Program Website: http://www.clemson.edu/forestres/propsects
Introduction
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Clemson University offers the MS and PhD degrees in wildlife and fisheries biology. Research areas in wildlife and fisheries biology include aquaculture, aquatic ecology, applied wildlife ecology and management, conservation biology, forest wildlife, freshwater and marine fish biology, nuisance wildlife and wildlife/environmental toxicology. Research activities encompass the areas of aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicology, assessment of disturbance impacts on forest communities, wildlife habitats and biodiversity, behavioral and population ecology, landscape ecology and water quality. Most students pursue field studies incorporating population and habitat assessment, telemetry, GIS, collection of toxicological and water quality data and other techniques designed to address ecological, social and economic issues. Programs of study are designed to meet individual student interests and needs but generally emphasize relationships between wild animals and their changing environments.
The graduate program in wildlife biology is accredited by the Southeastern section of The Wildlife Society.
Programs of Study
MS Requirements for the MS include 24 semester hours of course work, six hours of research credits, an acceptable thesis based on original research and a satisfactory performance on a final oral examination. Additional course work usually includes subjects such as experimental statistics, biological sciences and forestry. Concentrations are offered in aquaculture, aquatic toxicology, conservation biology, upland and wetland wildlife biology, endangered species biology, wildlife toxicology, freshwater fisheries science and marine fisheries science.
PhD There are no specific credit hour requirements beyond 30 semester hours of post-baccalaureate course work and 18 hours of doctoral dissertation research for the PhD in wildlife and fisheries biology. However, if you are accepted, your advisory committee will insist on a rigorous and appropriate programs of study and research. You will be required to take, if you have not already taken, at least two semesters of graduate statistics and two semesters of 800-level seminars in wildlife and fisheries biology or related areas. You must also have a minimum of one semester of professional experience which will be evaluated by your advisory committee. Examples of appropriate professional experience include working as a teaching assistant, intern, cooperative study program participant or natural resource agency employee.
Other course requirements will be identified by your advisory committee and will include specific courses according to your selected emphasis area. The three emphasis areas are fisheries biology, wildlife biology and conservation biology. The program generally lasts three to four years. In addition to the final oral exam, as a PhD student, you must pass a comprehensive exam at the end of your second year. You must complete at least one continuous year in residence and will be required to work closely with your major professor and graduate committee members. Most research results have applied-management applications, and you will be expected to present and publish these results in appropriate technical and popular outlets.
Financial Aid
Financial assistance is available to qualified students. Most students are supported by graduate research assistantships funded by faculty research grants. Fellowships and teaching assistantships in a variety of departments are also available, and tuition fee waivers can be granted. Some highly competitive fellowships are available from University sources and federal agencies. There are employment opportunities at the University for students’ spouses.
Research Facilities
Excellent GIS, computer, chemical analysis and biotechnology facilities are available to graduate students in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. The 17,500-acre Clemson Experimental Forest surrounds the campus and offers opportunities for field research. In addition, students may work with six faculty members who are located at the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science in Georgetown, South Carolina. At the Baruch Institute, opportunities exist for research at the Hobcaw Barony, a 17,000-acre undisturbed ecological reserve of forests, high-salinity marsh estuaries and brackish and freshwater marshes. Research opportunities for graduate students are enhanced by cooperative programs with the US Forest Service Southern Research Station, USGS Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Units at Clemson, the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Waddell Mariculture Center and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Eastern Wildlife Program.
Student Group
The MS and PhD programs have a total of 33 students, over half of whom are women.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the wildlife and fisheries biology programs most often work for state and federal natural resources management agencies, the forest industry or in the private sector. Those graduates who pursue PhD studies usually do so at land-grant universities such as Clemson, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State or Georgia. Graduates of doctoral programs serve as faculty at research universities and as scientists with agencies in the private sector.
The University
Clemson is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, a category comprising less than four percent of all universities in America. The University’s mission is to fulfill the covenant between its founder and the people of South Carolina to establish a “high seminary of learning” through its responsibilities of teaching, research and extended public service. The University has identified eight areas of academic emphasis that create collaborations that, in turn, help fulfill the University’s mission.
Applying
You may apply on the web at www.grad.clemson.edu/Admission.php. Applications, along with a $55 nonrefundable fee, should be received no later than five weeks prior to registration. Every required item in support of your application must be on file by that date.
Faculty Listing
Patricia Layton, Chair
PhD; University of Florida, 1985. Forest Certification; (864) 656-3303; playton@clemson.edu.
George Askew, Director (Baruch)
PhD; Clemson University, 1981. Forest Population Genetics/Breeding; (843) 546-6308; gaskew@clemson.edu.
