Graduate Studies Overview

Current and Accepted Students

• Administrative Forms
  • Application to become a student grader
  • Missed class notification
• Course Information

  The following course resources may be useful:

  • Graduate courses by interest area
  • School Course Transfer Form (PDF)
  • Long-range plan of course offerings (PDF)
  • Graduate School course catalog
  • The School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)
• Faculty Advisers

  Faculty advisers of M.S. students focus on making sure new M.S. students make up any deficiencies during their first semester, and guide students to complete their breadth courses during the first year if possible.

  Faculty advisers of Ph.D. students focus on making sure new Ph.D. students make up any deficiencies during their first semester.

  Academic Probation

  When any graduate student’s GPA drops below 3.0, the student is placed on academic probation by the Graduate School. When this happens, the student is required to fill out a plan of success. The student will receive instructions from the Graduate School and the graduate coordinator about which form (GSR1 or GSR2) to complete. Advisers will work with a student to strategically plan the remainder of required coursework so that the student’s GPA can be brought back to a 3.0 as quickly as possible. Advisers will “sign off” on the consulted plan of success.

• Oral Presentation Guidelines

  The oral presentation scheduling procedure is as follows:

  1. Submit the SMSS form at least 10 business days prior to the defense: A member of the SMSS staff will schedule the meeting for your defense
  2. Form submissions are reviewed weekly. To ensure form processing, email mathstatadmin@clemson.edu.
  3. After an online conference or room is scheduled, submit the Graduate School form to officially schedule the presentation.
  4. Information submitted will be used to complete the appropriate form for your defense. The form will be routed to your committee chair for electronic signature and submission.
  5. A PDF of the final master’s project/thesis must be submitted to mathstatadmin@clemson.edu.

  If you have questions or have issues with the web form, contact mathstatadmin@clemson.edu.

• Research Hours Policies

  Master of Science Students

  For M.S. students, policies are as follows:

  • M.S. students who are completing a master’s project should register for one hour of MATH 8920 during their last semester in the program.
  • M.S. students who are completing a master’s thesis should register for a total of six hours of Math 8910 during their last two semesters in the program.
  • In very rare circumstances an M.S. student may be allowed to register for Math 9700 (independent study) hours. This will be evaluated by the graduate coordinator on a case by case basis.

  Doctor of Philosophy Students

  Ph.D. students begin the program with an allowance of zero research hours per semester. As students demonstrate maturity by passing certain milestones in the Ph.D. program this allowance is increased as follows:

  • When a student completes the two required prelims, their research hours allowance is increased by three hours per semester.
  • When a student completes the Ph.D. breadth requirement, their research hours allowance is increased by three hours per semester.
  • When a student completes his or her comprehensive oral exam, their research hours allowance is increased by three hours per semester.
• Research Opportunities

  In order to transition from student to researcher — the goal of every successful graduate student — students, especially those new to research, must continually immerse themselves in available research opportunities. We recommend that students attend at least two seminars per week: a first-year seminar or graduate student seminar, and a research seminar of each student’s choosing.

  • The first-year seminar is a great place to gain a better understanding of faculty research areas and to meet a research adviser.
  • The graduate student seminar (login required) is a fantastic place to learn about the research projects of your peers and to give your first talks.
  • School research seminars allow exposure to various areas of research at a deeper level.
  • Graduate students are encouraged to travel to research conferences in their area of specialty as often as possible. The school provides some limited financial support for such travel which can be requested by completing a graduate travel request form.
  • International exchange programs are another option to consider.
• The Graduate School

  In addition to policies outlined on these school pages, the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences must follow all policies of the Graduate School. Current graduate students may find the following links containing University policies helpful:

  • “Clemson University Graduate School Policies & Procedures” handbook
  • The Graduate School
  • Graduation deadlines
  • Graduate School forms

  For general information about the Clemson University Graduate School, as well as the most current degree requirements and course listings, visit the Records and Registration page.

• Clemson Life: Housing, Health, Resources

  Housing

  Most graduate students select off-campus housing, for which a variety of options in many cost ranges are available within a short walk or drive from campus. Clemson has an excellent free local bus system that provides frequent service to most local apartment complexes and campus buildings. More information about housing is also available on the Clemson Home website.

  • View the campus map.

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  Insurance and Health Services

  Clemson University requires all full-time (nine hours or more), on-campus graduate students to have health insurance coverage. All international graduate students are required to have health insurance. This policy is administered by Redfern Health Center as a “hard-waiver program.” All full-time, on-campus students are enrolled in the University plan unless they present evidence of acceptable alternative coverage to RHC’s Office of Student Insurance before the semester begins. One waiver is valid for a year. To partially offset some of the health insurance premium costs associated with this requirement, Clemson provides all graduate assistants who purchase health insurance from Clemson with an annual, nonrefundable, non-transferable health insurance subsidy.

  Find out more on the Redfern Health Center website.

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  Local and Regional Resources

  For additional information on Clemson and Upstate South Carolina, follow these links:

  • City of Clemson
  • Clemson Tourism 
  • City of Greenville