University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The clothing design program nurtures students' understanding of the textile and clothing product development process, including the study of such areas as design, production, and marketing. Students are challenged to integrate product knowledge with the understanding of consumer needs and business constraints.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN CLOTHING DESIGN
Bachelor of Science Degree in Clothing Design
The program integrates and focuses and on creative thinking and technical skill. All of our students familiarize themselves with manual and computer-aided methods of pattern development, and become able to implement apparel-structuring methods appropriate for custom tailoring or industry production.
Subjects such as costume history, social and cultural meanings of apparel, the textile and apparel consumer, and aesthetics are addressed in the courses. The curriculum includes six sequential studio courses in clothing design. Students will obtain professional experience through their required internship. When entering the program, new students have clothing construction/assembly competence with hands on experience, as well as a working knowledge of microcomputers and its software. Suggested to students is to utilize the liberal education categories to explore multicultural themes and to improve the knowledge base of their major coursework. Both theoretical knowledge and applications for textile and apparel products are emphasized by Graduate Studies in Apparel Graduate study in DHA with an emphasis in apparel.
Students may direct their attention to the following:
- Design
- Aesthetics
- Apparel product development
- Material culture
- Historic dress
- Sociology of dress
- Consumer behavior
Merchandising Students completing the graduate degree are prepared not just for careers in the textile and apparel industry, but also for positions in teaching and research as well.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Retail Merchandising
This BS degree program includes many hands-on retail merchandising opportunities such as trips to international retailers, travel to America's best retail centers, and national and international internships. After completing the program, graduates immediately gain employment in store or corporate environments. Many of these careers begin in positions like:
- Merchandising
- Marketing
- Product development
- Distribution
- Store management
- Buying
- Advertising
- Sales promotion
- Human resources
Undergraduate Minor in Retail Merchandising Graduate Degrees with an Emphasis in Apparel Graduate A graduate degree prepares students for teaching and research positions, as well as other careers choices in the apparel and textile industries. Post-graduate work DHA that emphasizes apparel studies can advance both knowledge and practical experience for apparel and textile products that relate to human behavior. Fashion students have the opportunity to focus in one or several areas of fashion design, such as:
- Aesthetics
- Apparel product development
- Consumer behavior
- Merchandising
- Material culture
- Historical or social science aspects of dress
Students are ready for careers in teaching and research, as well as employment in the textile and apparel industry once they have attained a graduate degree.
