C. General Assembly.)

The REACH Act applies to all new first-year undergraduate students unless the following exemption is met:

• If you passed an AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history while enrolled in high school, you are exempted from having to complete a REACH Act course while enrolled at Clemson.
  • Passing an AP exam with score sufficient to be awarded course credit for HIST 1010 and/or POSC 1010 does NOT exempt you from the requirement simply by having a high enough score. Passing the AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history is what exempts the student, not the AP exam score.

The REACH Act also applies to all new transfer undergraduate students who enter the University unless one of the following exemptions are met:

• If you enrolled at any higher education institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate student prior to summer 2021, you are exempt from the requirement.
  • If you passed an AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history while enrolled in high school, you are exempted from having to complete a REACH Act course while enrolled at Clemson.
  • Passing an AP exam with score sufficient to be awarded course credit for HIST 1010 and/or POSC 1010 does NOT exempt you from the requirement simply by having a high enough score. Passing the AP or dual enrollment course in US government or US history is what exempts the student, not the AP exam score.

How to Satisfy REACH Act Requirements 

You must enroll in and pass one course approved as meeting the South Carolina REACH Act requirement.

• These Clemson courses currently satisfy the REACH Act requirement:
  • HIST 1010 — History of the United States, 3 Credits
  • POSC 1010 — American National Government, 3 Credits
  • POSC 1030 — Introduction to Political Theory, 3 Credits
• These South Carolina Technical College system courses currently satisfy the REACH Act requirement:
  • HIST 201
  • PSC 201

Additional REACH Act Clarifications

• You may select any Clemson course that meets the REACH Act requirement, regardless of catalog year. This course may also count as a requirement in any part of the program of study, including the major, minor, general education or as a free elective.
• You can verify compliance with the REACH Act in iROAR: Student Self Service > REACH Act Graduation Requirement: Request Review
• While additional courses may be approved in the future that will satisfy the REACH Act requirement, it is highly unlikely that the majority of courses you may have taken elsewhere and are presenting for transfer credit evaluation, including courses that transfer to Clemson as HIST 1010, POSC 1010, and POSC 1030, incorporate the complete set of readings required to satisfy the law. In other words, unless it is an official REACH Act-compliant course completed at another public South Carolina college or university, the prospect of gaining approval for a course taken elsewhere to be approved as a REACH Act course is highly unlikely.
• The SC REACH Act requirement is listed in DegreeWorks with the following statuses:
  • REACH Act Not Required: Students who enrolled at Clemson or any institution as a degree- seeking undergraduate prior to summer 2021.
  • REACH Act Met Prior: Students who are exempt from the REACH Act because they completed dual enrollment or AP/IB coursework in U.S. government or history while in high school.
  • REACH Act Met Transfer: Students who transfer a course into Clemson that meets the S.C. REACH Act requirement.
  • REACH Act Not Met New: Students who enrolled Summer 2021 or after and have not completed a REACH Act course.
• The designations listed above are subject to change.
• Leaders at Clemson University and other South Carolina universities and colleges are continuing to receive legislative updates and guidance about the REACH Act. Updates with be shared with the advising community as leadership receives them.
• The S.C. REACH Act is listed in the Undergraduate Catalog: Academic Regulations > Graduation Requirements