Program Overview

MS Program Requirements

A minimum of 30 hours of coursework is required to earn your degree. The 30 hours must include 6 hours in research techniques, 3 of which must be in statistics, and a minimum of 6 hours of 700 or 702 credits.

Areas of Specialization

You will choose to specialize in one of the following areas:

• Apparel/Textile Product Development
• Creative Scholarship and Design
• Merchandising
• Consumer Studies

Thesis or Thesis Project

Thesis Option

Up to 6 credits of 400 level coursework can be part of the 24 credits of graded coursework for a thesis program of study.

Thesis Project Option

Up to 9 credits of 300-400 level coursework can be part of the 26 graded credits for a thesis project program of study.

Timing varies per student but averages two years. Students taking background courses may take longer. Typically, students complete 10-18 credit hours per semester.

The courses listed below are areas of study that graduate students must show competency (through an undergraduate degree or industry experience) in order to earn their degree.

Required Core: 21 (24) – 22 (25) credits

Course| Title| Credits| Semester ---|---|---|--- AMDT 508| Environmental and Social Issues in the Apparel Industry| 3 | Spring AMDT 515| Textile Product Development and Innovation| 3 | Spring AMDT 517| Theory and Methods of Culture, Gender, and Dress| 3 | Fall AMDT 518| Apparel Merchandising Analysis| 3 | Spring AMDT 519| Research Methods*| 3 | Fall AMDT 520| Aesthetic Analysis of Fashion Design| 3 | Spring AMDT 550| Social Networking and Omni-channel Retailing | 3| Fall | Statistics**| 3 or 4 | Every term

Complete master’s scholarship: 6 credits minimum

Course | Title| Credits| Semester ---|---|---|--- AMDT 700| Master's Research, Thesis, and/or Examination | | Every term AMDT 702| Master's Special Problems, Directed Study and/pr Examination (S/F grading)| 6+ cr. | Every term

Additional Credits

Select additional credits to reach minimum total 24 graded credits for a thesis option and 26 graded credits for a thesis project option and cumulative total of 30 credits. Course| Title| Credits| Semester ---|---|---|--- AMDT 598| Topics in Apparel and Textiles| 1-3 | Every term AMDT 600| Special Projects or Independent Study| 1-18 Variable| Every term

General Program Timeline

Semester 1

The area of study and major professor are chosen.

Semester 2

The Program of Study and AMDT Graduate Committee are chosen and thesis or project work begins.

Semester 3

Thesis or project work continues.

Semester 4

Thesis or project is finalized, you defend your work to your committee and a manuscript is prepared for possible publication.