Oct 12, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Information


 


Purpose of Catalog

This catalog gives a general description of Clemson University and provides prospective students with detailed information regarding the various colleges and departments within the University and curricula offered by the University. Inasmuch as the educational process necessitates change, the information and educational requirements in this catalog represent a flexible program that may be altered where such alterations are thought to be in the mutual interest of the University and its students.

The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract that may be accepted by students through registration and enrollment in the University. The University reserves the right to change without notice any fee, provision, offering, or requirement in this catalog and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation. The University further reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from the University for cause at any time.

Each curriculum shall be governed by the requirements in effect on the date of enrollment. If a student withdraws from the University and subsequently returns or does not remain continuously enrolled (summers excluded), the requirements in effect at the time of return will normally prevail.

Student Responsibility

All colleges and departments establish certain academic requirements that must be met before a degree is granted. Advisors, department chairs, and deans are available to help the student understand and meet these requirements; but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. If, at the end of a student’s course of study, the requirements for graduation have not been satisfied, the degree will not be granted. For this reason, it is important for students to acquaint themselves with all academic requirements throughout their college careers and to be responsible for completing all requirements within prescribed deadlines and time limits.

Vision Statement

Clemson University will be one of the nation’s top-20 public universities.

Mission Statement

Clemson University was established to fulfill our founder’s vision of a “high seminary of learning” to develop “the material resources of the State” for the people of South Carolina. Nurtured by an abiding land grant commitment, Clemson has emerged as a research university with a global vision. Our primary purpose is educating undergraduate and graduate students to think deeply about and engage in social, scientific, economic, and professional challenges of our times. The foundation of this mission is the generation, preservation, communication, and application of knowledge. The University also is committed to the personal growth of the individual and promotes an environment of good decision-making, healthy and ethical lifestyles, and tolerance and respect for others. Our distinctive character is shaped by a legacy of service, collaboration, and fellowship forged from and renewed by the spirit of Thomas Green Clemson’s covenant.

University Description

Clemson University is a selective, public, research university in a college-town setting. Clemson’s desire is to attract a capable, dedicated and diverse student body of approximately 25,800 undergraduate and graduate students, with priority to students from South Carolina. The University offers a wide array of high quality baccalaureate programs built around a distinctive core curriculum. Graduate, continuing education, doctoral and research programs contribute to the state of knowledge and to the economic future of the state, nation and world. The University provides bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 100 majors through seven academic colleges: the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities; the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business; the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences; the College of Education; and the College of Science.

Clemson combines the benefits of a major research university with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and individual student success. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, have opportunities for unique educational experiences throughout South Carolina, as well as in other countries. Experiential learning is a valued component of the Clemson experience, and students are encouraged through Creative Inquiry, internships and study abroad, to apply their learning beyond the classroom. Electronic delivery of courses and degree programs also provides a variety of learning opportunities. Clemson’s extended campus includes teaching sites in Greenville and Charleston, five research campuses and five public service centers throughout the state of South Carolina, as well as four international sites.

The University is committed to exemplary teaching, research and public service in the context of general education, student engagement and development, and continuing education. In all areas, the goal is to develop students’ communication and critical-thinking skills, ethical judgment, global awareness, and scientific and technological knowledge. The distinctive character of Clemson is reflected in the culture of collegiality and collaboration among faculty, students, staff, the administration and the University board.

History

When one man of wisdom and foresight can look beyond the despair of troubled times and imagine what could be, great things can happen. That is what the University’s founder, Thomas Green Clemson, was able to do in the post-Civil War days. He looked upon a South that lay in economic ruin, once remarking that “conditions are wretched in the extreme” and that “people are quitting the land.” Still, among the ashes he saw hope. Joined by his wife, Anna Calhoun Clemson, Mr. Clemson envisioned what could be possible if the South’s youth were given an opportunity to receive instruction in scientific agriculture and the mechanical arts. He once wrote, “The only hope we have for the advancement of agriculture (in the U.S.) is through the sciences, and yet there is not one single institution on this continent where a proper scientific education can be obtained.” When he was president of the Pendleton Farmers Society in 1866, Mr. Clemson served on a committee whose purpose was to promote the idea of founding an institution for “educating the people in the sciences” and “which will in time secure permanent prosperity.”

When he died on April 6, 1888, a series of events began that marked the start of a new era in higher education in the state of South Carolina, especially in the study of science, agriculture, and engineering. Mr. Clemson’s passing set the stage for the founding of the university that bears his name-the beginning of a true “people’s university,” which opened the doors of higher education to all South Carolinians, rich and poor alike. In his will, which he signed November 6, 1886, Mr. Clemson bequeathed the Fort Hill plantation and a considerable sum from his personal assets for the establishment of an educational institution of the kind he envisioned. He left a cash endowment of approximately $80,000, as well as the 814-acre Fort Hill estate, to South Carolina for such a college. The biggest obstacle in the creation of an agricultural college-the initial expense-was removed by Mr. Clemson’s bequest.

