Degrees conferred

Professional degrees conferred by the University include: Education Specialist; Master of Agricultural Education; Master of Architecture; Master of Arts in Teaching; Master of Business Administration; Master of City and Regional Planning; Master of Construction Science and Management; Master of Education; Master of Engineering; Master of Fine Arts; Master of Forest Resources; Master of Human Resource Development; Master of Landscape Architecture; Master of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management; Master of Professional Accountancy; Master of Public Administration; and Master of Real Estate Development.

Research degrees conferred by the University include: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy.

Dismissal

Policy: A graduate student may be dismissed from the Graduate School at any time for failure to maintain an adequate academic status or to maintain satisfactory progress. Adequate academic status is a 3.0 cumulative grade point ratio in all coursework attempted since admission to the Graduate School, including undergraduate coursework taken as required prerequisites or corequisites. Satisfactory progress includes work on research, theses, dissertations, qualifying or comprehensive examinations and/or required projects. Notification of dismissal is sent to the student by the Graduate School.

Procedure for department: At the end of each semester, program coordinators are contacted to document the desired action to be taken on students with grade point averages below 3.0 - either those who failed to remedy a previous probation or those newly added to the list of students on probation. Program coordinators are asked to identify to the Graduate School the level of probation (PB-1; PB-2; or PB-3) to be assigned to each student. A student recommended for dismissal by the program coordinator will receive a letter of dismissal signed by the dean of the Graduate School. Note that a student may appeal a dismissal if he/she believes the dismissal to be unfair or improper.

Dismissal, appeal

Policy: It is the policy of the Graduate School to respond to all students who request review of the decisions of the faculty of the academic programs to dismiss students currently enrolled if they feel the dismissal decision was made unfairly or improperly. Appeals are heard by the Graduate Admissions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee.
Procedure for student:
1. An appeal of continuing enrollment (dismissal) must be submitted in writing by the graduate student within 30 days of the date of the official letter received from the Graduate School indicating dismissal.
2. The student should submit the written statement requesting the appeal on Form GS-Appeal and provide evidence that the dismissal decision was unfairly or improperly rendered. Any documentation for the committee to consider should be attached to this form.
3. Within three days of receipt, the Graduate School will make available to the committee the student's appeal request, the student's Enrolled Services' file, the recommendation for dismissal and any relevant documents provided by the student. The Graduate School will also provide the graduate program coordinator with a copy of the student's appeal request within the same time frame.
4. The Graduate School will identify the earliest hearing date, will schedule the meeting, reserve the room and notify all parties of the time and location of the hearing.
5. The Graduate School's dean's designee will attend the hearings to provide procedural guidance but will have no vote in the decision of the committee.
6. The student will be called in first by the chair of the committee to present his/her case. Following conclusion of the student's presentation, he/she will be excused.
7. The faculty representing the graduate program will be called in next by the chair of the committee to present the rationale of the program for recommending dismissal. The faculty may bring to the meeting any relevant documents to share with the members of the committee. These documents will be retained with the case in accordance with the University's regulations on retention.
8. The committee will make a decision on the case, which will be communicated immediately to the student and the program coordinator. This communication will be in the form of an e-mail notification. A letter, under the signature of the Graduate School, will also be mailed to each party.
9. Appeals of the decisions of the committee may be made by the student to the dean of the Graduate School within 10 days of the decision of the committee.
10. Within 15 days, the graduate dean will render a final decision for the University on appeals and will communicate the same to each party and to the members of the committee.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, comprehensive examinations

Policy: Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination must occur no more than five years and at least six months prior to the date of graduation. For examinations consisting of several parts (for example, a written plus an oral, or a written in cumulative format), the date of completion will coincide with the date of the last examination activity. The time span from the beginning to the end of the examination, however, must not exceed 12 months.

Students may attempt the comprehensive examination only on the recommendation of their advisory committees after completion of most of the required coursework. This examination must be administered by the Clemson University program faculty offering the degree. The examining committee may be the student's advisory committee or a standing committee appointed according to published program policies. A majority decision is required; dissenting members of the examining committee may forward a minority report to the Graduate School. The student's performance on this examination will determine whether he/she will be recommended for admission to candidacy for the degree. The student has five calendar years after the date of the completion of the comprehensive examination to complete all other degree requirements. A student who completes all the degree requirements will be invited to participate in the next scheduled graduation ceremony.

Should the student fail to pass the comprehensive examination, he/she may be given a second opportunity if so recommended by the examining committee. Failure of any portion that negates further examination will be reported as a failure of the examination. A second failure will result in the student being declared ineligible to receive the PhD or EdD degree at Clemson University.

Doctoral students who have passed the comprehensive examination may not then use those exams to satisfy the requirement of comprehensive examinations in a new major or degree.

Procedure for student: Prior to scheduling the comprehensive examination, all doctoral students must have selected an advisory committee and have filed an approved graduate degree curriculum (Form GS2) with the Graduate School. Comprehensive examinations are scheduled in the departments. Students should consult with the graduate program coordinator and major advisor for appropriate advice on preparing for and scheduling the comprehensive examination.
Procedure for committee: Within three weeks of the examination, the chair of the advisory committee will inform the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall, of the result of the comprehensive exam, via form GS5-D.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, coursework

The advisory committee aids the student in developing a degree curriculum which includes the selection of specific courses and their sequence. Although no minimum coursework requirements exist for most doctoral degrees, advisory committees are encouraged to require courses other than those that directly support the dissertation research. Work in the minor field or fields, if required, normally comprises 12-24 hours in courses carrying graduate credit. A minimum of 18 hours of doctoral research is required. Should the direction of study or research interest change, the student may request the appointment of a new advisor. Coursework leading to the Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree is planned to give the student a comprehensive knowledge of his/her field of specialization and a mastery of the methods of research. The degree is not awarded solely on the basis of coursework completed, residence, or other routine requirements. The final basis of granting the degree is the student's grasp of the subject matter of a broad field of study, competence in planning and conducting research, and ability to express him/herself adequately and professionally orally and in writing.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, dissertation

Candidates for doctoral degrees receive academic credit for conducting research and preparing a dissertation under the direction of the research advisor. A dissertation, mandatory for all candidates for the PhD or EdD degree, requires 18 hours of doctoral research (991) exclusive of any research credits earned at the master's level.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, dissertation defense

The candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Education degree must pass an oral examination - the dissertation defense - at least three weeks prior to the commencement at which he/she plans to obtain the degree. The student's advisory committee will administer the examination. Members of the faculty as well as the deans of the Graduate School are invited to attend the examination. A student who fails a dissertation defense may be allowed a second opportunity only with the recommendation of the advisory committee. Failure of the second dissertation defense will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.
Procedure for the committee: Within five days of the defense, Form GS7-D is submitted to the Enrolled Student Services Office by the chair of the student's dissertation committee and indicates if the student has successfully passed the dissertation defense.

