USC: Academic Bulletins

Bruce C. Coull, Dean
Gwendelyn Geidel, Associate Dean
Kirk R. Karwan, MEERM Program Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies

Overview

The School of the Environment has multidisciplinary teaching, research, and outreach programs which are focused on present and future environmental concerns. These programs promote efficient, environmentally safe, use of both natural and man-made resources; safeguard the health of humans and other species; and promote public policy, planning, management, and business as avenues for improvement of the environment. Special interests are: environmentally safe use of natural resources; sustainable development; geohazards; assessment and use or mitigation of hazardous, or environmentally sensitive, man-made materials or processes; use and protection of hydrologic systems, marine systems, and the coastal zone; and preservation and protection of ecologically sensitive or specially designated areas. The school draws on interdisciplinary strengths of its associated faculty in various departments and institutes of the University as well as on collaborative arrangements with other universities, public agencies, and the private sector. The school offers the Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management (M.E.E.R.M.) degree and the J.D./M.E.E.R.M. dual degree, which are administered by a coordinating committee to assist students in developing programs of study with the school's associated faculty. Collaborative projects with the public and private sectors are encouraged.

The following School of the Environment faculty have appointments in other departments and are listed below by these affiliations.

College of Education

Stephen Thompson, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 2002

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Department of Chemical Engineering
Michael D. Amiridis, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1991
Perla B. Balbuena, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Thomas A. Davis, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1967
Francis A. Gadala-Maria, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1979
Michael A. Matthews, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 1986
Branko N. Popov, Ph.D., University of Zagreb, 1972
James A. Ritter, Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1989
John W. Weidner, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1991
Ralph E. White, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1977

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Erik I. Anderson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Minneapolis, 1999
Liv Brakewood, Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 2000
M. Hanif Chaudry, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1970
Adrienne Cooper, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1998
Joseph Raymond V. Flora, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, 1993
Jasim Imran, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1997
Anthony S. McAnally, Ph.D., Auburn University, 1989
Michael E. Meadows, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 1976
Charles A. Pierce, Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1998
Richard P. Ray, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1983

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
John B. Bowles, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1982
Michael N. Huhns, Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1975

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Abdel E. Bayoumi, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1982
Jamil A. Khan, Ph.D., Clemson University, 1988
Jeffrey H. Morehouse, Ph.D., Auburn University, 1976
Walter H. Peters, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1978

College of Liberal Arts

Department of Anthropology
Kenneth G. Kelly, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1995
Thomas L. Leatherman, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1987
Gail E. Wagner, Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis, 1987

Department of Art
David W. Voros, M.F.A., Indiana University, 1994

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
J. Mitchell Miller, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 1996

Department of English
Abner Keen Butterworth, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1970
Paula R. Feldman, Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1974
Christy Friend, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1997

Department of Geography
Gregory J. Carbone, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1990
David J. Cowen, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1971
Susan L. Cutter, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1976
Kirstin Dow, Ph.D., Clark University, 1996
William L. Graf, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1974
Michael E. Hodgson, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1987
L. Allan James, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1988
Robert L. Janiskee, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1974
John R. Jensen, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1976
Cary J. Mock, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1994
Helen C. Power, Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1999
John J. Winberry, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1971

Department of History
Kendrick A. Clements, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1970
Thomas M. Lekan, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999
Robert R. Weyeneth, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1984

Department of Philosophy
Christopher Preston, Ph.D., University of Oregon, Eugene, 1998

Department of Political Science
Ann Bowman, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1979
Mark E. Tompkins, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1981
David P. Whiteman, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1980
Laura Woliver, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1986

Department of Religious Studies
Kevin Lewis, Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1980

Department of Sociology
Elwood D. Carlson, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1978

Institute for Public Service and Policy Research
Environmental Research and Service Unit
Frank J. Cumberland Jr., J.D., George Washington University, 1998

South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
Christopher O. Clement, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1995
Bruce E. Rippeteau, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1973

College of Mass Communications and Information Studies

Sonya F. Duhé, Ph.D., University of Missouri, 1993
J. Michael Witkoski, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1982
Lynn M. Zoch, Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1993

College of Science and Mathematics

Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research
Dennis M. Allen, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1978
Wendy B. Allen, M.Ed., University of South Carolina, 1980
David Bushek, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1994
Madilyn Fletcher, Ph.D., University College of North Wales, 1975
Alan J. Lewitus, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990

Department of Biological Sciences
Bruce C. Coull, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1968
John Mark Dean, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1962
Berten E. Ely III, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1973
Robert J. Feller, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1977
Travis C. Glenn, Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1997
Brian S.T. Helmuth, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1997
Austin L. Hughes, Ph.D., Indiana University, 1984
David E. Lincoln, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1978
Lazlo Marton, Ph.D., Jozsef Attila University, 1976
James T. Morris, Ph.D., Yale University, 1979
Timothy A. Mousseau, Ph.D., McGill University, 1988
John B. Nelson, Ph.D., Florida State University
Joseph M. Quattro, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1991
Roger H. Sawyer, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1970
Stephen E. Stancyk, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1974
Sarah A. Woodin, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1972
Duane C. Yoch, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
John W. Baynes, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1973
John Ferry, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1996
Scott R. Goode, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1974
Timothy J. Shaw, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1988

