Program Overview

Introduction to the Apparel Construction and Design Certificate Program

The Certificate Program in Apparel Construction and Design is a joint offering from the Theatre and Merchandising program, providing students with the opportunity to study apparel creation from the initial design phase to marketing. This program offers a comprehensive view of the apparel industry, covering the history of apparel, its impact on society, and the technological aspects of production.

Program Overview

The Apparel Construction and Design Certificate Program is designed to give students a guided tour through the history of apparel, introduction to costuming, design and construction of apparel, consumer behavior, and the industrial technology behind apparel production. Students will be involved in the design and creation of actual garments and will work in teams on client-based projects, providing them with the experience needed to translate their classroom knowledge into real-world industry challenges.

Required Courses

• THE 201: Introduction to Costume: An introduction to theatrical costume theory with its practical application.
• THE 201L: Costume Laboratory: A 1-hour laboratory for THE 201, which must be taken concurrently.
• MER 330: Textile Industrial Complex: Introduction to the characteristics, composition, and end-products of the textile supply chain, including fiber, yarn, and fabric producers and manufacturing, retailers, and consumers.

Electives

• MER 332: Societal Influences on Consumer Behavior: Impact of cultural and societal diversity on retail product meaning, consumer choices, and consumer behavior.
• MER 335: History of Apparel: Diffusion of innovations and product-life cycles from a global perspective, focusing on culture, society, economics, politics, and technology.
• MER 437: Apparel Product Development: Understanding processes related to forecasting, product planning, sourcing, technology, pricing, production methods, and branding strategies for retail consumer goods. Prerequisites: MER 330 and MER 436.
• THE 401: Costume Design: Prerequisite: THE 201.
• THE 441: Costume Technology Studio: Studio class focused on draping and pattern making of costumes, millinery, and other costume-related technologies such as mask making, fabric dying, and painting.
• THE 460: Advanced Costume Design: Projects in designing costumes for plays, opera, and dance, with emphasis placed on costume designs as an element in a total production concept.

Program Requirements

The Apparel Construction and Design Certificate requires 12-13 hours of coursework: 2 required 3-hour classes, a 1-hour lab, and 2 electives. Theatre and Merchandising students are required by their departments to choose certain electives.

Benefits of the Certificate Program

Certificate programs offer a series of classes that work well together to give students with a particular interest a firm foundation in a particular area. The Apparel Construction and Design Certificate Program brings together courses to offer students a guided exploration of apparel design from both the theatre and merchandising angles. A certificate is a great addition to a resume, as it lets potential employers know about an area of expertise an applicant has within a more general degree and gives them a sense of the skills the applicant will bring to a job. The ACDC certificate is especially useful for students who want to develop or enhance their skills related to design, product development, and apparel construction.