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The program in Applied Economics is a cooperative effort between the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics and the Department of Economics in the College of Business and Behavioral Science. The programs in Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Toxicology are jointly administered with the College of Engineering and Science.
Through cooperative programs with state, federal, and private agencies, students can extend their research off campus to the Greenwood Genetics Center, research and education centers spanning South Carolina, and state and national forests of the Savannah River Basin. Proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains provides access to one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world.
Courses are offered in experimental statistics and agricultural mechanization to provide minors for students in other areas and in biological sciences, biology instruction, community and rural development, rural sociology, nutrition, botany, crop and soil environmental science, horticulture, plant pathology, and plant physiology to provide electives for students in other areas.
Special emphasis in the graduate program is placed on the economics of agricultural production and marketing, economic development, analysis of government programs and policies, and statistical techniques used in solving economic and institutional problems. Flexibility is achieved through choice of elective courses and selection of a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation topic. A nonthesis option is available as well. There is no language requirement.
In addition to applicants with baccalaureate degrees in agricultural economics and related programs, the department encourages applications from students who have a sound background in general economics. In many cases, such students may be admitted to full graduate status without prerequisites other than those required of all graduate students.
Candidates for the degree are required to plan an individual program of study in consultation with the major advisor and graduate committee; complete a minimum of three credit hours in adult education, three hours in research methods, and three hours in statistics; complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in the major field; and complete a minimum of six credit hours in an area of concentration outside the major field.
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the professional degree.
At least one-half of these credit hours must be selected from courses numbered
700 or above. The student's program of study must be approved by the advisory
committee.
Note: Additional undergraduate coursework may be required to obtain teacher certification.
Students enrolled in the MS program are required to complete coursework in areas of the student's interest as approved by the graduate advisory committee. The student's academic program and research emphasize a study of physiological processes, particularly those relating to reproduction, endocrinology, immunology, digestion, and environmental factors. A thesis or dissertation is required.
The PhD degree does not have formal coursework requirements, but it is recognized that students will have individual deficiencies; therefore, it is the responsibility of the student and his/her major advisor, in consultation with the graduate advisory committee, to prescribe coursework to correct these deficiencies. All students majoring in Animal and Veterinary Sciences are required to complete AN PH 851.
The following courses offered by various departments represent possible electives for students in Animal and Veterinary Sciences: AVS 600, 653, 655, 661, 803, 825, BIOCH 606, 623, 633, 634, 815, BIOSC 632, 633, 659, 660, 661, 668, 670, 671, 672, 675, 676, 677, (AVS) 680, ENT (BIOSC) 636, EX ST 801, 803, 805, MICRO (AVS, BIOSC) 614, 811.
The graduate program in Applied Economics utilizes the facilities
and faculty of the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics and the
Department of Economics in the College of Business and Behavioral Science.
Students may carry out their dissertation research under the direction
of a faculty member from either department. See College
of Business and Behavior Science for the complete program.
The student, with the guidance of the advisory committee, will selected elective courses (nine hours for the MS degree, 12 hours for the PhD degree) from the following: BIOCH 643, 816, 818, 821, 822, 828, 832, 890, GEN 640, 650, 670, 801, 803, 815, 830, 890.
MS candidates will present seminars (BIOCH (GEN) 851) twice, PhD candidates three times. All graduate students are required to attend GEN (BIOCH) 825 or deliver seminars (BIOCH (GEN) 851) every semester they are enrolled.
A minimum of six credit hours of research, culminating in a thesis, is required of master's candidates. Successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations will admit the doctoral students to candidacy for the PhD degree.
Students with baccalaureate degrees in the basic and life sciences, agriculture, or engineering may be admitted. Strong faculty expertise and areas of student specialization are available in wildlife toxicology, environmental chemistry, biochemical and mechanistic toxicology, ecological modeling, ecological risk assessment, and biological control. Each student's research program is designed to meet his/her professional goals.
Candidates for the MS degree must complete 30 hours of graduate credit, including six hours of research, and write a thesis. Candidates for the PhD degree must complete 18 hours of dissertation research and write a dissertation.
Graduate research programs are conducted in conjunction with the Clemson Institute of Environmental Toxicology, providing a unique and innovative environment for graduate education. Collaborative research opportunities exist nationally and internationally with other universities, state and federal agencies, and industrial groups.