On November 27, 1889, Governor John Richardson signed the bill accepting Thomas Clemson’s gift. Soon after, a measure was introduced to establish the Clemson Agricultural College, with its trustees becoming custodians of Morrill Act and Hatch Act funds made available for agricultural education and research by federal legislative acts. The founding of Clemson Agricultural College supplanted the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanics in Columbia, which had been designated in 1880.

Thomas Green Clemson came to South Carolina when he married Anna Maria Calhoun, daughter of South Carolina’s famous statesman John C. Calhoun. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Clemson was educated at schools both in the United States and France, where he attended lectures at the Royal School of Mines, studied with prominent scientists in the private laboratories of the Sorbonne Royal College of France, and received his diploma as an assayer from the Royal Mint in Paris. Mr. Clemson, then in his mid-20s, returned to America greatly influenced by his European studies. He became a great advocate of the natural sciences, achieving a considerable reputation as a mining engineer and a theorist in agricultural chemistry. He also was a gifted writer whose articles were published in the leading scientific journals of his day, an artist and a diplomat who represented the U.S. government as chargé d’affaires to Belgium for almost seven years.

Mr. Clemson had a lifelong interest in farming and agricultural affairs. He served as the nation’s first superintendent of agricultural affairs (predecessor to the present secretary of agriculture position) and actively promoted the establishment and endowment of the Maryland Agricultural College in the 1850s. Though remembered today for these accomplishments, Thomas Clemson made his greatest historical contribution when, as a champion of formal scientific education, his life became intertwined with the destiny of educational and economic development in South Carolina. Although he never lived to see it, his dedicated efforts culminated in the founding of Clemson Agricultural College.

At the time of his death, Mr. Clemson was living at the Fort Hill homeplace, which today is a national historic landmark and provides a historic centerpiece for the Clemson University campus. He had inherited the house and plantation lands upon the death of Mrs. Clemson in 1875.

Clemson College formally opened in July 1893, with an enrollment of 446. From the beginning, the college was an all-male military school. It remained this way until 1955, when the change was made to “civilian” status for students and Clemson became a coeducational institution. In 1964, the college was renamed Clemson University as the state legislature and the state courts formally recognized the school’s expanded academic offerings, Ph.D. granting status and research pursuits. On November 27, 1989, the University observed the 100th anniversary of the state’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of Mr. Clemson’s bequest.

The enrollment of Clemson has grown from 446 students at the opening of the University to 27,341 for the first semester 2021-2022. Since the opening of the University, 157,615 students have been awarded bachelor’s degrees. During this same period, 426 associate degrees, 45,658 master’s, 812 education specialist, and 6,006 doctor’s degrees have been awarded, a total of 210,517 degrees.

Today, more than a century later, the University is much more than its founder ever could have imagined. With its diverse learning and research facilities, the University provides an educational opportunity not only for the people of the state, as Mr. Clemson dreamed, but for thousands of young men and women throughout the country and the world.

The Campus

The 1,400-acre Clemson University campus is sited on the former homestead of statesman John C. Calhoun. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to Lake Hartwell, the campus commands an excellent view of the mountains to the north and west, some of which attain an altitude of over 5,000 feet above mean sea level.

The Norfolk and Southern Railway and U.S. highways 76 and 123 provide easy access to the city of Clemson and to the University. Oconee County Airport is four miles from the library. Both Atlanta and Charlotte are two hours driving time away.

Campus architecture is a pleasing blend of traditional and modern facilities enhanced by a beautiful landscape of towering trees, grassy expanses, and flowering plants. Academic, administrative, and student service buildings on campus represent an insured value of $627 million. Clemson University’s real estate holdings include more than 32,000 acres of forestry and agricultural lands throughout the state, the majority of which are dedicated to Clemson’s research and public-service missions.

Fort Hill, the former home of John C. Calhoun inherited by Thomas Clemson, and the Hanover House are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are open to the public. The campus also has two recognized historic districts.

The Strom Thurmond Institute houses the institute offices, Senator Thurmond’s papers and memorabilia, and the special collections of the Cooper Library, including papers of John C. Calhoun and James Byrnes, two of the most important South Carolinians since 1787. The institute is a part of an instructional and public-service district that includes the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts and the Madren Center for Continuing Education. Clemson offers limited graduate and undergraduate coursework in Greenville, SC. Also located in Greenville is the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Accreditation

Clemson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, education specialist, and doctorate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Clemson University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). [Edited February 24, 2023.]

