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About the Department

The future of US and international innovation lies in the teaching of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines because the traditional workforce is contracting. Individuals from groups who are not well represented in the traditional workforce can be inspired to pursue careers in the STEM disciplines at all levels in order to fuel innovation.

The Department of Engineering and Science Education (ESED) is a dynamic community of scholars engaged in ground-breaking research that seeks to understand the connection between motivation and learning in engineering, science, and mathematics education, the role of social capital in determining academic and career choices, approaches to problem-solving, virtual reality, equity in higher education, and more.

The future of US and international innovation lies in the teaching of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

Through the research of its faculty and students, ESED creates new knowledge that informs the US and international education policy as well as instruction in higher education about methods and practices that will attract, motivate, and retain new talent in the STEM disciplines. In support of its vision and mission, ESED also prepares future academics and professionals who will serve as inspiring role models.

ESED offers a Ph.D. and a certificate in Engineering and Science Education. The certificate program is open to any graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline.

Mission

The mission of ESED is to prepare doctoral students who will inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians by creating and communicating new knowledge through robust research in education and teaching at the foundational levels of the STEM disciplines.

Vision

The vision of Engineering and Science Education (ESED) is to be an international leader in engineering science, and mathematics education through discipline-based education research; preparation of future faculty, leaders, and change agents; and translation of research to practice through inclusive, evidence-based curricula and programming.

History

The Department of Engineering and Science Education (ESED) was founded in August 2006 by the Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences, Esin Gulari. Dean Gulari, who served on the National Science Board of the National Science Foundation, had a deep appreciation of how Clemson could contribute to the emerging discipline of Engineering Education and take advantage of Clemson’s reputation for research in science education. At its founding, ESED included General Engineering, which is the first-year student program for engineering majors. Ben Sill was appointed as the founding chair, and two tenure-track faculty were hired. Lisa Benson was the first faculty member hired for ESED.

The Certificate in Engineering and Science Education was approved in 2008 by the Board of Trustees, and the first ESED classes were taught during the 2008 fall term. The first group of 15 students completed the certificate in spring 2010. In August 2008, Melanie Cooper, a well-known scholar in chemical education, was appointed interim chair of ESED. Three new faculty members also joined ESED that August.

In the spring of 2010, ESED was reorganized as a separate department, and General Engineering was re-established as a department. In August 2011, the Ph.D. in Engineering and Science Education was approved, and the first students enrolled.

Resources

For all inquiries, questions, and further information, please contact us at the following:

ESED Department
262 Sirrine Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
864-656-7148
esegradinquiries@clemson.edu