1. The Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test) must be taken by all applicants. A minimum total GRE score of 1000 on the two-component exam is required. In some cases, other tests administered for students applying for postbaccalaureate degrees may be accepted in lieu of the GRE (e.g., MCAT).2. A strong background in food science; human nutrition; physical, chemical, or biological sciences; or engineering is highly desirable.
3. Proficiency in food science must be demonstrated by satisfactory completion of coursework in the following areas: food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing, and biochemistry. Background course requirements will normally be satisfied with completion of a BS degree in Food Science from an accredited institution. Students deficient in any of these areas will be required to complete coursework to fulfill these background course requirements.
4. Acceptance is based upon academic transcripts with a minimum undergraduate grade-point ratio of 3.0, three letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives and professional experience.
5. International students must have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 575. International applicants must also submit documentation of adequate financial support for their studies.
6. An additional requirement for admission is identification of a research advisor prepared to accept the applicant as an advisee.
The following courses are required: EX ST 801 or equivalent, FD SC 851 (one-credit hour seminar each spring), 18 credit hours of advanced-level courses (may include courses in food science or in areas such as chemistry, nutrition, biochemistry, animal and veterinary sciences, microbiology, statistics, or cell biology, as required by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee), and six credit hours of thesis research (FD SC 891).
In addition, a minimum grade-point ratio of 3.0 is required to maintain
good academic standing and for graduation.
PhD students are required to pass a written and oral qualifying exam
administered by the advisory committee. PhD students are also required
to pass a final oral dissertation defense.
The Master of Forest Resources, a nonthesis degree, requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate coursework with at least 18 of the required hours selected from courses numbered 700 or above.
A formal thesis is required for the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework and six hours of research. The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a minimum of 16 credit hours of coursework and 18 hours of research. For both degrees, one-half of the semester hours must be selected from courses numbered 800 and above.
The student, with the guidance of the advisory committee, will selected elective courses (nine hours for the MS degree, 12 hours for the PhD degree) from the following: BIOCH 643, 816, 818, 821, 822, 828, 832, 890, GEN 640, 650, 670, 801, 803, 815, 830, 890.
MS candidates will present seminars (BIOCH (GEN) 851) twice, PhD candidates three times. All graduate students are required to attend GEN (BIOCH) 825 or deliver seminars (BIOCH (GEN) 851) every semester they are enrolled.
A minimum of six credit hours of research, culminating in a thesis, is required of master's candidates. Successful completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations will admit the doctoral students to candidacy for the PhD degree.
All students complete a curriculum that ensures a sound knowledge of the basic areas of microbiology including at least three of the following: bacterial physiology and metabolism, molecular genetics, pathogenic microbiology, virology, immunology and molecular medicine, or applied and environmental microbiology. The program is selected by the student with the guidance and approval of an advisory committee.
Candidates for the MS degree must complete 30 hours of graduate credit, including six hours of research, and present and defend a thesis based on original research.
Candidates for the PhD degree must complete a core curriculum and 18
credit hours of dissertation research and present and defend a dissertation
based on original research. Research disciplines include
biomedical research (pathogenic microbiology, immunology, gene therapy,
cancer, endocrinology); food safety (molecular biology and production of
bacteriocins); and environmental microbiology (bioremediation, rhizosphere
microbiology).
The MS degree in Packaging Science requires 30 hours of coursework, six of which are thesis research, and the completion of an acceptable MS thesis. In addition to PKGSC 891, students register for at least one credit of PKGSC 851.
The following courses offered by various departments represent possible electives for the student in packaging science: C M E 815, CH E 612, 804, EX ST 801, 802, FD SC 601, 602, 604, 606, 608, 810, 811, 812, G C 606, 607, 648, MKT 627, 630.
Candidates for the program in Plant and Environmental Sciences should have a strong undergraduate background in the biological, agricultural, and/or physical sciences as appropriate to their focus areas. Undergraduate curricula that may provide this background are botany, biology, chemistry, or one of the agricultural plant and soil environmental sciences such as agronomy, forest resources, or horticulture. Students with nontraditional backgrounds may need to complete some relevant undergraduate courses to supplement the graduate program.
Each student's degree program is tailored to his/her professional goals and is guided by an advisor and graduate committee with expertise appropriate to the student's area of specialization. All graduate students must select an advisor before admission.
