Current ESED faculty members have active research projects in the broad areas of chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering education, including, for example, assessment and improvement of problem-solving, relationships between motivation and learning, student-centered learning environments, equity and gender issues in STEM disciplines, identity development, modeling of large-scale data, the graduate school experience, and students' academic and career development and success.
It is expected that each ESED doctoral student will choose a research project in conjunction with their faculty advisor in one of these or a similar area. Assistantships are stipends paid to graduate students to conduct research (research assistantship, or RA) or teach (teaching assistantship, or TA). RA and TA positions are subject to the availability of funds and may be offered to selected full-time students upon acceptance into the Clemson University Graduate School.
If you have been awarded an assistantship, you must report to the departmental staff prior to the beginning of your assistantship and complete the required forms. The ESED department expects you to approach your graduate study in a serious and focused manner. Students on assistantship will have a weekly time commitment for work obligations stated in their letter of appointment (typically 20 hours per week). Coursework and dissertation research or professional activities will occupy an additional 20-30 hours per week for satisfactory progress to the degree.