Thesis Information

Students are required to complete a Thesis project as part of the EVSS Program, demonstrating mastery of research design in an academic setting. The student will conceive, implement, analyze, and report on original research, based on a literature review that informs the research question/hypotheses.

All stages of the process of creating a research product (literature reviews, research design, public defense of results) are the same for every student project. Thesis projects are developed on an individual basis with a student's committee and academic advisor. Research topics vary widely within the program and students have the flexibility to develop research and academic concentrations based on their interest.

Committee Structure

A Research Advisory Committee is made up of four experts willing to contribute their time, on a largely volunteer basis, to cultivate graduate student research. All members of the student’s committee, whether or not affiliated with the College of Charleston, collaborate with graduate students because they are interested in mentoring students, because the work has the potential to contribute to advancing the field, or because they believe that working on graduate projects enriches the local community. The student’s committee for a thesis project must be composed of a minimum of two Type I faculty members who are employed by the College of Charleston. The other two committee spots may be appropriate to fill with either Type I or Type II faculty: these may be faculty within the College or experts from another institution.

EVSS students have completed research with the following organizations:

ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve
Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium
Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
Board of Architectural Review
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Charleston County Parks
Charleston County School District
Charleston Waterkeeper
Coastal Conservation League
College of Charleston
East Cooper Land Trust
Edisto Beach State Park
Keep Charleston Beautiful
Kiawah Island
MUSC Environmental Bioscience
NOAA
SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
SC Department of Natural Resources
SC Sea Grant Consortium
South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
The Nature Conservancy
USDA Vegetable Lab