Curricular Accreditation

Curricula are accredited by the following:

  • Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • American Camp Association (ACA)
  • American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • American Council for Construction Education
  • American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
  • Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, formerly NCATE)
  • Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
  • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
  • Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC)
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
  • Institute of Food Technologists Higher Education Review Board (IFT HERB)
  • International Literacy Association (ILA)
  • Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB)
  • National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
  • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
  • National Recreation and Park Association (COAPRT)
  • National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
  • PGA of America
  • Planning Accreditation Board
  • Society of American Foresters

Documentation of accreditation is available in the college deans’ offices.

Advising Policy

Academic advising is an on-going educational process that connects the student to the University. Academic advising supports the University’s mission of preparing the student for learning beyond the confines of the academy. Academic advisors represent and interpret University policies and procedures to the student and help the student navigate the academic and organizational paths of the institution.

To ensure that students receive both personal and professional assistance in navigating through curricula and University requirements toward degree completion and graduation, each student is assigned to an academic advisor (either professional or faculty advisor). Advisors are available to assist students with issues related to degree planning, course selection, withdrawals, degree requirements, academic policies, academic difficulty, campus resources, internships/practicum opportunities, and career/graduate school planning. Students are responsible for adhering to academic policies, preparing for advising meetings and taking ownership for their educational experience. Students receive academic advising materials from their advisors during pre-registration advising meetings. Students uncertain of their assigned advisor are encouraged to seek assistance from the departmental office/advising center for their major. For more information, visit http://www.clemson.edu/academics/advising/.

Libraries

The Libraries on Clemson’s main campus are R.M. Cooper Library, Gunnin Architecture Library, Special Collections and Archives, and the Education Media Center. Other facilities include Charleston Architecture Library and the Depot, which houses remote storage and some staff. We also have collections in the Chemistry Reading Room in Hunter Hall and Campbell Graduate Engineering Center at CU-ICAR.

The Libraries’ website at http://libraries.clemson.edu provides access to a multitude of information resources, including library services, the library catalog, hundreds of databases, more than 65,000 eJournals, more than 400,000 eBooks, as well as downloadable audio and video.

R.M. Cooper Library, Clemson’s main library, is a six-floor building located at the center of campus. Cooper Library is home to the Adobe Digital Studio, the Center for Geospatial Technologies, CCIT’s Support Center, and a Starbucks, as well as computer labs and a convenience store. Most of the books and journals are located there, as well as government publications, microforms and media. Services include an information desk where students can check out materials and technology, and receive research assistance. Also provided in Cooper are interlibrary loan, class instruction, reservable study rooms, and collaborative study spaces.

Gunnin Architecture Library in Lee Hall contains collections that focus on architecture, city and regional planning, construction science, landscape architecture, and visual arts. Special Collections and Archives, on the lower level of the Strom Thurmond Institute, houses the rare book collection, University Archives, and many manuscript collections, including the papers of John C. Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson, James F. Byrnes and Strom Thurmond. It also holds the papers of the directors of the National Park Service, as well as numerous unique digital collections. The Education Media Center in Tillman Hall is a curriculum laboratory and materials center that primarily supports the students, faculty and staff of the Eugene T. Moore College of Education at Clemson University.

Total holdings for the library system include more than 1.6 million items, including books, periodicals,  government publications and patents, musical recordings, DVDs and videos, audiobooks, maps, and microforms.

Computing Resources

Clemson Computing and Information Technology (CCIT) provides comprehensive services to students and employees, including laptop support, training, printing and plotting, computer repair, software licenses, wireless access points, network and information security, course management system and more.

Public access computers across campus contain high-end Windows PCs or Macs, and laser printing equipment. Students receive a specified quota of pages and plots per semester in these labs. Any printing and plotting beyond the limit is charged to the student’s TigerOne account. Lab computers provide the same access as personal student laptops using the Clemson software image. Software available in the labs includes almost every piece of software students need to complete their coursework at Clemson. Clemson provides site licenses for several software packages, including Microsoft and Adobe Creative Cloud.

In addition to lab computers, CCIT recently launched CUapps, powered by Citrix, to provide students access to software from any device, at any time, from any location. By installing the Citrix Workspace desktop application, or by using Citrix web access, students have the ability to use applications without having to install them locally on devices. Learn more about CUapps at ccit.clemson.edu/cuapps.

Visit the CCIT website for more details before purchasing expensive software that may be provided for all students.

