M.S. Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design

Curriculum

The M.S. in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design program offers thesis and non-thesis options.

  • The thesis option includes completing a minimum of 30 credits and researching an original, meaningful research topic.
  • The non-thesis option includes completing a minimum of 33 credits, completing comprehensive exams, and a non-thesis project.

THESIS OPTION

The thesis option requires the following:

  • The completion of a minimum of 30 credits, including six credits of thesis research.
  • Thesis and the passing of an oral examination in defense of the thesis. One copy of the thesis prepared in accordance with the Graduate School requirements must be submitted to the Graduate School.

NON-THESIS OPTION

The non-thesis option requires the completion of 33 credits, half of which must be TMD courses numbered 500 or above including at least one course that requires a substantial paper or practicum involving significant independent study.

Students must present the paper to a committee of three faculty members and archive the paper on Digital Commons.

TMD 511 and 512 are required of all students. Other requirements vary depending on the specialization selected. Specializations include textile science; historic textiles and fashion; textile conservation; and cultural analysis; and fashion merchandising.

Completion of a major paper. Typically the student registers for TMD 540 under a TMD professor to work on the paper. Although students often identify the research topic they wish to investigate in TMD 511 Research Methods, they are not completing experiments, designing surveys, or working with primary sources. Instead, the paper is typically a thorough review of the literature on a specific problem. The student submits three copies of the completed paper—one to the major professor, and one for each of two faculty readers—in advance of a meeting where the paper is presented. The readers and the major professor may suggest revisions. The student is asked to provide the TMD Department with a corrected copy and to archive the paper on Digital Commons.

Non-thesis students are required to complete written comprehensive exams.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

  • Goal 1: Graduates will have an appropriate knowledge base in their specialization.
    • Students will show understanding of fiber/yarn/fabric/finish through satisfactory application of textile knowledge. 
    • Students will comprehend concepts specific to student’s specialization within the program.
  • Goal 2: Graduates will demonstrate comprehension of research and scholarship common to the field.
    • Students will comprehend research methodologies used in the field. 
    • Students will critically analyze scholarship in the textiles and apparel field. 
    • Students will produce a viable research proposal for a topic in the student’s specialization. 
  • Goal 3: Graduates will demonstrate critical scientific thinking applied to original research topics. 
    • Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct research independently that meets professional standards. 
  • Goal 4: Graduates will communicate scientific reasoning in oral and written formats. 
    • Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate research findings effectively in written form. 
    • Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate and defend research findings orally. 
    • Students will show ability to convert research into a deliverable product. 
  • Goal 5: Graduates will exhibit professional and ethical conduct. 
    • Students will demonstrate ethical standards in the field. 
    • Students will participate in professional organizations in the field.