Special Programs
Rely on resources that will help you thrive in and out of the classroom. Open career options through networking opportunities. Connect to other students in your field. The College of Engineering and Science (CoES) is committed to the success of its undergraduates and offers guidance through special opportunities for minorities, women and freshmen.
PEER
The highly successful Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention (PEER) pairs CoES minority freshmen with minority upperclassmen who serve as mentors and guides in the transition to college life. As a result, Clemson’s minority graduation rates far exceed national averages. Prior to PEER’s establishment in 1987, Clemson’s graduation rate of African-American engineering majors was near the national average. Today, thanks in large part to PEER, Clemson is tied for first in the nation in the number of African-American students who graduate in engineering among nonhistorically black colleges and universities, according to a recent study cited in Black Issues in Higher Education.
RISE
Residents Inspiring Successful Engineers (RISE) is a unique first-year program limited to engineering freshmen that combines the residential and academic aspects of college life. The program provides a support system for students with similar interests to enhance academic experience and ease the transition into college.About 250 participants attend classes together and live together in Benet Hall and Sanders Hall. In their second semester, RISE students have the option of participating in a course that involves business and engineering students working together in teams to design and market a product.
WISE
The Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program encourages women to prepare for, obtain and succeed in science and engineering careers. WISE provides programs and services that help students connect with other women in their majors or fields, including
- Workshops and guest speakers
- Academic advising and personal counseling
- Career planning and preparation
- Networking opportunities
- Study hall and study groups
- Tutoring
- Lounge area
- “WISE-UP” electronic newsletter
Cooperative Education
The Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program has students alternate semesters of academic study with paid, career-related semesters of employment. This partnership among the students, the University and the various participating industries, businesses and government agencies offers multiple advantages for participants and bridges the gap between the worlds of school and work.
International Programs
South Carolina has been very successful in cultivating international investment in business and manufacturing facilities, with more than 500 companies representing 27 countries located in the state. International firms, such as Michelin North America, TNS Mills and BMW Manufacturing Corp., have both national headquarters and manufacturing plants just a short drive from the Clemson University campus. Clemson has formed academic and business partnerships with many of these firms and the countries they represent, creating study abroad programs that give engineering and science students a strong competitive advantage for the global marketplace.