Doctor of Philosophy degree, foreign language requirement

Doctoral programs that require a foreign language will communicate this information to the students through the graduate student handbook and will specify the requirements that must be met.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, off-campus research

Doctoral research may be conducted away from the Clemson University campus under special circumstances. If such research is to be performed under the immediate direction of a Clemson University faculty member acting as dissertation advisor and supervisor, the following additional requirements will be made: 1) Written consent and research plan-The student must have the written consent of his/her dissertation advisor, full advisory committee, department chair, college dean and the graduate dean. Prior to departure from campus, the student must submit a written plan for the research effort to the advisory committee for approval. The plan should include a discussion of the problem and intended scope of the investigation and should be structured in terms of a specific time frame. 2) Statement for the organization where research will be conducted-The advisory committee may require a statement from an appropriate officer of the organization at which the student will be located agreeing to the student's plan to complete dissertation research using the organization's equipment and facilities; the apportioning of at least 25 percent or other appropriate amount of the student's employment hours to dissertation research; the organization's release of patent rights or copyrights arising from discoveries or concepts that evolve during the course of the student's doctoral research. 3) Travel-The student may be required to travel to the Clemson campus, not at the expense of the University, to meet with the dissertation advisor and advisory committee as often as the committee deems necessary.  4) Continuous enrollment-The student must maintain continuous enrollment at Clemson University while the research is in progress. It is the student's responsibility to make suitable arrangements with the department to maintain this continuous registration. Normally the student will not be required to register for summer sessions; however, he/she must be registered for the term that involves the review of the completed dissertation and/or the final examination. 5) Supervision and Reports-When doctoral research is conducted away from the Clemson campus and under the immediate direction of a dissertation supervisor who is employed by an organization other than Clemson University, in order to accommodate the student as well as to exercise proper and necessary control over this important phase of doctoral study, the following requirements must be met: a) An employee, having earned a PhD (or EdD) and being engaged in the general subject area of the student's research, must be designated by an officer of the organization to supervise the student's research; b) The employee must be recommended to the provost by the appropriate college dean for appointment as an adjunct professor of Clemson University; c) A resume of the research supervisor must be submitted to the student's full advisory committee for review and recommendation to the dean of the Graduate School; d) The research supervisor must submit a final statement regarding the dissertation research, as well as interim reports, if the advisory committee deems such necessary; and e) The off-campus research supervisor cannot serve as the student's major advisor.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, qualifying examinations

Some doctoral programs require that preliminary, or qualifying, examinations be taken prior to the comprehensive examination. These types of examinations are intended to provide a general assessment of the student's mastery of content and/or conceptual understanding of the research process. The structure, duration, review and re-examination policies for qualifying examinations are defined in writing by the program faculty in the graduate student handbook for the respective program. A copy of these policies is also filed with the Graduate School. Qualifying examinations are not a Graduate School requirement for earning a doctoral degree; however, in programs where this criterion exists, students must successfully pass the qualifying exam prior to taking the comprehensive examination.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, residence

Residence is a necessary concept in graduate education, particularly in the preparation of the dissertation. The purpose of residence is to require the student to spend a specified minimum amount of time in direct personal association with members of the faculty of the University and under direct tutelage and advisement of a research advisor and advisory committee in the department or program of the major. Further it enables the student to participate in other normal activities pertinent to graduate education such as seminars and developing close association with other student researchers. To receive the Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Education degree, the student must complete at least 15 hours of graduate credit including research credit hours (991) on a Clemson University campus in a continuous 12-month period. For students employed substantially more than half time, a statement specifying the manner in which the residence requirement is to be satisfied must be formulated by the advisory committee and included in the graduate degree curriculum. Also, upon completion of the final examination, the student's committee will forward to the Graduate School a statement approved by the department chair and college dean certifying that residence requirements have been met. The dean of the Graduate School may grant exceptions to this requirement. Major advisors seeking an exemption to this policy must submit an academic plan for the student that is signed by the major advisor and the department chair.

Doctor of Philosophy/Education degree, time limit

Because no minimum coursework requirements exist for the Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Education degree, the time limitation for completion is determined by the dates by which essential components of the degree are completed. The following must be passed in the five-year period prior to graduation: comprehensive examination, defense of the dissertation, and approval of the dissertation by the Graduate School.

Dropping courses

The academic calendar provides official dates for withdrawing from a class without record or without final grades. Withdrawal from graduate coursework is strongly discouraged. Students who officially withdraw within the first two weeks of classes will have no grades recorded. Those who officially withdraw after the first two weeks and prior to the last seven weeks will have a grade of W (withdrew) entered on the academic record. Failure to attend classes or verbal notification to instructors does not constitute withdrawal. Students must drop a course as described above or be credited with a failure. Students must use the on-line registration system to drop a course. If the student is dropping all courses, please see "Withdrawing from Clemson University." The date on which the student withdraws on-line is the official date of withdrawal recorded by the Registrar.

Dropping courses, international students

Prior to dropping courses, international graduate students must receive authorization from an advisor in the Office of International Affairs. It is important that international students not fall below the required full-time enrollment mandated by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Dual master's degrees

Policy: If a student pursues two master's degrees simultaneously, one-sixth of the graded graduate coursework may be used toward both degrees. The one-sixth course rule references one-sixth of the curriculum with the highest number of graduate credits. Required core courses for either degree may not be displaced by selecting the option to participate in the dual degree option.
Procedure for department: The graduate degree curricula (Form GS2) must clearly denote that the student is working toward two degrees and must identify the courses that are being applied to both programs. The Plan of Study must be submitted in accordance with the Plan of Study policy ("see Plan of Study"). Committee members, department chairs, and deans of both graduate programs must approve the two plans of study. At least one committee member must serve on both committees.

Duplication of higher degrees

A student holding a master's degree or a doctoral degree may not as a rule become a candidate for the same degree in the same field of study.

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 the five-week summer sessions, relief must be sought prior to the third class meeting. The procedure is 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 senior vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. Students with questions should contact the associate dean of Undergraduate Studies, E-103 Martin Hall.

Enrollment limits

Maximum enrollment limits for graduate students refer to graduate and undergraduate credits combined. During the summer sessions, if the six-week and three-week sessions run concurrently, the total credits are not permitted to exceed the maximum for the six-week session.

