Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 45.79
Liaison Larry Cook
Submission Date Dec. 4, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Carolina
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Caroline Zerhusen
Project Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students (I.e. an interdisciplinary academic program that concentrates on sustainability as an integrated concept)?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Masters in Earth & Environmental Resource Management (MEERM)

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:

The School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment offers a Master of Earth & Environmental Resources Management (MEERM) degree, as well as dual MEERM & Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees through the Environment & Sustainability Program and a cooperative affiliation with the School of Law, respectively. These MEERM degrees are designed to provide individual curricula suited for students interested in management positions in earth resources (minerals, water, sustainable development within ecosystems) or environmental resources (safe and effective use or remediation of anthropogenic materials in different ecosystems). The program also allows students with an interest in earth and environmental resources to tailor a graduate degree program to their own particular interests and goals within a wide range of fields supervised by a diverse faculty. Recent MEERM students have come from backgrounds as broad as accounting, journalism, geology and engineering, which allows them to learn from each other as well as from the faculty.


The website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Marine Science MS & PhD

A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):

The Marine Science Program offers both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Marine Science. Active research in the Program covers a wide variety of disciplines under the direction of an extraordinary faculty. The Marine Science Graduate Program is designed to train scientists for careers in research, teaching and scientific leadership in fields pertaining to Earth’s oceans.


The website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
Geological Sciences MS & PhD

A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):

As a geological sciences major, laboratory experience and field-based activities will enhance the vibrant and friendly academic environment. You will focus on the study of the Earth's dynamics and history, as well as its composition and the chemical, physical and biological changes that it undergoes. You can also choose to pursue a concentration in environmental geology and geophysics or marine geology.

The department offers a broad range of specialties within geology and geophysics such as sedimentology, stratigraphy and basin evolution; tectonics and structural geology; environmental geology and hydrogeology; igneous and metamorphic petrology; geophysics and seismology; oceanography, coastal and estuarine processes; paleoecology and paleontology; and paleoceanography and paleoclimatology.


The website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:

Biological Sciences, MS: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/biological_sciences/study/graduate/research_programs/index.php
Biological Sciences, PhD: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/biological_sciences/study/graduate/research_programs/index.php
Geography, MA/MS: http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/geog/graduate-program
Geography, PhD: http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/geog/graduate-program
Civil and Environmental Engineering, M.E.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/engineering_and_computing/study/civil_and_environmental_engineering/degree_programs/me-degree.php
Civil Engineering, M.S.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/engineering_and_computing/study/civil_and_environmental_engineering/degree_programs/ms-degree.php
Civil Engineering, Ph.D.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/engineering_and_computing/study/civil_and_environmental_engineering/degree_programs/phd-degree.php
Environmental Health Sciences, M.S.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/study/graduate_degrees/environmental_health_sciences/index.php
Environmental Health Sciences, Ph.D.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/study/graduate_degrees/environmental_health_sciences/index.php
Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Dr.P.H.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/study/graduate_degrees/health_promotion_education_and_behavior/index.php
Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, M.P.H.: https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/study/graduate_degrees/health_promotion_education_and_behavior/index.php


Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Financial and Resource Management certificate

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:

The Certificate is designed to complement graduate degree programs offered within the Moore School of Business. It is designed to enhance the student’s career opportunities by providing preparation in areas critical to those working within the finance and accounting function in private and public sector organizations. Requirements for admission to the Certificate program are the same as those for the Moore School MBA program


The website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Health Communication certificate

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):

This is an 18-hour post-bachelor’s program that provides students the opportunities to strengthen their knowledge in health communication content, research methods, and application. Qualified individuals can take the certificate as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with another degree. Students will choose between three areas of concentration: Health promotion, education and behavior, Journalism and mass communication, Library and information science.


The website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management Certificate

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):

The Department of Anthropology offers the Certificate in Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management for students wishing to supplement their degree work in other historically oriented programs. The certificate is oriented toward professional practice and provides archaeologically based cultural resource management skills for preservation-related employment.

The certificate requires 18 semester hours (two required core seminars and four approved elective courses). Twelve semester hours must come from courses in the Department of Anthropology. The program of study should include a mix of courses in method and theory of historical archaeology and cultural resource management and their practical application.


The website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:

HR, Museum Management, Public Health, Qualitative Research, Women & Gender Studies certificates, Biomedical Studies. All listed are certificate programs.


Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.