Department of Geological Sciences
Philip M. Astwood, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1979
Claudia Benitez-Nelson, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999
John R. Carpenter, Ph.D., Florida State University, 1964
Arthur D. Cohen, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968
Leonard R. Gardner, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968
Gwendelyn Geidel, Ph.D., J.D., University of South Carolina, 1982, 1989
Miguel A. Goñi, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1992
Christopher G. St. C. Kendall, Ph.D., Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK, 1966
Björn Kjerfve, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1973
Venkat Lakshmi, Ph.D., Princeton University, 1995
Alan Nairn, Ph.D., University of Glasgow, 1954
Evangelos K. Paleologos, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1994
Robert C. Thunell, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1978
Raymond Torres, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1997
George Voulgaris, Ph.D., University of Southhampton, UK, 1992
Douglas F. Williams, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1976
Alicia Wilson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1999

Department of Mathematics
Douglas B. Meade, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1989
Robert C. Sharpley, Ph.D., University of Texas, 1972
Hong Wang, Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 1992

Department of Physics and Astronomy
Joseph E. Johnson III, Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1968

Department of Statistics
Don Edwards, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1981
Walter W. Piegorsch, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1984

Moore School of Business

Jeffrey S. Arpan, D.B.A., Indiana University, 1971
Glenn W. Harrison, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1982
Kirk R. Karwan, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1979
James A. Kuhlman, Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1971
James R. Sweigart, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1976
Douglas F. Woodward, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1986

School of Law

Kim Diana Connolly, J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1993
David Linnan, J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1979

School of Medicine

Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Charles A. Blake, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1972
Clarke F. Millette, Ph.D., Rockefeller University, 1975

Department of Microbiology and Immunology
William E. Bowers, Ph.D., The Rockefeller University, 1966
Alvin Fox, Ph.D., University of Leeds, 1976

Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Matthew B. Wolf, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1967

Department of Radiology
David F. Adcock, M.D., Medical College of South Carolina, 1962, M.P.H., University of South Carolina, 1986

Arnold School of Public Health

Center for Health Services and Policy Research
K. Sue Haddock, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1988

Department of Environmental Health Sciences
C. Marjorie Aelion, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1988
G. Thomas Chandler, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1986
Alan W. Decho, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1987
Charles E. Feigley, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1978
Henry N. McKellar Jr., Ph.D., University of Florida, 1975
Lee A. Newman, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1993
Edward L. Oswald, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1966
Karen M. Piegorsch, M.S., North Carolina State University, 1993
Dwayne E. Porter, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1995
Dwight W. Underhill, Sc.D., Harvard University, 1967

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
James R. Hebert, Sc.D., Harvard University, 1984
Andrew B. Lawson, Ph.D., University of St. Andrews, UK, 1991

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Elaine M. Frank, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1988

USC Aiken

Department of Biology and Geology
Andrew R. Dyer, Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 1996
William A. Pirkle, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1972
Harry E. Shealy Jr., Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1972
Garriet W. Smith, Ph.D., Clemson University, 1981

Department of English
Lynn E. Rhodes, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1996

USC Beaufort

Department of Biology
Randall E. Cross, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1994

Department of Business Administration
Davis Folsom, Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 1979

USC Lancaster

Department of Biological Sciences
Todd L. Scarlett, Ph.D., Washington State University, 1997

USC Spartanburg

Department of English
Richard L. Predmore Jr., Ph.D., University of Florida, 1974

Library
Julian W. Green, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1988

USC Sumter

Division of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
Pearl R. Fernandes, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1993
John F. Logue, M.S., University of South Carolina, 1966

Earth and Environmental Resources Management

Coordinating Committee
C. Marjorie Aelion
Gwendelyn Geidel
L. Allan James
Kirk R. Karwan
Michael N. Matthews
Joseph M. Quattro
Richard P. Ray
Timothy J. Shaw

Overview

The Earth and Environmental Resources Management program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach toward efficient, environmentally safe use of both depletable and renewable resources of natural earth systems within the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere and toward assessment and use or mitigation of environmentally sensitive materials or processes resulting from man’s interaction with natural earth systems. The program draws on interdisciplinary strengths in geological, biological, marine, and human resources as well as on interdisciplinary environmental disciplines in engineering, chemistry, health sciences, and on business administration and economics.

The Earth and Environmental Resources Management program is administered by an interdisciplinary coordinating committee on behalf of the dean of the School of the Environment. The coordinating committee reviews curriculum needs and assists in the development and coordination of interdisciplinary course offerings. This program is designed to provide individually tailored curricula, particularly for students interested in administrative posts dealing with earth and environmental resources as well as for current college graduates with relevant experience.

