Applying to the Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning Program
The first, and most important, step in applying to the Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning program is to identify and contact a faculty member with whom you have similar research interests and discuss potential opportunities in his or her research agenda. Students are not admitted to the Environmental Design and Planning program without a faculty member having indicated willingness to serve as Major Advisor. Information concerning opportunities in specific fields of study and faculty research interests, including email contact information, is found at http://www.clemson.edu/caah/pla/edp/edp_faculty.htm.
When do I Apply?
The EDP Admissions Committee begins reviewing graduate student applications for admission to the program and for a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) after February 1st of each year, but students are encouraged to apply in early November and December as graduate assistantships are competitive. Students who will be supported through GRAs are, in general, admitted only in the Fall semester of each academic year. Individual faculty members must indicate their intention of supporting prospective applicants on GRAs to the EDP Admissions Committee (GAC) prior to a student's acceptance into the graduate program.
How Do I Apply ?
Online applications for graduate degree programs are found on the Graduate School web-site. The fee for processing the application is $50.00 which is also payable on-line. The Program also requests each applicant include a written Statement of Purpose (no more than 2 typewritten pages), outlining your general interests in graduate research and your future career goals and a Portfolio (that could include but is not limited to a research statement, writing samples, and samples of completed projects) .
What Do I Need to Apply ?
The following materials are required before an application is considered complete and will be forwarded to the Department (remember to receive consideration for a teaching assistantship . All materials except the statement of purpose and portfolio should be sent directly to the Graduate School and should reach Graduate Admissions no later than February 1st of each year):
1. On-Line application form found on the Graduate School web-site .
2. Non-refundable $50.00 application fee.
3. Two (2) official, un-opened (with seal) copy of your transcript from each college or university attended.
4. GRE scores (no more than 5 years old; Clemson's institution code is R51111).
5. Letters of recommendation - 3 required for Ph.D. applicants.
6. TOEFL scores * (no more than 2 years old).
7. Statement of Purpose and Portfolio
*TOEFL is required of all international students except those from countries where English is the official language, or those who have received a degree from a US university or college.
Who Do I Contact if I Have Questions?
For Graduate Admissions information and submission of application materials:
Graduate Admissions
105 Sikes Hall
Clemson University
Clemson , SC 29634-5124
Telephone: 864-656-2287
If you have further questions, you can click on the link below to visit the Graduate School's Express Inquiry Page.
For the Environmental Design and Planning information and submission of Statement of Purpose and Portfolio to :
Patty McNulty
Clemson University
Planning and Landscape Architecture
121 Lee Hall, Box 340511
Clemson, SC 29634-0511
Telephone: 864-656-3926
Email: pmcnult@clemson.edu
What Happens After I Apply?
Once all application materials (items 1- 6 listed above) have been received by Graduate Admissions, and your statement of purpose/portfolio has been received in the department, your file will be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture. Applicant files are reviewed by the EDP Admissions Committee who will determine whether candidates meet the minimum requirements for admission into the program. These applicants will also be reviewed by the Faculty, who must accept a student by agreeing to serve as Major Advisor. Upon notifying the Director of the program of willingness to serve as Major Advisor, the applicant will then be admitted to the program through formal notification of Graduate Admissions and the applicant by mail. The entire process takes from 4-6 weeks, thus applicants are usually notified of their acceptance or decline by mid-March of each year. If you have not received a decision letter by April 1st, you may email the Patty McNulty (pmcnult@clemson.edu ) to inquire about the status of your application.
Guidelines used by GAC for Graduate Programs Admission Acceptability:
The following guidelines are used to determine each applicant's acceptability for the program. These benchmarks are guidelines, thus applicants may be considered acceptable by the EDP Admissions Committee even if one or more benchmarks are not absolutely met.
1. GRE score: A combined score of 1200 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE and an Analytical Writing score of = 5.0.
2. GPA: A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 from undergraduate degree institution and 3.5 from Master's degree institution.
3. TOEFL (international students): = 89th percentile; Minimum score of 600 (out of 677) from paper exam or 267 (out of 300) from online exam.
4. Strong letters from recommenders that speak to an applicants academic skills and research potential: 3 required.
5. A promising Portfolio of prior work relevant the doctoral program.
