South Carolina State University, the historically Black educational institution in Orangeburg has entered into an agreement with Clemson University in South Carolina. Under the agreement, students studying physics will be able to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years.
Under the plan, students will spend the first three years at South Carolina State and then transfer to Clemson for the last two years of the program. Students who complete the program will receive a bachelor’s degree from South Carolina State and a master’s degree from Clemson.
The dual-degree program gives students a cost-effective way to receive the personalized support available in a smaller program at South Carolina State and benefit from the resources available at Clemson, a top research university, according to Sean Brittain, chair of Clemson’s physics and astronomy department. Professor Brittain states that “we believe that this program will be a valuable recruitment tool for our colleagues at South Carolina State because it provides added value to their students, and it will bring needed diversity to our profession generally and Clemson in particular.”
Robert Jones, provost at Clemson University adds that “this partnership benefits South Carolina State students who can earn an advanced degree in five years and conduct research at Clemson. Clemson will benefit from the experiences and contributions of a more diverse group of students. It’s a win all the way around.”