Quarter-time (1/4), half-time (1/2), and three-quarter time (3/4) graduate assistants are defined as those who contribute a weekly average of 10, 20 and 30 clock hours of service, respectively, to the University for the entire semester. A full-time employee is defined as anyone employed five full working days per week, regardless of the employer (on- or off-campus). A graduate student who becomes employed full-time while an assistantship is in force must notify the Graduate School and the department providing the assistantship. Graduate students paid solely on an hourly basis are subject to the same enrollment limits described in the chart above.
Procedure for student: Students desiring to enroll in credit hours exceeding the maximum as defined in this chart must secure approval from their major advisors. The major advisor will submit an appeal of the enrollment limits policy to the dean of the Graduate School on behalf of the student. The dean of the Graduate School will assess the student's record and make a determination.
Procedure for department: Departments or programs desiring to require graduate curricula to exceed 15 credit hours per semester should submit this request to the Graduate Curriculum Committee for review as a program modification.

Grade point ratio (grade point average)

In calculating a student's grade point ratio or grade point average, the total number of grade points accumulated by the student is divided by the total number of credit hours attempted at Clemson during the semester, session, or other period for which the grade point ratio is calculated. For each credit hour, the student receives grade points as follows: A-4, B-3, C-2, D-0, F-0, I-0, P-0, W-0. Audited courses do not carry credit and are not noted on the student's academic record.

Grading system

Most graduate courses are graded on an A-B-C-D-F scale. Thesis and dissertation research, and a small number of unstructured courses approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee as non-graded courses, may be taken at the graduate level on a pass/fail (P/F) basis. Courses graded P/F are not included in the academic average; however, the grade P or F is placed on the student's permanent academic record. Graduate students may not request graded courses to be converted to the pass/fail option. Only credit hours for which a grade of pass (P) is achieved apply toward the number of credit hours required for the degree. A minimum grade of C in all courses must be earned for the courses to apply toward a degree. Students who receive a grade of Incomplete (I) while enrolled in Graduate School remain ineligible for graduation, including earning a master's degree en route to a doctorate degree, until the incomplete work has been made up and a letter grade submitted to the Registrar's Office. The accumulation of grades of pass (P) in thesis or dissertation research does not imply completion of the research; such grades indicate satisfactory progress.

Graduate certificates

Graduate certificates will be granted to students who have completed the graduate certificate requirements established by academic or research units at Clemson University. Graduate certificates will be noted on official transcripts, and a written certificate will be given to the student upon completion of the requirements. The Graduate School will administer the certificate programs and develop procedures regarding faculty oversight, program re-evaluation, scholarship support, and other fiscal and management issues.
Graduate certificates require a minimum of nine credit hours. No more than 1/3 credit hours may normally be 400/600 level credits, however, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary certificates may have a maximum of 2/3 at the 400/600 level. All other credits must be at the 800 level or higher and may include no more than three credit hours of research. A minimum grade of B is required in all courses. Because certificates are not degree programs, double counting is allowed in all cases.

Graduate certificates, curriculum committee approval

Graduate certificates may be proposed by individual faculty, groups of faculty, departments or groups of departments in any academic or research unit at Clemson. Graduate certificates may be proposed in disciplines without a pre-existing graduate degree program. A proposed graduate certificate curriculum may contain field work, distance learning, and laboratory courses in addition to traditional classroom offerings. Additional admission requirements for a graduate certificate program beyond that stated above must be listed in the proposal. Proposals for graduate certificate programs must be approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

Graduation requirements

Policy: A candidate for graduation is a student who has submitted the Graduate Diploma Application by the cutoff deadline prescribed in the University calendar for a particular graduation date. Only candidates who have completed all graduation requirements are permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who have completed all coursework, examinations, projects, and thesis or dissertation requirements and have obtained approval from the Graduate School on the final copy of the thesis or dissertation need not be enrolled in any credits to graduate or participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who need to utilize University resources (library, advisors and faculty, laboratories, etc.) to complete requirements during the semester prior to graduation must enroll in at least one credit hour. Graduate assistants completing a final semester of research or teaching assignments must enroll in at least nine semester hours to maintain their assistantships. Students may register for GS 799 to help meet the requirements of this final enrollment.
Procedure for student: Students should contact the Enrolled Student Services Office early in the calendar year in which they plan to graduate to confirm their graduation status. Candidates for degrees are required to apply for their diplomas within three weeks following the opening of the final semester or the opening of the first summer session prior to the date the degrees are to be awarded. Applications must be submitted on-line through SISWeb at tigerweb.Clemson.edu.
Procedure for department: Forms GS7-M and/or GS7-D must be submitted to the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall, notifying the Graduate School of the results of the thesis or dissertation defense respectively and/or of successful passage of the written final examination in those master's programs where such examinations are conducted. These forms should be filed within five days of completion of these graduation requirements.

Incompletes (grades of I)

Policy: Except for courses numbered 891 and 991, a grade of Incomplete (I) may be given for any graduate course in which work remains unfinished and the student is unable to fulfill all requirements because of circumstances beyond his/her control. This grade is not given in lieu of unsatisfactory or failing grades received for completed courses for the purpose of improving the grade later. The Incomplete grade is calculated as an F in the student's grade point ratio until the work is made up and a final grade is assigned. A graduate student will not be permitted to repeat any portion or re-register for any course for which the grade of I has been given. If all work is not completed by the appropriate deadlines (see procedure for student below), a grade of F will be recorded on the student's academic record. Students who receive a grade of I while enrolled in Graduate School remain ineligible for graduation, including earning a master's degree en route to a doctorate degree, until the incomplete work has been made up and a letter grade submitted to the Registrar's Office.
Procedure for student: The student should request the instructor to provide a written statement of the work to be completed and the deadline by which it is due. Irrespective of the student's enrollment status, the grade of I will be valid in normal lecture or laboratory courses for 30 days after the beginning of the next scheduled session, excluding summers, and the grade of I received in unstructured, independent study courses (as designated by the Graduate School) will be valid for one calendar year or less, at the discretion of the instructor. Within these periods, the student must complete the work or obtain an extension, approved by the instructor and chair of the department responsible for the course, stating the reason for the request and the length of time needed. Normally, only one request for an extension for each grade of I will be granted.
Procedure for instructor: At the student's request, the instructor shall provide a written statement of the work to be completed. Instructors have ten working days after the deadline (see procedure for student) to grade make-up work and submit the final grade to the Registrar's Office. Work submitted by the student after the printed deadline should not be accepted by the instructor unless an extension has been approved. If the student has requested an extension, the professor should submit the request to the Registrar's Office by the deadline specified on the make-up form. Once the student has submitted the completed work, the professor should submit the make-up form to the Office of Enrolled Student Services for the grade to be recorded. A grade of I that remains after the ten-working-day period will be converted automatically to an F.

Independence of graduate degrees

A graduate student who has completed the requirements for a graduate degree may not then use those same credits toward a second degree.