Getting Help

The Customer Support Center, located on the second floor of Cooper Library, serves as a central point of contact for general computing assistance, laptop support and repair, and consulting services. Students may call or text 864-656-3494, e-mail ITHELP@clemson.edu, walk in during hours of operation or chat with a representative on the CCIT website at http://www.clemson.edu/ccit.

E-mail and Accessing Your Account

Each student’s e-mail address is username@clemson.edu. CCIT automatically creates a Google Workspace for Education account at http://g.clemson.edu for all incoming students. Google Workspace offers full e-mail functionality and large data storage, plus Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites. Google Mail is the recommended student e-mail system, and it allows students to use Google’s e-mail with their Clemson e-mail address while at Clemson and following graduation. Student e-mail accounts (username@ clemson.edu) are automatically forwarded to their Google Mail accounts (username@g.clemson.edu). Students can change and verify their e-mail forwarding preferences at http://www.clemson.edu/email_forwarding.

Computer Training

CCIT provides an online learning management software system called Percipio for all users that offers a comprehensive library of books, audio and video courses at clemson.percipio.com. Percipio covers a wide range of software, skills and concepts featuring customized learning paths for teams or individuals. CCIT also offers live training for several Clemson systems, such as geospatial technologies and research computing. If other specialized training is needed, please contact ITHELP@clemson.edu.

Wired and Wireless Access

The university computer network is accessible through wired network connections in all on-campus residences or through the University’s extensive wireless network, which provides coverage to most areas of campus. Eduroam is Clemson’s primary wireless network, allowing students to connect securely with their Clemson email address (log in with username@clemson.edu) and password. Visit the CCIT website for more information and complete coverage details.

Security

Clemson University requires all users to run virus protection and install the latest operating system patches on their computers for the security of all network users. Clemson’s recommended anti-virus software is available at https://ccit.clemson.edu/cybersecurity/how-to/anti-virus-software.

Laptop Program

Laptops are required for all undergraduate and MBA graduate students. While students may bring any laptop that meets the minimum specifications, recommended laptops are posted on the CCIT website. Clemson University works with vendors to offer recommended laptops with custom warranties at special prices. Students with recommended laptops receive priority support on campus for both software and hardware issues as a part of their purchase package. Repair technicians on campus can complete warranty repairs on these laptops. Students with recommended laptops kept in Hardware Repair for an extended period of time may be able to check out a loaner laptop if available. CCIT also services and repairs many other brands of computers for a fee, or under manufacturer’s warranty, if applicable.

Additional Information

Additional information, including information about Google Workspace for Education; computing and research, software licensing; IT e-mail alerts; ClemsonGuest wireless access service; the Acceptable Use Policy for Students; and the Campus Computer Store, is available at http://www.clemson.edu/ccit or by e-mailing ITHELP@clemson.edu.

Clemson University Honors College

Established in 1962, the Clemson University Honors College strives to enrich the educational experience of highly motivated, academically talented students by providing opportunities for scholarship and research not always available to undergraduates. Honors students become part of a dynamic academic community dedicated to the study of ideas and the life of the mind.

Honors students are offered the opportunity to take a wide variety of specialized honors courses. These include a series of intensive honors seminars emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and contemporary issues; and numerous courses satisfying general education, major or minor requirements. Honors students are also encouraged to pursue research-based programs leading to departmental honors.

First-year admission to the Honors College requires the submission of an application separate from and in addition to the application for undergraduate admission to Clemson University. Admission is competitive and is based, in part, on the quality of the applicant pool and the availability of space for new first-year students in the Honors College.

Currently-enrolled Clemson students may apply for membership if they are full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates and have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher. In general, students must have at least four semesters remaining to complete their degree requirements.

Additional special opportunities for honors students include study abroad programs in London, Paris, and Berlin; EUREKA!, a summer research program for entering freshmen, and the Dixon Fellows Program, which promotes cultural and intellectual engagement with leading faculty members. Each of these programs is competitive and requires a separate application.

The Honors College works closely with Clemson’s Office of Major Fellowships to prepare students for nationally competitive fellowships and awards, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Fulbright Scholarships and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

In addition to the intellectual challenge of Honors, advantages of membership include priority course scheduling, honors residential college (on a space-available basis), extended library loan privileges, a series of discussion programs, and special lectures and cultural events. Visit www.clemson.edu/cuhonors for more information.

Cooperative Education Program

The Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) is an academic engaged-learning program and is one of three units which compose the Center for Career and Professional Development. The program provides students with an opportunity to alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of paid, discipline-specific experience as they work and learn under mentors in their fields of study. Co-op assignments add a contextual dimension to the curriculum and challenge students to think critically and creatively as they engage in problem-solving activities and projects within the work setting. Through this program, companies serve as teaching partners of the University and the co-op experience becomes an integral part of the student’s education. The student’s experience is closely monitored/evaluated by the program’s academic staff throughout his/her participation. Cooperative Education, as the term implies, represents a collaborative effort between the University and participating companies.

