Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design
MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.)
Department resources include apparel design studios, screen-printing, weaving, and digital textile printing studios, historic textile and costume collections with over 5,000 pieces maintained in a state-of-the-art climate-controlled environment, well-equipped computer-aided design, and textile testing and processing laboratories. Internship opportunities in industry, government, museum and gallery settings, as well as domestic and international study programs, are available.
The Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery showcases apparel and textile design work by students, faculty, and invited artists and designers. The International Quilt Study Center and Museum's collections boast over 3,000 antique and contemporary quilts and comprise an unparalleled resource available to students. The collection, which includes objects spanning more than two centuries, forms the research base for graduate degree programs in textile history and quilt studies.
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Goals and objectives include:
- Merchandising Specialization: Explore innovative merchandising techniques, including the extensive use of technology. Learn and apply theory and research methods to address industry challenges.
- Textile Science Specialization: Apply theory, knowledge and academic research to specialties in the textile science field. Examine fundamental textile material science disciplines, which includes the study of interdisciplinary topics.
Masters Specializations
M.S. in Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design with a Specialization in Textile Science
The goal of the Master of Science of Textiles, Merchandising, & Fashion Design with a specialization in Textile Science is to educate textile scientists who can comprehensively apply theory, academic research and application of knowledge to their specialties. An in-depth look is taken at fundamental textile material science disciplines, as well as relevant interdisciplinary knowledge and technologies, in which students play a leading role in the future. Related fields like chemistry and statistics are focused to enhance students’ abilities to solve complex problems within or outside their area of expertise and to contribute to the development of textiles with original research.
Two options are available for Master of Science with a specialization in Textile Science:
Option A. Thesis Master of Science program (30 hours):
| 9 | hours minimum in TMFD, including TMFD 874 |
| 6 | hours of thesis (TMFD 899) |
| 6 | hours minimum of statistics |
| 9 | hours to be arranged with TMFD major advisor (may be in major area, outside area, or combination) |
| 30 | hours total; 8 hours minimum in graduate-only courses, in addition to 6 thesis hours |
Option B. Non-Thesis Master of Science program (30 hours):
| 15 | hours minimum in TMFD, including TMFD 874 |
| 6 | hours minimum of statistics |
| 9 | hours to be arranged with TMFD Major Advisor (may be in major area, outside area, or combination) |
| 30 | hours total (15 hours in graduate-only courses) |
M.S. in Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design with a Specialization in Merchandising
The objective of a Master of Science of Textiles, Merchandising, & Fashion Design with a specialization in Merchandising is to prepare future practitioners who can critically apply knowledge of merchandising practices to the soft-goods industry. Learning innovative merchandising techniques, including the extensive use of technology, will provide students with applicable knowledge of the field. Students will also learn and apply theory and research methods to address industry challenges. In addition, interdisciplinary knowledge, from fields such as marketing and educational psychology, will enhance students’ perspectives toward research.
Two options are available for Master of Science with a specialization in Merchandising:
Option A. Thesis Master of Science program (30 hours):
| 12 | hours minimum in TMFD, including TMFD 874 |
| 6 | hours of thesis (TMFD 899) |
| 3 | hours of research methods |
| 6 | hours minimum of statistics |
| 3 | hours to be arranged with TMFD Major Advisor (may be in major area, outside area, or combination) |
| 30 | hours total (8 hours minimum in graduate-only courses, in addition to 6 thesis hours)
|
Option B. Master of Science program (30 hours):
Option B. Master of Science (30 hours) must complete at least 20 hours in TMFD courses. 15 of the 30 hours must be earned in courses open exclusively to graduate students. A formal presentation and comprehensive examination are required. Distribution of courses for Option B includes:
| 15 | hours minimum in TMFD, including TMFD 874 |
| 6 | hours of research methods |
| 9 | hours to be arranged with TMFD Major Advisor (may be in major area, outside area, or combination) |
| 30 | hours total (18 hours in graduate-only courses) |
Option A or B. Master of Science (Online) program (30 hours):
Option A or B. Master of Science in Merchandising (30 hours; Online) must complete 30 credits in required courses. Visit the GP-IDEA website for additional program information. A formal presentation and comprehensive examination are required.
Distribution of courses for Option A or B (Online) includes:
| 3 | hours in TMFD 851: Consumer Behavior |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 852: Professional Advancement |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 854: Promotional Strategies in Merchandising |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 855: Retail Theory and Current Practice |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 862: International Retail Expansion |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 863: Retail Analytics |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 864: Financial Merchandising Implications |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 865: Strategic Planning |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 866: Product Design, Development, and Evaluation |
| 3 | hours in TMFD 875: Research Methods |
| 30 | hours total |
Application to this program
Requirements for Applicants
- Completion of online application through Admit; Applicants will indicate the intended program (PhD applicants will select Human Sciences, MA & MS applicants will select Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design). All applicants will select a specialization
- Grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum TOEFL scores (International Students only) 550 on paper test, 213 on computer based test or 79 on the internet based test (Institution code – 6877)
- Digital Portfolio for textile design and apparel design areas of interest
Required Writing Sample
Any of the following would be an appropriate writing sample:
- manuscript or published article resulting from earlier research such as master's thesis
- paper given at a professional meeting
- substantial paper such as a review of literature
- grant proposal
- critique of a research article
- professional materials developed for use in one's workplace
- course paper
- MA & MS applicants will have successfully completed an undergraduate degree and PhD applicants will have successfully completed an MA or MS degree if approved for a graduate program in Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design