Major advisor

Policy: Every student enrolled in Graduate School must have a major advisor. The major advisor must meet all requirements for advisory committee membership and must be a Clemson University faculty member who holds a full-time tenure-track position at the University. The major advisor is the faculty member who provides general guidance throughout the student's program of study. The major advisor will recommend initial courses to be taken until the advisory committee is selected. Initial coursework should be of a fundamental or core nature so the full advisory committee, once constituted, will have maximum flexibility to formulate the remainder of the student's program of study. The major advisor will assist the student, in consultation with the graduate program coordinator or department chair, in selecting the members of the advisory committee. The major advisor is responsible for chairing the advisory committee meetings and for providing realistic expectations for completing the requirements of the degree. It is possible for co-chairs to direct the activities of the advisory committee. This special arrangement must be made with the consent of the dean of the Graduate School.
Procedure for student: A student must select the major advisor in consultation with and approval of the department chair or program coordinator. In departments or programs with large faculties, new graduate students may be initially assigned a temporary advisor. Graduate students should review the graduate student handbook for the written procedures for selection of the major advisor. This important step should occur near the beginning of the program of study.

Master's degree, credits required

The total number of graduate credits required for the degree is determined by the student's advisory committee, consistent with the specific program guidelines and Graduate School policy. These credits constitute the core of the student's graduate degree curriculum. Supplemental courses, carrying undergraduate or graduate credit and chosen to broaden the student's academic experience, are not required on the Plan of Study; however, if a listing is desirable, such courses may be included. The Graduate School requires that each master's degree program consist of a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit with at least 12 credit hours (exclusive of master's thesis research) in the major discipline as defined by the advisory committee, subject to degree program regulations. A minor outside that degree program, if chosen, shall consist of at least six credit hours in that area.

Master of Arts or Master of Science, thesis option. Each program includes a minimum of 24 hours of graduate credit and six hours of master's thesis research (891). At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours required by the advisory committee, exclusive of thesis research, must be selected from courses numbered 800 or above.

Master of Arts or Master of Science, nonthesis option. Each program includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, none of which may be master's thesis research. At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours required by the advisory committee must be selected from courses numbered 800 or above.

Professional master's degrees. Each program includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit. Except for professional programs in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities that require a thesis, master's research credits (891) may not be included in the program requirements. Any additional requirements for professional master's degrees are delineated by the colleges that offer the degrees.

Master's degree, final exam

Policy: At least three weeks before the degree is to be awarded, each candidate for the master's degree must pass a final examination, if required. The examination may be oral and/or written and is administered by the advisory committee or a standing committee appointed in accordance with published program policies. A majority decision is required; dissenting members of the examining committee may forward a minority report to the Graduate School. A student who fails a final examination may be allowed a second opportunity only with the recommendation of the advisory committee. Failure of the second examination will result in dismissal from the Graduate School.
Procedure for student: This requirement is a criterion of individual departments or programs and is specified in the respective graduate student handbooks. The student should consult with the graduate program coordinator to schedule the exam.
Procedure for department: Within five days after the examination, the examining committee, through Form GS7-M, will notify the Office of Enrolled Student Services of the results of the examination. Form GS7-M is located in the general forms section of the Graduate School web site.

Master's degree, foreign language requirement

A reading knowledge (the equivalent of two years of study at the college level) of an approved foreign language is a departmental requirement for certain Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees (English, Professional Communications and History). Languages commonly accepted are French, German, Spanish and, in some cases, Russian or a classical language. The requirement may be satisfied by completing a course in the approved language through 202 (or equivalent) with a B or better or by passing French, German, or Spanish 151. The requirement must have been completed within six years prior to the student's finishing the graduate degree. Upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Languages, knowledge of another language may be approved if adequate justification can be presented that the language is not native to the student and that a proper testing procedure can be established. Any expense incurred in obtaining assistance for such testing is the responsibility of the student.

Master's degree, off-campus research

Although thesis research is normally performed at Clemson, in some cases the University may not have on its campus certain specialized equipment or facilities that would be desirable for advanced training at the master's level. In this case, permission may be granted for off-campus research. The requirements to be satisfied in such cases include: 1) Written consent and research plan-The student must have the written consent of his/her thesis advisor, full advisory committee, department chair, college dean and the graduate dean. Prior to departure from campus, the student must submit a written plan for the research effort to the advisory committee for approval. The plan should include a discussion of the problem and intended scope of the investigation and should be structured in terms of a specific time frame. 2) Statement for the organization where research will be conducted-The advisory committee may require a statement from an appropriate officer of the organization at which the student will be located agreeing to the student's plan to complete thesis research using the organization's equipment and facilities; the apportioning of at least 25 percent or other appropriate amount of the student's employment hours to thesis research; the organization's release of patent rights or copyrights arising from discoveries or concepts that evolve during the course of the student's master's research. 3) Travel-The student may be required to travel to the Clemson campus, not at the expense of the University, to meet with the dissertation advisor and advisory committee as often as the committee deems necessary.
4) Continuous enrollment-The student must maintain continuous enrollment at Clemson University while the research is in progress. It is the student's responsibility to make suitable arrangements with the department to maintain this continuous registration. Normally the student will not be required to register for summer sessions; however, he/she must be registered for the term that involves the review of the completed thesis and/or the final examination. 5) Supervision and Reports-When master's research is conducted away from the Clemson campus and under the immediate direction of a thesis supervisor who is employed by an organization other than Clemson University, in order to accommodate the student as well as to exercise proper and necessary control over this important phase of master's study, the following requirements must be met: a) An employee, having earned a master's degree and being engaged in the general subject area of the student's research, must be designated by an officer of the organization to supervise the student's research. This individual must be qualified and certified for the supervisory position by the department of and college involved and by the graduate dean; b) The employee must be recommended to the provost by the appropriate college dean for appointment as an adjunct professor of Clemson University; c) A resume of the research supervisor must be submitted to the student's full advisory committee for review and recommendation to the dean of the Graduate School; d) The research supervisor must submit a final statement regarding the thesis research, as well as interim reports, if the advisory committee deems such necessary; and e) The off-campus research supervisor cannot serve as the student's major advisor.

Master's degree, residence

There is no University-wide residence requirement for a master's degree; however, individual degree programs may establish such a requirement.

Master's degree, theses credits required

Candidates for master's degrees receive academic credit for conducting research and preparing a thesis under the direction of the research advisor. In those Master of Arts or Master of Science degree programs requiring a thesis, six credits of research (891) are required; however, some program variation does exist. The number of research credits (891) in select programs include: Master of Architecture - 15, Master of City and Regional Planning - 6-9, and Master of Fine Arts - 15.