Candidates for the MS degree must complete 24 credit hours of coursework and six hours of research, and they must present and defend a thesis based on original research. MS students who plan nonre-search-related careers in public gardening, landscape design, extension, consulting, or agribusiness may complete 30 credit hours of coursework and undertake a professional development/public service project option in lieu of thesis-related research. Interdisciplinary studies in plant health and integrated pest management are also available under this option.
A dissertation based on original research is required for the PhD degree. There is no specific credit hour requirement; the plan of coursework is based on the student's interests and dissertation emphasis, as determined in consultation with the major advisor and graduate committee.
Individual plans of study include courses from the following areas: biochemistry, biological sciences, botany, crop and soil environmental science, entomology, genetics, horticulture, and plant pathology as well as plant and environmental sciences.
Admission to either the master's program or the doctoral program requires acceptance by the University and the Graduate Student Admission Committee of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. This committee will base its acceptance recommendation to the Admissions Office on previous coursework, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, undergraduate background, and current research interests. Students are required to have completed a bachelor's degree, preferably in a natural science, with a minimum of 30 credit hours in natural sciences. In addition, an MS in natural resource biology or related area usually is preferred, but not required, for acceptance into the doctoral program. Students accepted without the appropriate course background will be required to make up these deficiencies as outlined by the Graduate Student Admission Committee and consistent with University admission policies.
Requirements for the MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology include 24 credit hours of coursework, six hours of research credits (W F B 891), an acceptable thesis based on original research, and satisfactory performance on a final oral examination. Additional coursework usually includes subjects such as experimental statistics, biological sciences, and forestry. Thesis research areas include aquaculture, conservation biology, upland and wetland wildlife biology, endangered species biology, freshwater fisheries science, and marine fisheries science.
There are no specific credit hour requirements beyond 30 credit hours of postbaccalaureate course-work and 19 hours of doctoral dissertation research for the PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology; however, the student's advisory committee will insist on a rigorous and appropriate program of study and research. Students are required to take, or have taken, at least two semesters of graduate statistics and two semesters of 800-level seminars in fisheries and wildlife science or related areas. Students must also have a minimum of one semester of professional experience, which will be evaluated by the student's advisory committee. Examples of appropriate professional experience are teaching assistantships, internships or cooperative study program participation, or natural resource agency employment. Other course requirements will be identified by the student's advisory committee and will include specific courses according to the elected emphasis area. The three emphasis areas are fisheries biology, wildlife biology, and conservation biology.
Research opportunities for graduate students are enhanced by cooperative
programs with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's Cooperative Research Unit at Clemson, Savannah River Ecology
Laboratory, Webb Wildlife Research Center, and Waddell Mariculture Center.
The department also is associated with the National Council for Air and
Stream Improvement Eastern Wildlife Program. The graduate program in Wildlife
Biology is accredited by the Southeastern Section of the Wildlife Society.
Students are encouraged to obtain the specific requirements for the dual degree from the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources as early as possible in their undergraduate program as a number of required courses have prerequisites not normally taken by Wildlife and Fisheries Biology majors. Enrollment guidelines and procedures can be found under Academic Regulations.
Applicants to the graduate degree programs in Zoology must have a bachelor's or master's degree and a sound background in biology. All students are expected to have completed inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, calculus, introductory biology, plant or animal diversity, genetics, cell or developmental biology, physiology, and ecology. Deficiencies (less than 18 hours total) may be remedied through appropriate coursework completed during the graduate program. Graduate credit is not normally awarded for remedial coursework. Students with more than 18 hours of deficiencies, including those with degrees outside of biology, are encouraged to contact the Department of Biological Sciences to discuss options for fulfilling coursework requirements in preparation for application to the MS and PhD programs.
Students seeking the Master of Science degree in Zoology may select either a thesis or nonthesis option. Requirements for the thesis option include 24 credit hours of coursework, six hours of research, an acceptable thesis, and satisfactory performance in a final oral examination. Requirements for the nonthesis option include 36 credit hours of coursework and satisfactory performance on a final comprehensive examination.
Requirements for the PhD degree include written and oral comprehensive examinations, research, a dissertation, and satisfactory performance in a final oral defense. Although there is no required coursework for the doctorate beyond 18 credit hours of research, breadth and depth of preparation in the life sciences are expected of each candidate.