The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design offers a masters program that allows students to concentrate their coursework in textile history with a quilt studies emphasis. In consultation with a faculty adviser, each student plans an individualized course of study linking his/her background interests with the research or creative interests of departmental faculty and the educational resources of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This graduate program is offered through a combination of distance technology and on-campus instruction.
Who should consider this program?
Students with an undergraduate degree in history, art history, American studies, or women's studies are best prepared for this masters program. Therefore, they are given preference for admission when applications are reviewed. The program is designed for persons interested in analyzing the complex ways gender, class, ethnicity, aesthetics, politics, religion and technology find expression in the textile arts, quilt making traditions, design and culture. Graduates of this program are prepared for careers or career advancement in museums, historic houses, galleries, auction houses and government agencies in the areas of collections care and management, education and research.
What is the application deadline?
Applications to the hybrid program are reviewed once a year. Completed applications including transcripts and letters of recommendation must be received by February 1 to be considered for admission for fall semester.
A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the Master of Arts Degree, Option I - Thesis Option.
* Denotes courses open exclusively to graduate students.
Required Coursework in Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design (TMFD) 22 credits):
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| TMFD 807 History of Dress (Fall only) | 3cr |
| TMFD 808 Textiles, Technology & Culture (Spring only) | 3cr |
| *TMFD 874 Theory Development (Fall odd years) | 1cr |
| TMFD 896 Independent Study (Textiles) | 3cr |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *TMFD 809 Museums: Theory & Practice (Spring even years) | 3cr |
| *TMFD 818 Quilts, History, Culture | 3cr |
| TMFD 899 Master Thesis | 6cr |
Required Research Methodology Coursework (6 credits):
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *TMFD 876 Material Culture Research Methods | 3cr |
Select one of the following courses:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *EDAD 990Historical Methods in Educational Research (Summer pre-session only) | 3cr |
| *EDPS 936 Mixed Methods Research | 3cr |
| SOCI 807 Strategies of Social Research: Qualitative Methods | 3cr |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *EDPS 900K Qualitative Approaches to Educational Research | 3cr |
| *EDPS 935 Seminar in Qualitative Research | 3cr |
| *TMFD 875 Research Methods | 3cr |
Additional Coursework in TMFD (2 credits minimum):
Select from the following:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *TMFD 873Design Perspectives and Issues (Alt. Years) | 3cr |
| TMFD 890Workshop/Seminar | 1-3cr |
| *TMFD 978 Seminar in Textile History | 1-3cr |
| *TMFD 986 Seminar in Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design | 1cr |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| *TMFD 814 Studio Craft Movement from Mid-century to DYI (online) (Fall odd years) | 3cr |
| TMFD 815 Aesthetics and the Quilt (online) (Fall even years) | 3cr |
| *TMFD 997 Internship | 1-9cr |