Master's degree, theses grades

Master's research is graded on a pass/fail (P/F) basis. The accumulation of grades of pass (P) in thesis research does not imply completion of the research, but only indicates satisfactory progress. Receipt of a grade of fail (F) implies unsatisfactory progress and may be cause for dismissal from the Graduate School, irrespective of grade-point ratio.

Master's degree, time limit

A master's student has six years to complete a degree; therefore, all coursework to be credited toward any master's degree must have been enrolled in and completed within six calendar years prior to the date on which the degree is to be awarded. When recommended by the student's advisory committee and approved by the graduate dean, as many as six credit hours of coursework taken at Clemson University, completed outside the six-year limit, may be revalidated by a written comprehensive examination based on the latest syllabus and course content. Independent study courses are not subject to revalidation. Coursework completed outside the six-year time limit at an institution other than Clemson University may not be transferred to Clemson. Courses taken at any institution other than Clemson University may not be revalidated for graduate credit at Clemson (see also "Course revalidation").

Pass/fail enrollment

The only graduate courses that may be taken on a pass/fail basis are thesis and dissertation research and a small number of unstructured courses approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee as non-graded courses and for which the pass/fail grading system appears in the official course description. Graduate students may not request graded courses to be converted to the pass/fail (P/F) option.

Plan of Study

Policy: A degree-seeking student must file a Plan of Study or graduate degree curriculum (Form GS2) in accordance with the Office of Enrolled Student Services' timeline. The Plan of Study must be filed near the beginning of each student's program of study. Students pursuing the master's or specialist's degree must submit the curriculum by the middle of their second semester following matriculation and doctoral students must submit the curriculum no later than the beginning of their fourth semester of study following matriculation. Students who do not submit their Plans of Study in accordance with these guidelines will have their privilege to register for courses blocked until the Form GS2 is received by the Office of Enrolled Student Services. Since fixed curricula normally do not exist for graduate degrees, this planned program represents an individual student's curriculum as recommended by the advisory committee. It must adhere to departmental as well as University policies. All transfer courses listed on the GS2 must be courses taken for credit from accredited degree-granting institutions whose scholastic reputation is acceptable to Clemson University.
Procedure for student: The student must consult with the major advisor and other members of the advisory committee to agree on the appropriate courses and other experiences necessary in order to earn the intended graduate degree. Before a Plan of Study (Form GS2) is officially approved by the Graduate School, it must be signed by the student, the advisory committee, department chair and college dean. It is then forwarded to the Office of Enrolled Student Services for approval and distribution. Students are allowed to submit preliminary Plans of Study, which may be signed by any combination of the above on the official signatory list, until a final curriculum is determined by the advisory committee, however, the final Plan of Study must be approved by the Office of Enrolled Student Services, acting for the Graduate School, before a student will be approved for graduation. The final Plan of Study must meet all University, Graduate School and program requirements to be approved. The student should maintain a personal copy of each GS2 form that is filed (see "Plan of Study, filing deadline and late fee").
Procedure for advisory committee: Preliminary Plans of Study may be filed with the Office of Enrolled Student Services and may reflect only the signature of the major advisor, program coordinator or graduate student services coordinator. The Plan of Study form should be filed in accordance with the Plan of Study policy and may be revised as needed, but the final form must be approved and signed by all committee members, department chair and college dean, and be on file in the Office of Enrolled Student Services in the term in which the student plans to graduate. Undergraduate deficiencies are to be designated on the Plan of Study. Supplemental courses, carrying undergraduate or graduate credit and chosen to broaden the student's academic experience, are not required, but may be listed, on the Plan of Study. Graduate credit is received only for courses numbered 600 or above. Transfer credit appearing in the student's curriculum must adhere to the transfer credit policies (see "Transfer credits"). Unless otherwise specified by approved degree programs, course credits used to satisfy the requirements for a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, may not be used for credit toward a graduate degree.

Plan of Study, filing deadline and late fee

The University's deadlines for receipt of approved Plans of Study for graduation are available on-line at www.grad.clemson.edu/deadlines.php. A $25 nonrefundable late fee is assessed to a student whose Plan of Study is submitted after the deadline. The fee increases $5 per day thereafter (excluding weekends and University holidays). Students who do not properly file the Plan of Study risk failing to receive proper advice from their faculty committee members and research or program coordinators and may face undue difficulties, including fines or delays in graduating.

Posthumous graduate degree

A graduate student meeting the following minimum requirements may be awarded a degree posthumously on the recommendation of the faculty of the college concerned: the student had a least a 3.0 grade point ratio at the time of death; he/she had a Plan of Study on file and would have qualified for graduation at the end of the semester or summer session during which death occurred. The chair of the department, through the dean of the college, should submit a letter to the dean of the Graduate School requesting this action. The Graduate School dean will forward this request to the Office of the Dean of Students, where it will be processed. The diploma will be mailed to the requesting relative of the deceased.

Revocation of academic degrees

Academic institutions have a critical responsibility to provide an environment that promotes integrity, while at the same time encouraging openness and creativity among scholars. Care must be taken to ensure that honest error and ambiguities of interpretation of scholarly activities are distinguishable from outright misconduct. This policy is applicable to egregious fraudulent or other misconduct in obtaining an academic degree. The Clemson University Board of Trustees has the sole authority to revoke any degree previously awarded.

Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall apply when the degree holder was a graduate student:
1. "Dean" shall mean the dean of the Graduate School.
2. "Committee of Investigation and Recommendation" shall be composed of the members of the standing University Graduate Admissions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee, except for the associate dean of the Graduate School, who shall not be a member of the committee. A graduate student will be appointed to the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation by the president of the Graduate Student Government within ten (10) calendar days of notification by the president of the Faculty Senate. Any member of the Graduate Admissions and Continuing Enrollment Appeals Committee who is a faculty member in the department that awarded the degree involved shall not be a member of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation for that particular investigation. If there are fewer than three (3) non-disqualified faculty members, the president of the Faculty Senate shall appoint additional faculty members to bring the number of faculty committee members up to three (3). If the president of the Faculty Senate is from the same department that awarded the degree involved, the president-elect of the Faculty Senate shall appoint the additional member.

Complaint. An allegation or complaint involving the possibility of misconduct can be raised by anyone. The allegation should be made in writing to the dean of the Graduate School.

Initial Review. The dean of the Graduate School will conduct the initial review to determine whether or not the allegation has merit. The dean may discuss the matter with the former student's advisory committee and other faculty as appropriate. The dean may also contact persons outside the University who may be able to provide factual information on the alleged misconduct or who may otherwise have expertise concerning issues involved in the alleged misconduct. If the dean determines that the allegation has no merit, he/she will terminate the investigation. If the dean determines that serious academic misconduct is suspected, the dean will notify the president of the Faculty Senate in writing in a confidential manner. The dean shall also notify the vice president for Academic Affairs and provost of the charge but will not discuss any details of the charge.