This interdisciplinary program provides courses in earth and environmental resources to reinforce the scientific or technical knowledge of the participants and courses in management, finance, accounting, and economics to develop administrative skills. Generally, additional electives in geological, biological, marine, and health sciences; geography; chemistry; engineering; policy; law; and international relations are available to meet specific career objectives. Individual course programs are developed with an interdisciplinary committee chaired by an appropriate advisor in the department that most closely matches the student’s interests and background.

Degrees Offered

M.E.E.R.M. Degree Program

The Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management (M.E.E.R.M.) degree is offered through the School of the Environment.

Admission

Requirements for admission conform with general regulations of The Graduate School including satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination and successful academic performance at an accredited institution. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the University of Cambridge's IELTS Academic Course Type 2 exam. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based). The minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5. Attention will be given not only to the applicant’s academic record but also to relevant scientific and administrative experience.

Requests for further information should be addressed to: Program Coordinator, Earth and Environmental Resources Management Program, School of the Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208.

Degree Requirements

This master's degree program is focus-based on students' backgrounds and interests. Electives are available in geological, biological, marine, and environmental health sciences; geography; chemistry and biochemistry; chemical, civil, and environmental engineering; environmental law; policy; and business administration, based on the background and needs of the student. At least one-third of the course work must be in earth and environmental resources and at least one-third in management, finance, policy, and economics, but no more than 50 percent in either field. Students will be required to complete six hours of integrative seminars. Courses exist in business administration for graduate students with nonbusiness backgrounds. Students will be required to demonstrate sufficient background in one or more fields, gained by academic study or experience, to qualify for graduate courses in earth or environmental resources.

The program requires a total of 36 credit hours, which includes 6 hours of thesis credit for those students who elect a thesis or, with dean's approval, 6 hours of approved electives in lieu of a thesis. There is no foreign language requirement.

It is expected that students with demonstrated course work in earth or environmental resources and pertinent experience should be able to complete the program in two years.

J.D./M.E.E.R.M. Dual Degree Program

The School of the Environment in cooperation with the USC School of Law and The Graduate School offers a dual degree program. The dual degree program, the Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management (M.E.E.R.M.) and law degree (J.D.), permits students to complete the joint program in approximately four years. Through the combined program, the total course load may be reduced by as many as 18 credit hours from that required if the two degrees were earned separately, since up to 9 hours of electives toward the M.E.E.R.M. degree may be taken in approved law courses and 9 hours of electives toward the J.D. may be earned in the M.E.E.R.M. program.

The combined J.D./M.E.E.R.M. program requires that students be accepted independently into each of the programs, that the students begin their first year with courses exclusively in the School of Law, and that the remaining years be divided between the two programs. Upon acceptance by both programs, students must complete a dual degree form. Acceptance into one program does not affect the decision of the other school with regards to admission. Upon admission to the dual degree program, the student must select electives from an approved list of courses.

Course Descriptions

By design, no core curriculum is specified except the two required integrative seminars to be taken from the following courses:

ENVR 700 -- Current Topics in Environmental Studies. (3) Current issues, policies, and regulations pertaining to environmental studies. Emphasizes integrated multidisciplinary approaches toward identification, evaluation, preservation, mitigation, and/or utilization of environmentally sensitive material and sites.
ENVR 800 -- Seminar in Environmental Studies. (3) Examination of the effectiveness of environmental policies and methods relative to current issues and needs.
GEOL 560 -- Earth Resource Management. (3) An approach to problems of resource management by lecture and seminar using case studies in mineral, energy, hydrogeological and environmental science.
GEOL 743 -- Decision Making in Environmental Resource Management. (3) (Prereq: GEOL 560 or permission of instructor) Environmental project planning and management. Types and magnitudes of environmental problems; environmental pathways; environmental data acquisition and analysis; protection versus restoration; risk assessment; site assessment.
GEOL 744 -- Decision Making in Energy Resource Management. (3) An integrative seminar for science managers. Consideration of the technical, managerial, and financial aspects of decision making in geologic enterprises, with emphasis on hydrocarbon exploration.

Additional course offerings will be tailored to the individual's interests and background of experience and education. Students will enroll in existing courses in the School of the Environment; geological, biological, or marine sciences; chemical, civil, or environmental engineering; environmental health; chemistry or biochemistry; geography; business administration; and other disciplines. The integrative seminars serve the purpose of relating science and nonscience subject matter. A program of study will be developed with the student’s interdisciplinary committee according to the guidelines established by the coordinating committee and will be approved by the student’s advisor and by the program coordinator. Theses will be supervised by an appropriate advisor and interdisciplinary committee based on the student’s research topic. For thesis credit and directed individual study courses, the students may take the following courses:

ENVR 790 -- Directed Individual Studies. (1-6) Directed research topics to be individually assigned.
ENVR 799 -- Thesis Preparation. (1-9)

The following course is available as an elective through the School of the Environment:

ENVR 500 -- Environmental Practicum. (3) (Prereq: permission of instructor) Multidisciplinary research projects related to University or community environmental problems (e.g., energy, water conservation, solid waste, recycling).
ENVR 725 -- International Environmental Management Systems. (3) International environmental management systems standards will be integrated with business planning to provide students with the best strategies for future growth in today's environmentally sensitive global economy.