Robert Baldwin
PhD; University of Maine, 2005. Conservation Biology/GIS; (864) 656-4857; baldw16@clemson.edu.
M. Chad Bolding
PhD; Oregon State University, 2006. Forest Operations and Harvesting; (864) 656-4842; mboldin@clemson.edu.
Bill Bowerman
PhD; Michigan State University, 1993. Wildlife/Avian/Environmental Toxicology; (864) 656-6192; wbowerm@clemson.edu.
Bryan Brown
PhD; Darmouth College, 2004. Aquatic Ecology; (864) 656-7333; bbrown@clemson.edu.
William Conner (Baruch)
PhD; Louisiana State University, 1988. Wetlands Ecology/Forest Ecology/ Silviculture; (843) 546-6323; wconner@clemson.edu.
William Rockie English
PhD; Clemson University, 1991. Water Quality/Stream Restoration; (864) 656-4861; renglish@clemson.edu.
Jeffrey Foltz
PhD; University of Colorado, 1978. Ichthyology/ Fisheries Biology; (864) 656-5330; jwfoltz@clemson.edu.
Lawrence Gering
PhD; University of Georgia, 1985. Forest Measurement/ GIS; (864) 656-4853; lgering@clemson.edu.
Chuck Gresham (Baruch)
PhD; Duke University, 1975. Forest Ecology; (843) 546-6314; cgrshm@clemson.edu.
David Guynn
PhD; Virginia Tech, 1975. Wildlife Management; (864) 656-4830; dguynn@clemson.edu.
Roy Hedden
PhD; University of Washington, 1976. Forest Entomology; (864) 656-4832; rhddn@clemson.edu.
Jeffrey Isely (SC Coop)
PhD; Texas A&M, 1984. Freshwater and Marine Fish Biology; (864) 656-1265; jisely@clemson.edu.
Patrick Jodice (SC Coop)
PhD; Oregon State University, 1999. Applied Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; (864) 656-0168; pjodice@clemson.edu.
Alan Johnson
PhD; University of Tennessee, 1988. Landscape/Ecotoxicology; (864) 656-4390; alanj@clemson.edu.
Drew Lanham
PhD; Clemson University, 1997. Nongame Wildlife Ecology/Management; (864) 656-7294; lanhamj@clemson.edu.
Andy Lee
PhD; Auburn University, 1978. Wood Mechanical Properties/Composites; (864) 656-4838; alee@clemson.edu.
Elena Mikhailova
PhD; Cornell University, 1999. Soils; (864) 656-3535; eleanam@clemson.edu.
Chris Post
PhD; Cornell University, 2001, GIS/Environmental Information Science; (864) 656-6939; cpost@clemson.edu.
Robert Powell
PhD; Yale University, 2005. Social Dimensions of Resource Management; (864) 656-0787; rpb@clemson.edu.
John Rodgers, Jr.
PhD; Virginia Tech, 1977. Ecotoxicology/Wetlands/Risk Mitigation; (864) 656-0492; jrodger@clemson.edu.
Thomas Schwedler
PhD; Auburn University, 1980. Aquaculture; (864) 656-2810; tschwdl@clemson.edu.
Vic Shelburne
PhD; Clemson University, 1988. Forest Ecology/Tree Physiology; (864) 656-4855; vshlbrn@clemson.edu.
Bo Song (Baruch)
PhD; Michigan Tech, 1988. Landscape Ecology; (843) 545-5673; bosong@clemson.edu.
Thomas Straka
PhD; Virginia Tech, 1981. Forest Management/Economics; (864) 656-4827; tstraka@clemson.edu.
John Sweeney
PhD; Colorado State University, 1975. Forest Wildlife Management; (864) 656-5333; jrswny@clemson.edu.
Geoff Wang
PhD; University of British Columbia, 1993. Silviculture/Forest Ecology/Fire Ecology; (864) 656-4864; gwang@clemson.edu.
Jack Whetstone (Baruch)
MS; Clemson University, 1978. Marine Aquaculture/Pond Management; (843) 546-6321; jwhtstn@clemson.edu.
Thomas Williams (Baruch)
PhD; University of Minnesota, 1976. Forest Hydrology; (843) 546-6318; tmwllms@clemson.edu.
Greg Yarrow
DF; Stephen F. Austin State University, 1987. Wildlife Management/Nuisance Wildlife (864) 656-7370; gyarrow@clemson.edu.
For More Information
David Guynn
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
260 Lehotsky Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0317
United States
Telephone: 864-656-4830
Fax: 864-656-3304
Email: dguynn@clemson.edu