Students may qualify for the Cooperative Education Program after satisfactorily completing 30 credit hours of academic coursework and declaring a major. Transfer students may qualify after one semester of coursework at the University. Students normally enter the program as sophomores or juniors and complete from two to five rotations in a co-op assignment. Engineering majors must do a minimum of three rotations to complete the program. Participation in the program is a curricular requirement for some majors, such as Packaging Science. Packaging Science students normally complete two back-to-back co-op rotations during a six-month period.

Students enrolled in the program register for the appropriate co-op course number (e.g. COOP 1010, 1020, etc.) for each rotation and receive a grade of Pass or No Pass. Students receive academic recognition on the transcript for each co-op course, although no credit hours are awarded. Students pay a program participation fee each academic term that coincides with a co-op rotation/course. In responding to questions about student status related to health insurance, taxes, loans, etc., the University classifies a student on a co-op rotation as a full-time continuing student.

Additional information is available at http://career.clemson.edu/cooperative_education/ or by calling 864- 656-3150. The program shares space with its partner, the Michelin Career Center, located on the third floor of the Hendrix Student Center.

Internship Programs

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates classroom knowledge with career-related work experience. Internships can be a vital link between college majors and the exploration of professional opportunities. Students are able to participate in on-campus internships, domestic internships, and international internships. Specific requirements vary depending on the type of internship and a student’s major. Internships are typically offered for a specific period of time during the spring or fall semesters (14-16 weeks) or during the summer (10-14 weeks). Depending on the type of internship, students are strongly advised to begin their searches at least four to eight months in advance. Students are also advised to contact their departments, visit with a career counselor, or attend a workshop at the beginning of each semester in order to determine all available internship opportunities.

Departments/Majors

Internships typically involve a structured project with a professional mentor that relates to a student’s major or career interests. Credit bearing internship courses may be available through a student’s academic college or department. Some majors may also require students to complete an internship as part of the curriculum. Further inquiries about departmental internship requirements should be directed to the specific department.

Center for Career and Professional Development

Center for Career and Professional Development
The Center for Career and Professional Development offers a variety of services to help students identify internship experiences. In addition to providing counseling and resources that aid in the internship search process, the Center also offers a three-credit international internship course (INT 3010), and part-time and full-time zero-credit internship courses (which are denoted on students’ academic transcripts). The full-time INT courses allow students to maintain their University enrollment status while interning. Students enrolled in off-campus internships must register for the appropriate course and section number (e.g. INT 2010) for each rotation to receive a grade of Pass or No Pass. Students pay a participation fee each academic term that coincides with an internship rotation. Additional information is available at http://career.clemson.edu or by calling 864-656-6000.

UPIC

The University Professional Internship and Co-op (UPIC) Program offers students on-campus professional learning experiences. Students have the opportunity to work with Clemson faculty and staff on Clemson’s main campus, as well as other sites across the state, while receiving an academic internship notation on their transcripts. Enrollment in the appropriate INT course and payment of the corresponding fee is a requirement of the program (e.g. INT 1510). In order to be eligible for the program, a student must have completed at least one full semester at Clemson University and be an enrolled and matriculating undergraduate student in good standing. Available internships are typically listed in ClemsonJobLink halfway through the semester prior to the experience. Additional information is available at http://career.clemson.edu or by calling the program office at 864-656-0282.

Clemson Study Abroad Programs

Through the Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad at Clemson, students may choose from a variety of programs to enhance their academic career. Programs are offered throughout the year for varying durations and include opportunities to study abroad, participate in internships abroad, and conduct research abroad, among others. Education abroad opportunities exist for students of all academic disciplines at Clemson. Students can participate in faculty-directed programs, approved third-party provider programs, or exchange programs, all of which offer students the opportunity to earn coursework credit as part of the experience. All students participating in academic education abroad experiences maintain their Clemson University enrollment during the term abroad and pay a study abroad fee.

Students interested in pursuing an education abroad experience are encouraged to start planning early. General application deadlines are October 1 for spring programs and March 1 for fall, academic year, and summer programs.

Interested students should contact the Pam Hendrix Center for Education Abroad to explore opportunities. Additional information is available at www.clemson.edu/studyabroad or by emailing abroad@clemson.edu.

Reserve Officers Training Corps

Air Force and Army

The departments of the Air Force and the Army maintain ROTC units at Clemson University. Their mission is to produce officers of high quality for technical and nontechnical careers in the U.S. Air Force and Army. Two-, three-, and four-year programs are available. The four-year program consists of the basic course for freshmen and sophomores and the advanced course for juniors and seniors.