Committee of Inquiry. The president of the Faculty Senate shall, within ten calendar days of receipt of the notification from the dean, appoint three (3) faculty members to the Committee of Inquiry and notify the president of the Graduate Student Government, who shall appoint a graduate student to the Committee of Inquiry within ten (10) calendar days of notification. The president of the Faculty Senate shall also notify the degree holder of the formation of a Committee of Inquiry. If the Faculty Senate president is from the same department that awarded the degree involved, the president-elect of the Faculty Senate shall appoint the Committee of Inquiry. The faculty members will be appointed from departments which did not award the degree involved. The committee will elect its chair from the faculty members on the committee.

For each allegation, the Committee of Inquiry will review the complaint and any other information provided by the dean and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a formal charge of academic misconduct and further investigation under this policy. While the Committee of Inquiry shall not make a recommendation as to whether a degree should be revoked, the purpose is to provide a review to separate frivolous, unjustified, or mistaken allegations from those requiring a more detailed and formal investigation. The Committee of Inquiry will review the evidence and must determine that the alleged misconduct more probably than not occurred in order for the committee to recommend a formal charge and further investigation.

Within thirty (30) calendar days of the formation of the Committee of Inquiry, the committee will submit a written report to the president of the Faculty Senate. If the committee's report finds that the investigation should not proceed, the president of the Faculty Senate shall terminate the investigation and notify the appropriate persons. If the committee's report finds that a formal charge and further investigation are warranted, the president of the Faculty Senate shall, within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the report, send a copy of that report to the dean of the Graduate School and to the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation. The president of the Faculty Senate shall also immediately notify the president of the Graduate Student Government that a student representative needs to be appointed to the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation. The president of the Faculty Senate shall also notify the vice president for academic affairs and provost of the Committee of Inquiry's recommendation. No details of the charge will be discussed. A majority vote of the Committee of Inquiry is necessary to recommend that a formal charge and further investigation are warranted. A tie vote means that the investigation is terminated as stated herein.

Notification to Degree Holder. The dean shall issue in writing, within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the report of the Committee of Inquiry, a formal charge of academic misconduct to the degree holder. This written notice shall detail the faculty allegations for the charge and the evidence supporting the charge. This written notice shall also inform the degree holder that if the charges are substantiated, the degree holder's degree could be revoked. This written notice shall also inform the degree holder of his/her right to appear at a hearing as stated in this policy. The dean shall also send with this notice a copy of this policy and procedure. This notice shall be delivered to the accused in person or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

Committee of Investigation and Recommendation. The Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall extend to the degree holder due process, which shall, at a minimum, include the following: 1) notice of the nature of the complaint; 2) notice of the evidence supporting the complaint; 3) notice of the hearing; 4) the opportunity to present evidence, including testimony; 5) the opportunity to hear the testimony against the degree holder; 6) the opportunity to ask questions of all witnesses; 7) the opportunity to have an attorney or advisor present at the hearing; however, the role of the attorney or advisor shall be solely to assist the party, and the attorney or advisor shall not be permitted to participate actively in the proceedings.

The degree holder shall not be entitled to know the identify of the person(s) who originally made the complaint unless that person agrees that his/her identity can be revealed.

The chair of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall inform the degree holder of the time and date of the hearing.

The dean of the Graduate School or his/her designee shall present the accusation against the degree holder at the hearing and may have one additional representative present during the hearing. Under this section the term "dean" is understood to include the dean's designee, if such a designation is made.

The degree holder and the dean may submit written materials to the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation prior to the hearing. The chair of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall make available the materials received to the other party and to all committee members. The hearing before the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall be held no sooner than thirty (30) calendar days and no later than ninety (90) calendar days after receipt of the report of the Committee of Inquiry unless the degree holder and the dean agree to a different date. All matters pertaining to the hearing shall be kept as confidential as possible and the hearing shall be closed to the public. A verbatim record of the hearing will be taken and a type-written copy thereof transcribed and made a part of the hearing record. The degree holder and the dean shall be responsible for having any witnesses they wish to testify in attendance at the hearing. Witnesses will be present only while testifying.

The chair of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall take whatever action is necessary during the hearing to ensure a fair, orderly, and expeditious hearing. No formal rules of evidence will be followed. If any objection is made to any evidence being offered, the decision of the majority of the committee shall govern. Irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded.

The degree holder and the dean shall be permitted to offer evidence and witnesses pertinent to the issues.

The dean shall present the case against the accused first. The accused shall then present his/her response.

The chair will allow each party to ask questions of the other party and will allow each party to ask questions of the other party's witnesses at the appropriate time during the hearing as determined by the chair. Members of the committee may ask questions of any party or any witness at any time during the hearing.

Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the conclusion of the hearing, the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall submit a written report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The report shall contain findings and a recommendation as to whether the degree holder's degree should be revoked. The Committee of Investigation and Recommendation must find clear and convincing evidence that serious academic misconduct has been committed in order to recommend the revocation of the degree holder's degree. If the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation does not find clear and convincing evidence of serious academic misconduct, the Committee cannot recommend revocation of the degree holder's degree and the matter shall be closed. A majority vote of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation is necessary to recommend the revocation of a degree holder's degree. This means that a tie vote will result in the matter being closed.

At the same time that the report is sent to the vice president for academic affairs and provost, the chair of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall send a copy of the report to the degree holder, the dean, and other appropriate persons involved in the process.

If the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation recommends that the degree holder's degree be revoked, the chair shall also send a complete copy of the hearing record to the vice president for academic affairs and provost. The hearing record shall consist of the transcript of the hearing and all documents that were submitted to the Committee. The chair of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation shall label which documents were submitted by each party when forwarding this information to the vice president for academic affairs and provost.

If the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation recommends that the degree holder's degree be revoked, the chair shall also send a copy of the transcript of the hearing to the degree holder and the dean at the same time that it is sent to the vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.  If the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation recommends that the degree be revoked, the vice president for academic affairs and provost shall review the hearing record and report of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation. If the vice president for academic affairs and provost decides that the degree holder's degree should not be revoked, he/she shall notify the degree holder, the dean, the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation, and other appropriate persons involved in the process, in writing, within twenty-one (21) calendar days of receipt of the transcript of the hearing; and the matter shall be closed. If the vice president for academic affairs and provost decides to recommend that the degree holder's degree should be revoked, the vice president for academic affairs and provost shall send that recommendation in writing to the president of the University within twenty-one (21) calendar days of receipt of the transcript of the hearing. The vice president for academic affairs and provost shall send to the president, along with his/her recommendation, the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation's report and the hearing record. The vice president for academic affairs and provost shall send a copy of his/her recommendation to the degree holder, the dean, the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation, and other appropriate persons involved in the process. If the vice president for academic affairs and Provost is disqualified from reviewing the case, the dean of the Graduate School shall be substituted for the vice president for academic affairs and provost.

