updated 8/15/2008

Madilyn Fletcher, Director
Gwendelyn Geidel, Assistant Director
Joseph Quattro, Ph.D., Undergraduate Director
James R. Sweigart, MEERM Program Coordinator and Director of Graduate Studies

Assistant Professors
Cinnamon Carlonne, J.D., University of California at Berkeley, 2001
Jeffry L. Dudycha, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1999
Jason Murray, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 2007

Distinguished Lecturer
Rudy Mancke, B.S., Wofford College, 1967

Earth Sciences and Resources Institute
John M. Shafer, Ph.D., Colorado State University, 1979

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 Arts and Sciences

Department of Anthropology
Laura Cahue, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2001
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

Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences
Dennis M. Allen, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1978
Wendy B. Allen, M.Ed., University of South Carolina, 1980
James T. Morris, Ph.D., Yale University, 1979

Department of Biological Sciences
Bruce C. Coull, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1968
John Mark Dean, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1962
Jeffry L. Dudycha, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1999
Berten E. Ely III, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1973
Robert J. Feller, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1977
Madilyn Fletcher, Ph.D., University of North Wales, 1975
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

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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 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
Laura Dassow Walls, Ph.D., Indiana University, 1992

Department of Geography
Gregory J. Carbone, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1990
Edward R. Carr, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 2002; Ph.D., Syracuse University, 2001
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
John Kupfer, Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1995
Jerry T. Mitchell, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1998
Cary J. Mock, Ph.D., University of Oregon, 1994
Helen C. Power, Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1999

Department of Geological Sciences
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
Gwendelyn Geidel, Ph.D., J.D., University of South Carolina, 1982, 1989
Christopher G. St. C. Kendall, Ph.D., Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK, 1966
Venkat Lakshmi, Ph.D., Princeton University, 1995
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
Scott M. White, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2001
Douglas F. Williams, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1976
Alicia Wilson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1999

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 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 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

South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
Christopher O. Clement, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1995

Department of Statistics
Don Edwards, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1981

College of Education

Mary Earick, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Stephen Thompson, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University, 2002

College of Engineering and Computing

Department of Chemical Engineering
Michael D. Amiridis, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1991
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
M. Hanif Chaudry, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1970
Joseph Raymond V. Flora, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati, 1993
Kenneth W. Harrison, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 2002
Liv Haselbach, Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 2000
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 Mass Communications and Information Studies

Sonya F. Duhé, Ph.D., University of Missouri, 1993

Moore School of Business

Jason Murray, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 2007
James R. Sweigart, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 1976
Kathleen M. Whitcomb, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1989
Douglas F. Woodward, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1986

School of Law

Cinnamon Carlonne, J.D., University of California at Berkeley, 2001
Kim Diana Connolly, J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1993
Joshua Eagle, J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1990
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 Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Alvin Fox, Ph.D., University of Leeds, 1976

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

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
Lee A. Newman, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1993
Dwayne E. Porter, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1995

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
James R. Hebert, Sc.D., Harvard University, 1984
Andrew B. Lawson, Ph.D., University of St. Andrews, UK, 1991
John E. Vena, Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1980

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
Sarah Michelle Harmon, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 2003
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
Lynne Rhodes, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1996

USC Beaufort

Department of Biology
Randall E. Cross, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1994
Joseph L. Staton, Ph.D., University of Louisiana, 1992

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 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
Jeffrey Steinmetz, Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1985

USC Upstate

Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering
Julian W. Green, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1988

Earth and Environmental Resources Management

Coordinating Committee
C. Marjorie Aelion
Kim Diana Connolly
Gwendelyn Geidel
Liv Haselbach
L. Allan James
Walter H. Peters III
James R. Sweigart
Mark E. Tompkins
Alicia M. Wilson

Overview

The Earth and Environmental Resources Management master's 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 director 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 IELTS Intl. 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 Intl. 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: Graduate Director, Earth and Environmental Resources Management Program, School of the Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208; or contact us by phone, 803-777-9153, or e-mail, meerm@environ.sc.edu.

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.

By design, no core curriculum is specified except the two required integrative seminars to be taken from the following courses: ENVR 700, ENVR 800, ENVR 804, ENVR 835, GEOL 560, GEOL 743.

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 graduate director. Theses will be supervised by an appropriate advisor and interdisciplinary committee based on the student’s research topic.

The program requires a total of 36 credit hours, which includes 6 hours of thesis credit or, with director'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 (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).
  
• 548 -- Environmental Economics. {=ECON 548} (3) An analysis of the economics aspects of environmental decay, pollution control, and natural resource use. Analysis of the ability of the market system to allocate resources efficiently when economic activity is accompanied by environmental damage. Discussion of alternative public policy approaches to pollution control and natural resource conservation.
  
• 590 -- Environmental Issues Seminar. (3) Collaborative study of a contemporary environmental issue. Field trips required. Restricted to: ENVR majors or special permission of department.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 790 -- Directed Individual Studies. (1-6) Directed research topics to be individually assigned.
  
• 799 -- Thesis Preparation. (1-9)
  
• 800 -- Seminar in Environmental Studies. (3) Examination of the effectiveness of environmental policies and methods relative to current issues and needs.
  
• 804 -- Environmental Advocacy Seminar. {=LAWS 804} (3) (Prereq: permission of instructor) This seminar is designed to explore and develop practical advocacy skills in the area of environmental representation and to provide an understanding of advocacy in administrative, legislative, and litigation arenas.
  
• 835 -- Seminar in Environmental Ethics. {=PHIL 835} (3) Examination of the intellectual, cultural, and ethical frameworks within which environmental problems arise and are solved.