Scholarships, available to selected ROTC students, pay for tuition, books, and laboratory expenses, in addition to a variable stipend ranging from $300-$500 (depending on their group) per month during the school year. Nonscholarship advanced Cadets also receive a stipend. Basic course credit may be awarded to students having prior military service. Reserve or National Guard duty can be guaranteed by the U.S. Army.

Cadets who complete the Advanced or Professional Course and satisfy commissioning requirements are appointed Second Lieutenants. Ample opportunity exists for graduate study in both services, with temporary deferments possible.

Honor Organizations

Clemson University has a number of academic honorary societies that recognize outstanding scholarship by students, faculty, and staff:

Alpha Epsilon Delta (Premedical)
Alpha Epsilon Lambda (Graduate Students)
Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshmen)
Alpha Pi Mu (Industrial Engineering)
Alpha Zeta (Agriculture)
Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting and Financial Management)
Beta Gamma Sigma (Business)
Blue Key (Juniors and Seniors)
Calhoun Honors Society (Honors College)
Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering)
Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Eta Sigma Gamma (Health Education)
Gamma Epsilon Tau (Graphic Communications)
Golden Key National Honor Society (Juniors/Seniors)
Kappa Delta Pi (Education)
Keramos (Ceramic and Materials Engineering)
Lambda Pi Eta (Communication Studies)
Mortar Board (Seniors)
Mu Beta Psi (Music)
Mu Kappa Tau (Marketing)
Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership)
Order of Omega (Seniors)
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Psi (Textiles)
Phi Sigma Pi (Honorary)
Pi Delta Phi (French)
Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering)
Psi Chi (Psychology)
Sigma Tau Delta (English)
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering)
Tau Sigma Delta
Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Computer Science)
Xi Sigma Pi (Forestry)

Clemson University Experiment Station

The Clemson University Experiment Station is part of a nationwide system of scientists working to improve the quality of life for people in their home states, the nation, and the world.

Both undergraduate and graduate students work with researchers to develop science-based information needed to address issues such as agricultural productivity and profitability, economic and community development, environmental conservation, food safety and nutrition and youth development. Clemson scientists have been involved in agricultural and forestry research since the University was founded in 1889. Today research is conducted in state-of-the-art laboratories, on forests on Clemson’s campus, and at six research and education centers strategically located in the state’s distinct soil and climate regions.

Clemson researchers collaborate with colleagues on studies that span the globe. These include the genetic structure and functions for plants and animals, the impact of urban sprawl on the environment, techniques to reduce bullying in schools, the active ingredients in medicinal plants, and the use of nanotechnology in food packaging to detect contamination. Their work has produced more than 100 new varieties of food and fiber crops and more than 40 patents. Each year work is conducted on more than 150 projects funded through federal, state and private sources, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Science Foundation, the South Carolina General Assembly, and corporate partners.

Clemson University Foundation

The Clemson University Foundation is a nonprofit organization that solicits, manages, and administers gifts from private sources for academic programs at Clemson University.

Chartered in 1933, the foundation is a primary component of the Development and Alumni Relations Division of the University. There are 27 elected members of the Board of Directors, of which four are automatic directors; six ex officio directors; and seven honorary directors.

The foundation operates through committees that  report via an executive committee to the full board. These include the Development, Finance, Governance, Investment, and Nominations Committees. Fund-raising is in concert with the University and through the Development Committee. This includes solicitation of annual, major, planned, corporate and foundation gifts in support of University priorities and coordination of college-based fund-raising initiatives. Organizations affiliated with the Foundation include the Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation, the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation, the Wallace F. Pate Foundation for Environmental Research and Education, and Clemson University Continuing Education/Conference Complex Corporation. As of June 30, 2021, the Clemson University Foundation manages over 2,100 endowments totaling approximately $1.009 billion.

Clemson Alumni Association

The Clemson Alumni Association’s action phrase is “Your Lifelong Connection to Clemson.” Its mission is to serve, to inform, to involve. The Alumni Association works for the more than 112,000 alumni located around the world, sponsoring programs to provide a link between students of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

In conjunction with volunteers and traveling University staff, Clemson Clubs and Clemson activities are conducted around the world. Alumni are kept informed through the award-winning Clemson World magazine and at alumni.clemson.edu.

Students, alumni, and constituency programs, as well as publications and electronic resources, form the basis for an array of services offered to alumni, students, parents, and friends of the University.

All services of the Alumni Association are coordinated out of the Alumni Center, a campus focal point built, furnished, and equipped entirely by gifts from alumni specifically for that purpose. The University Visitors Center, a gift of the Class of 1944, is adjacent to the Alumni Center and is an excellent stop for anyone visiting or returning to campus.

