Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising Major, BS

The Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising Program is designed to help you gain the knowledge you need to recognize industry trends, analyze market and consumer behavior, and evaluate retail needs in the diverse, fast-paced, and ever-changing fashion industry. Students will build a well-rounded base knowledge about textile and apparel products, merchandising strategies, product development, production processes, trends, consumers, and sustainability. Field experiences allow students to network with industry professionals and study abroad opportunities are highly encouraged. Students gain additional hands-on professional experience during summer internships. Quarterly meetings with the faculty advisors assure students are academically on track to achieve their professional goals.

Admission Requirements
To be admitted to a major in the Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising Program, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 (or be a first-year or transfer).

Graduation Requirements
A minimum grade of C- must be earned in each course counted toward fulfilling major requirements.

Program Learner Outcomes

Textile and Apparel Product Knowledge

• Identify fiber, yarn, fabric, and finish characteristics and discuss their use.
• Examine the socio-cultural and psychological factors in the development of fashion in the framework of time-period and culture.
• Identify and connect the categories and functions of apparel and textile products.
• Assess and apply product quality, performance, regulatory compliance standards, and technical specifications for textiles and apparel.
• Identify, explain, and apply elements and principles of design, as applied to textile and apparel products
• Analyze and apply the product development process and innovation strategies in textile and apparel products.
• Create a trend forecast based on technological, environmental, and market developments, and identify the impacts of these factors on forecasting.
• Evaluate sustainability issues inherent in the textiles and apparel lifecycle.

Industry and Business Knowledge

• Analyze the roles of industry sectors within the global textile and apparel supply chain.
• Evaluate textile and apparel production processes for textile and apparel goods.
• Compare different approaches to leveraging retail channels and operations to identify product merchandising strategies.
• Assess sustainability issues in the textile and apparel industry and develop strategies for improvement.

Human Interactions with Products and Processes

• Critically evaluate diverse experiences and points of view, both within and outside one’s own cultural group.
• Synthesize knowledge about the interrelationships among historic, sociocultural, and psychological factors of dress and their impact on human behavior.
• Evaluate the role of the consumer in fashion adoption, diffusion, and marketing communication, and how changes in society impact adoption.

Research

• Apply industry research methods to analyze data, solve problems, inform decisions, and explore and apply visual and creative aspects of the fashion industry.

Experiences/Practical Application

• Apply course knowledge in real-world settings, develop professional skills, and build networks within the fashion industry by engaging in field experience and practicums.

Cognitive Skills

• Apply critical analysis and creative thinking to evaluate problems, synthesize solutions, and design innovative products, services, or processes.
• Apply appropriate terminology, tools, and technology to analyze and address current and emerging issues within the global textile and apparel industry.

Interpersonal Skills

• Synthesize and present ideas in written, oral, and visual forms using appropriate tools and industry-specific terminology.
• Collaborate to plan and complete projects, showing teamwork and leadership, and reflect on their individual and team performance.
• Develop intercultural skills necessary to interact effectively in a global context.
• Practice professional behavior that supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Intra-Personal Skills

• Make ethical decisions and reflect on their impact.
• Make decisions that promote social responsibility and reflect on their impact.

Professional Skills

• Explore career planning strategies, formulate effective practicum search techniques, and design a career plan that aligns with their professional aspirations.
• Evaluate and provide constructive feedback on ideas, demonstrating the ability to analyze strengths and weaknesses and suggest improvements.