President.  If the vice president for academic affairs and provost recommends to the president that the degree holder's degree should be revoked, the president shall transmit that recommendation along with the report of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation and the hearing record to the Executive Secretary of the Board of Trustees within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt. If the president wishes to make a recommendation, he/she shall review the recommendation of the vice president for academic affairs and provost, the report of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation, and the hearing record and forward his recommendation to the executive secretary of the Board of Trustees within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the recommendation of the vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Board of Trustees.  The executive secretary of the Board of Trustees shall send to all trustees the hearing record, the recommendation of the vice president for academic affairs and provost, the report of the Committee of Investigation and Recommendation, and the recommendation of the president, if any. A majority vote by the Board of Trustees, at a duly constituted Board Meeting, is required to revoke an academic degree. The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final.

Guiding Principles.  All actions taken by committees shall be effective by a majority vote.
All investigations, hearings, and actions shall be kept as confidential as possible except for notice of any revocation approved by the Board of Trustees.
A decision not to proceed at any stage of the proceedings set forth in this policy does not necessarily mean that the original complaint was groundless.
For good cause shown, at the request of either party and the approval of the other, the vice president for academic affairs and provost shall extend any time limit set forth in this policy. Any such time extension shall be communicated in writing to all appropriate parties.

Administrative Action If Degree is Revoked.  If a degree is revoked by the Board of Trustees, the former student's transcript will be modified to reflect that the degree was revoked, and the former student will be informed of the revocation and requested to return the diploma. If the former student was enrolled in a program requiring a theses or dissertation, all bound copies will be removed from the Clemson University Library. In addition, for doctoral students, University Microfilms, Inc. will be notified and requested to take appropriate action. Students whose degrees have been revoked may be eligible to reapply for admission according to normal University procedures and policies in effect at the time of reapplication.

Senior enrollment

Policy: Clemson University seniors meeting the accepted academic standard for graduate work (3.0 cumulative grade-point ratio) are eligible to request enrollment in graduate level courses. Enrollment of seniors in any graduate course is subject to approval by the department offering the course and the Graduate School. The total course workload for the semester must not exceed 18 hours, and the cumulative graduate credits earned by seniors shall not exceed 12 semester hours. The credits and quality points associated with senior enrollment in graduate courses will be part of the undergraduate record.
Seniors with 3.4 or higher grade-point ratio. Seniors with 3.4 or higher grade-point ratios are eligible for participation in the combined bachelor's/master's plan (see "Combined bachelor's/master's plan").
Seniors with 3.0 grade-point ratios. Seniors with 3.0 or higher grade-point ratios are eligible to request enrollment in graduate level courses to meet requirements for the bachelor's degree, however, courses used for this purpose can not be counted later towards an advanced degree. Alternatively, these students may also take courses in excess of the requirements for their undergraduate degrees and may request that these courses be included as a part of their graduate program if they are subsequently admitted to the Graduate School. Courses cannot be taken at the 600 level if their 400-level counterparts are required for the undergraduate degree in the same academic major as the proposed graduate degree.
Procedure for student: Approval by the Graduate School is required prior to registration in any graduate course. Senior enrollment forms, GS6, Request for Senior Enrollment, and GS6BS/MS, are available at www.grad.clemson.edu/forms/GeneralForms.php.

Specialist in education

The requirements pertaining to residence, time limits, and final examinations for master's degrees also apply to the Specialist in Education degree. Coursework required includes 30 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Consult the College of Health, Education and Human Development for program details.

Syllabus

Policy: A syllabus will be prepared for every graduate class and made available to students no later than the last class period before the last day for a student to add a class. The syllabus should give the course expectations, including topical outline of the course, grading and attendance policies.
Procedure for professor: Professors may access the Graduate School's syllabus requirements at www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/DegreeRequirements.php.

Theses and dissertations, advisory committee approval

The Graduate School has delegated authority to students' advisory committees to determine the appropriate format for publication of theses and
dissertations in accordance with standards acceptable to the discipline. Consequently, the Graduate School has published limited but specific guidelines for students to use in formatting their theses and dissertations. These guidelines are available at www.grad.clemson.edu/Manuscript.php. For the student's convenience, the Graduate School website provides templates, tutorials, and other information to help students format their manuscripts properly.

The research advisor determines when the manuscript is suitable for initial review by the remaining committee members. These guidelines are designed to produce a timely review by each committee member and to provide a measure of protection for all parties against problems resulting from lack of communication and/or attention. The research advisor must be familiar with departmental practices regarding the quality of the manuscript at the various review stages and of the wishes of the department chair, as an ex-officio committee member, to exercise the option of approving the thesis or dissertation in its final form.

The student, in consultation with his/her major advisor, will provide each advisory committee member with a copy of the manuscript for initial review. This action must take place well in advance of, and not less than three weeks prior to, the final examination and defense of the thesis or dissertation. Students must prepare the manuscript in a publication style acceptable to the advisory committee. When the manuscript is approved by the advisory committee, the thesis or dissertation is submitted to the Graduate School for final review and approval prior to electronic publishing.

Theses and dissertations, advisory committee approval - timeline

Policy: Committee members should normally complete the initial review of a student's thesis or dissertation in three weeks or less, however, agreements may be made to allow for additional time if necessary. Failure of a committee member to complete the initial review within six weeks may result in his/her replacement, provided the student can document when the member received the manuscript. A second review of manuscripts submitted after revisions should be completed in one week, with provisions being available for additional time if necessary.
Procedure for committee: It should be understood that a vote to pass a student on his/her performance at the thesis/dissertation defense includes final approval by the committee of the thesis or dissertation. The committee should not sign the GS7-M or GS5-D until the student has made all revisions as instructed by the committee. If a student passes the defense but still has revisions to make, the committee should retain the GS7-M or GS5-D, unsigned, until all of the revisions are made to the committee's satisfaction.
Procedure for student: Students should present completed manuscripts to their advisory committees in accordance with the guidelines outlined in their graduate student handbooks and in concert with the timeline established by their major advisor and/or advisory committee. Students may seek the assistance of the Graduate School in instances where the committee fails to provide timely feedback by requesting to initiate the Thesis/Dissertation Review Form. This request should be sent in writing to the dean of the Graduate School.