Alumni-sponsored awards programs, such as the Distinguished Service Award, Alumni Fellows, professorships, scholarships, and awards for outstanding teaching, research, and public service, are among the prestigious awards given by the Clemson Alumni Association.

Alumni employees coordinate the Alumni Career Services program and the activities of the open-membership student organization, Student Alumni Association. From the Welcome Back Festival held each August to the Senior Picnic held each April, the Alumni Association provides a lifelong connection to Clemson.

Campus Visits and Tours

One of the best ways to discover all Clemson has to offer is through a visit to the campus. The Class of 1944 Visitors Center, located in the heart of Clemson’s campus, helps define the Clemson experience for prospective students. Regular hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and select Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Hours vary according to the academic calendar, university holidays, and the home football schedule.

Walking tours, guided by volunteer student members of the University Guide Association, are available by reservation. Tour schedules also vary based on the academic calendar, university holidays, and the home football schedule. Tours are conducted rain or shine, last about two hours, and include an admissions presentation at the beginning. Reservations are required and can be arranged online at clemson.edu/visit or by calling 864-656-4789.

English Fluency

Clemson University has established a policy to assure that all instructional activities are conducted by individuals possessing appropriate proficiency in written and oral use of the English language. Instructional activities include lectures, recitation or discussion sessions, and laboratories. The individuals to be certified include full-time and part-time faculty, graduate teachers of record, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate laboratory assistants for whom English is not the first language.

A student who experiences difficulty with an instructor’s written or oral English and who wishes to seek relief must do so prior to the seventh meeting of a 50-minute class and prior to the fifth meeting of a 90-minute class in regular semesters. In summer sessions, relief must be sought prior to the third class meeting.

The procedure is summarized as follows:

a. The student must quickly bring the problem to the attention of the instructor’s department chair either directly or through a faculty member such as the student’s advisor. That department chair will assess the complaint and, if deemed valid, offer an appropriate remedy within two days.

b. A student who is not satisfied with the department chair’s decision or the relief suggested, may appeal within two days to a five-member hearing panel comprised of three faculty members and two students appointed by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Students with questions should contact the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, 864-656-3942.

Equal Opportunity/Non Discrimination Affirmative Action

Clemson University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, genetic information or protected activity (e.g., opposition to prohibited discrimination or participation in any complaint process, etc.) in employment, educational programs and activities, admissions and financial aid.

Clemson University’s policy of Non-Discrimination is intended to meet responsibilities under Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act 1964, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Violence Against Women Act, the SC Pregnancy Accommodations Act, and applicable provisions of the South Carolina Human Affairs Law.

Clemson University conducts its programs and activities involving admission, access, treatment, employment, teaching, research, and public service in a nondiscriminatory manner as prescribed by Federal and State laws and regulations.

In conformance with University policy and pursuant to Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, and South Carolina Human Affairs Law, Clemson University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Inquiries concerning the above may be addressed to the following:

Assistant Vice President
Office for Access and Equity
223 Brackett Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634

SC Human Affairs Commission
Columbia, SC 29201

Office for Civil Rights
Department of Education
Washington, DC 20201

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Washington, DC 20507

Family Privacy Protection Act

The South Carolina Family Privacy Protection Act (SC Code 30-2-10 et. seq.) defines personal information as “…information that identifies or describes an individual including, but not limited to, an individual’s photograph or digitized image, social security number, date of birth, driver’s identification number, name, home address, home telephone number, medical or disability information, education level, financial status, bank account(s) number(s), account or identification number issued by and/or used by any federal or state governmental agency or private financial institution, employment history, height, weight, race, other physical details, signature, biometric identifiers, and any credit records or reports.”

Some of the information in documents which students provide to Clemson University may be personal information as defined above. Pursuant to Section 30-2-40 B, students are advised that this information may be subject to public scrutiny or release. They are also advised that personally-identifiable information contained in these educational records falls under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA). If students elect to opt out of the release of directory information under FERPA, the University will not release any personal information except as otherwise required or authorized by law.

Visit http://www.clemson.edu/privacypolicy.html for additional information.

Harassment

In general, harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct, based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, disability, status as a military veteran, genetic information or protected activity (e.g., opposition to prohibited discrimination or participation in the statutory complaint process), that unreasonably interferes with the person’s work or educational performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment. Examples may include, but are not limited to, epithets, slurs, jokes or other verbal, graphic or physical conduct.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (amending the Higher Education Act of 1965) is a federal gender equity law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence and other forms of nonconsensual sexual misconduct, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited under this law.

