Future Plans

The LGC is continually working to assess the needs of the Lowcountry for graduate and professional education and to ultimately bring those identified programs to the area. By increasing the range of graduate programs in the region, the LGC will spur economic growth in the community, attracting new business to the area and making it easier for established companies to attract and retain employees.

Since the Lowcountry Graduate Center’s founding, the College of Charleston, The Citadel, the University of South Carolina, and Clemson University have created eight new graduate programs at the LGC and are working on several others – many involve cooperation among two or more institutions.

The collaborative educational model is an efficient use of state resources that can ultimately assist with expanding programs available in the Lowcountry and statewide. In addition, upgraded distance learning technology will make it possible for continued program expansion, including two-way video and audio conferencing.

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance commissioned AngelouEconomics, an economic research firm, to conduct a study on the Charleston region. The report, Forward Charleston, was released in April 2005 and recommended an economic development strategy for the region that focuses on the development of five targeted industry clusters. The Lowcountry Graduate Center was identified within the report as a support mechanism for existing industry, and would assist with recruiting future industry to the tri-county region.

Forward Charleston, in addition to other reports conducted in the region and across the state, mentioned engineering programs needed in the Lowcountry including: composite, civil, environmental mechanical, software and computer. In addition, programs related, but not limited to, public policy, transportation, homeland security, advanced security, biomedical, materials science.

The LGC is working to bring two PhD programs in Education to support CD-12 educators in the tri-county region. First, a PhD in Educational Leadership from University of South Carolina specifically designed for administrators conducting research in CD-12 education. Second, a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Clemson University designed for CD-12 teachers. The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, the College of Charleston and The Citadel are all working on various aspects of the program development and approvals.

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