Theses and dissertations, electronic publishing and printing

Students provide payment information (credit card information) when they upload their manuscripts for review. The payment is not processed until the manuscript is electronically published. Students may order printed bound copies of their manuscripts when they submit them for review (or at any later time). The Graduate School does not require the student to purchase any printed copies, but some departments do (see www.grad.clemson.edu/manuscript/upload.php). If a department requires a bound copy, students should check with the department to determine the department's preference with regard to binding color, paper quality, and so on. Students may, of course, have their own personal copies printed and bound wherever they wish, and are not limited to using the electronic publisher used to publish manuscripts online. The Graduate School typically provides a list of some of the most commonly used vendors (although this list is not to be considered an endorsement and any arrangements are strictly between the student and the vendor). Approximately six weeks after the student's graduation, all manuscripts approved for that semester will be available for viewing online at www.proquest.com and at the Cooper Library's website (www.lib.clemson.edu). The library's website allows anyone in the world with internet access to view manuscripts.

Theses and dissertations, Graduate School format approval

The Graduate School will review the thesis or dissertation to ensure that it complies with the guidelines established by the Graduate School for formatting (particularly the preliminary pages of the document), including the margins, and that the formatting is consistent throughout the manuscript. This is an online process. Students may upload their manuscripts for review at www.grad.clemson.edu/manuscript.

Students are notified via e-mail when the review is complete. Manuscripts will be approved by the Graduate School only when no changes are required. Typically theses and dissertations are reviewed within one or two days of receipt by the Graduate School. Students must, however, allow for the possibility that format revisions will be required after one (or more) initial reviews and plan their submission accordingly.

Theses and dissertations, restrictions on publication

It is expected that the results of research performed using University facilities be published in the open literature (i.e., theses, dissertations, journals, magazines, or books) and that any information obtained may be freely disclosed by the faculty in the teaching programs of the University. Exceptional cases may arise, however. The guidelines below shall apply to any sponsored projects requiring that results be kept confidential.

1. The University shall not accept awards that require research results to be kept confidential forever. A definite term of confidentiality shall be stated in a written nondisclosure agreement and shall not exceed one year beyond the date of notification to the sponsor that a manuscript suitable for publication has been prepared. Exceptions may be granted by the University administration only under unusual circumstance (e.g., national security, national emergency, classified activities, or certain confidential agreements).

2. Students associated with confidential projects must have prior approval for the use of results in preparing reports, theses, or dissertations in fulfillment of degree requirements. The Graduate School will normally not accept a thesis or dissertation that must be held in confidence for more than one year. Documents submitted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements will be retained by the Graduate School (or the department in the case of project reports for nonthesis programs) in accordance with the nondisclosure agreement. The student's thesis or dissertation defense shall not be open to those not bound by the nondisclosure agreement.

Theses and dissertations, restrictions on use

Theses and dissertations submitted to the Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduate degrees and deposited in the University library are, as a rule, open to the public for reference purposes. However, extended quotations or summaries may be published only with the permission of the author and the graduate dean.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are issued only at the authorized, written request of the student. Requests are directed to Transcripts, 104 Sikes Hall, Box 345125, Clemson, SC 29634-5125. Payment in advance is required and may be made by Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Tiger Stripe, check (made payable to Clemson University) or cash. The following must be included with the transcript request: full name (including any names used while at Clemson), social security number, current address, date of birth, date the student last attended Clemson, where the transcript is to be sent, and payment of $5 per transcript. Telephone requests will not be honored. Transcript requests are normally processed within 48 hours, but additional processing time may be required at the end of a semester. Information is available from the Office of Enrolled Student Services at 104 Sikes Hall or by telephone at (864) 656-2173. Official transcripts are not issued for those who are indebted to the University.

Transfer credit, courses

Policy: All transfer credits must be verified by an official transcript from the institution at which the work was completed. Up to 12 credit hours of coursework (and no more than one-third of the graded course credit hours required for a master's degree) may be transferred to a master's degree and 48 credit hours of coursework may be transferred to a doctoral degree. All credits transferred to Clemson's graduate programs must have been completed at a regionally-accredited institution. Credits may be transferred for work completed at off-campus centers of accredited institutions, provided such courses are acceptable, without reservation, in degree programs at those institutions. In all cases, the use of transfer credits must be recommended by the student's advisory committee and approved by the department. Grades earned for courses taken at institutions other than Clemson University will not be included in the student's grade point ratio. Courses to be considered for transfer credit completed outside the six year time limit may not be transferred to Clemson. Courses taken at any institution other than Clemson University may not be revalidated for transfer credit at Clemson. Valid transfer credits will appear on the student's transcript as credits earned.

Under no circumstances will transfer credit be awarded for courses in which a grade lower than B, or its equivalent, has been received or for courses graded on a pass/fail basis, for continuing education units, courses completed outside the six-year time limit, correspondence, extension, or in-service courses or for concentrated courses and workshops that award credit at a rate exceeding one credit per week. All transfer courses listed on Form GS2 must be courses taken for credit from an regionally-accredited, degree-granting institution whose scholastic reputation is acceptable to Clemson University.
Procedure for student: To have courses considered for transfer, students must discuss their plan to use specific courses from other institutions with their major advisor and/or advisory committee. Within the guidelines established by the Graduate School, the advisory committee will identify courses acceptable for transfer and will record these courses on the student's Plan of Study, Form GS2. The student must then have an official transcript sent from the institution(s) where credit was earned to the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall. Only when courses have been verified by Enrolled Services to meet all Graduate School requirements will they be approved for application toward the degree.

Transfer credit, theses and dissertations

Under no circumstances will transfer credit be awarded for research, internships, master's thesis or doctoral dissertation work performed outside of Clemson University. While, at the discretion of a program faculty, a student's research project from another institution might be accepted for continuation once enrolled at Clemson, the required number of credit hours (6 of 891 and 18 of 991) must be enrolled in and successfully completed to meet the requirements for graduation with a master's or a doctorate degree, respectively.

Withdrawing, from Clemson University

Withdrawing from the University occurs when a graduate student drops all of his/her credit hours. This may occur especially in the summer sessions when a student drops the only course for which he/she is registered. As such, Form GS18, Withdrawal from the University, must be filed in the Office of Enrolled Student Services, 104D Sikes Hall. In most cases, a student need only provide name, ID number and current mailing address. Withdrawal after the first few weeks of class should only be made for unusual academic reasons or for pressing medical or personal reasons. Graduate students who officially withdraw within the first four weeks of classes will have no grades recorded, while those who officially withdraw after the first four weeks and prior to the last five weeks will have a grade of W (withdrew) entered on the official records. Failure to attend classes or verbal notification to instructors does not constitute withdrawal. Students who drop out of courses without officially withdrawing will be credited with a failure (F). All indebtedness to the University should be paid as part of the withdrawal process and will be deducted from any refund due the student.