The entire text of the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and additional information on Title IX and sexual harassment can be obtained from the Office of Access and Equity, 223 Brackett Hall, (864) 656-3181 or at https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/access/policies.html.

Information Resources for Students

Clemson University computing resources are the property of Clemson University, to be used for university-related business. Students have no expectation of privacy when utilizing university computing resources, even if the use is for personal purposes. The university reserves the right to inspect, without notice, the contents of computer files regardless of medium, the contents of electronic mailboxes and computer conferencing systems, systems output such as printouts, and to monitor network communication when

  1. It is considered reasonably necessary to maintain or protect the integrity, security or functionality of university or other computer resources or to protect the university from liability;
  2. There is reasonable cause to believe that the users have violated this policy or otherwise misused computing resources;
  3. An account appears to be engaged in unusual or unusually excessive activity;
  4. It is otherwise required or permitted by law.

Any suspected violations of this policy or any other misuse of computer resources by students normally should be referred to the Office of Community and Ethical Standards. That office will investigate the allegations and take appropriate disciplinary action. Violations of law related to misuse of computing resources may be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Notwithstanding the above, Clemson Computing and Information Technology may temporarily suspend, block or restrict access to an account, independent of university disciplinary procedures, when it appears reasonably necessary to do so in order to protect the integrity, security or functionality of university or other computer resources, to protect the university from liability, or where the emotional or physical well-being of any person is immediately threatened. When CCIT unilaterally takes such action, it will immediately notify the account holder of its actions and the reason for them in writing. The account holder may appeal the action taken by CCIT in writing to the Chief Information Officer.

Access will be restored to the account holder whenever the appropriate investigatory unit of the university determines that the protection of the integrity, security or functionality of university or other computing resources has been restored and the safety and well being of all individuals can reasonably be assured, unless access is to remain suspended as a result of formal disciplinary action imposed through the Office of Community and Ethical Standards or as a result of legal action.

Use of University computing resources, including network facilities, account numbers, data storage media, printers, plotters, microcomputer systems, and software for computing activities other than those authorized by the University is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized use of such resources is regarded as a criminal act in the nature of theft, and violators are subject to suspension, expulsion, and civil and criminal prosecution.

Use of university computing resources, including network facilities, account numbers, data storage media, printers, plotters, microcomputer systems, and software for computing activities other than those authorized by the university is strictly prohibited. Unauthorized use of such resources is regarded as a criminal act in the nature of theft and violators are subject to suspension, expulsion, and civil and criminal prosecution.

The following are examples of misuse of computing resources:

  1. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or alteration of any licensed software. This includes software licensed by the university and licensed software accessed using the computing networks.
  2. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any computing resource or data, or attempting to disrupt the normal operation of any computing resource or network - at Clemson or anywhere on the Internet,
  3. Attempting to use another student’s or employee’s computer account or data, without their permission.
  4. Using the university electronic mail system to attack other computer systems, falsify the identity of the source of electronic mail messages. Sending harassing, obscene or other threatening electronic mail. Attempting to read, delete, copy or modify the electronic mail of others without their authorization. Sending, without official university authorization, “for-profit” messages, chain letters or other unsolicited “junk” mail.
  5. Knowingly infecting any computing resource with a software virus.
  6. Tampering with the university computer network or building wiring or installing any type of electronic equipment or software that could be used to capture or change information intended for someone else.
  7. Participating in a “denial of service” attack on any other computer, whether on or off campus.
  8. Using university computing or network resources for personal gain or illegal activities such as theft, fraud, copyright infringement, piracy (e.g., sound or video recording), or distribution of child pornography or obscenities.

Patents and Copyrights

All students working on sponsored projects or those who substantially use Clemson University resources are subject to the Clemson University Intellectual Property Policy.

Undergraduate Students generally own patentable inventions and copyrightable works they create during their time at Clemson.

Clemson may gain an ownership interest in student-created intellectual property if the invention or copyrightable work is:

  1. Created under a sponsored research project (faculty-led research, senior design).
  2. Created while providing paid services to Clemson (employed as a student worker, intern).
  3. Created under a project requiring a student to pre-assign his/her rights to a third party or Clemson (subject to a “Student Participation Agreement”).
  4. Created using pre-existing intellectual property where background IP rights are owned or obligated to a third-party (Research Institution or Industry collaborator).

For intellectual property created under a group project, joint ownership by the team members will be assumed unless a prior written agreement exists amongst the team.The Clemson University Intellectual Property policy can be found here: https://media.clemson.edu/research/technology-transfer/ip-policy.pdf. For more information regarding intellectual property or technology transfer at Clemson University, please visit: http://curf.clemson.edu/.