Professional Electives
Professional electives give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skill sets in subject areas related to the textile and apparel industries. Through careful planning, professional elective credits may be used to earn a minor or a second degree.
TMD majors are required to complete 18 credits of professional electives. Nine of the 18 credits must be in one subject area. TMD classes may not be used for professional electives.
The courses listed below are possible choices and are not prescriptive. Students may choose courses not listed if they better meet individual interests and needs, but should do so only after consulting with an academic advisor.
Courses marked with an asterisk also count for General Education credit. View approved Gen Ed courses by department.
While courses may fulfill both Professional Elective and General Education credit, students must still complete 40 Gen Ed credits and 120 total credits to graduate with the TMD degree.
Art and Art History
Art and art history courses are strongly recommended for students interested in design, visual merchandising, styling, and apparel product development. The fashion industry is design focused, and these courses expand understanding of creativity and the socio cultural influences on art.
Art and art history courses used in the TMD core curriculum may not also be used as professional electives.
ART 101 Two Dimensional Studio*
ART 103 Three Dimensional Studio*
ART 120 Introduction to Art*
ART 203 Color
ART 204 Graphic Design I
ART 207 Drawing I*
ART 208 Drawing II
ART 213 Photography I Black and White
ART 214 Photography I Digital
ART 231 Printmaking I
ART 251 Introduction to Art History Ancient Medieval*
ART 252 Introduction to Art History Renaissance Modern*
ART 284 Introductory Topics in Architectural History
ART 364 American Art
ART 380 Topics in Art and Architectural History
The TMD curriculum requires one three credit ART course. Students may complete an additional fifteen credits to earn the Art minor for a total of eighteen credits.
Business
Understanding business provides critical knowledge for careers in the textile and apparel industries. Many TMD students select professional electives in marketing and management and choose to complete a Business minor.
All Business courses count as professional electives for TMD majors.
View Business minor requirements.
Economics
Understanding the economy provides insight into textile and apparel markets.
ECN 201 and ECN 202 are required core courses for TMD majors. Students who perform well in these courses may continue with three hundred level electives.
ECN 306 Introduction to Economic Research Methods
ECN 386 Economics of Race Gender and Class
Any other two ECN electives
The Economics minor requires eighteen credits.
Human Development and Family Studies
HDF courses provide insight into age related consumer markets and improve understanding of market segments.
HDF 200 Life Span Development I
HDF 201 Life Span Development II
HDF 205 Family Financial Issues Across the Life Span
HDF 225 Consumer in the Economy*
HDF 418 Personal Finance
HDF 424 Personal Finance Applications
HDF 426 Retirement Planning
HDF 428 Consumer Protection
HDF 451 Debt Management
The HDF minor requires eighteen credits. HDF 480 may not be used for the minor.
Journalism
While URI does not offer fashion specific journalism courses, journalism classes strengthen writing skills for students interested in fashion media.
JOR 110 Introduction to Mass Media*
JOR 220 Media Writing
JOR 311 Journalism Criticism
JOR 313 Alternative News Media in the United States
JOR 321 Magazine and Feature Writing
JOR 340 PRS 340 Public Relations for PR majors and minors only
JOR 341 Editing for Publication
JOR 441 PRS 441 Public Relations Practices*
View Journalism minor requirements.
Public Relations
Public Relations courses support students interested in event planning and fashion communication.
PRS 100 Introduction to Public Relations
PRS 200 Introduction to Event Management
PRS 340 JOR 340 Public Relations for PR majors and minors only
PRS 441 JOR 441 Public Relations Practices*
The Public Relations minor requires eighteen credits.
Communication
Communication courses help students develop skills in persuasion, advertising, and media.
COM 100 Communication Fundamentals*
COM 201 Persuasion The Rhetoric of Influence
COM 202 Public Speaking
COM 208 Argumentation and Debate
COM 243G Advertising and Consumerism*
COM 246 New Media and Society
COM 271 Web Design and Programming
View Communication minor requirements.
Leadership Studies
The Leadership Studies minor develops skills in interpersonal management, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication.
Learn more about the Leadership Studies minor.
Modern Languages
Students may complete professional electives in any modern language. French and Italian are traditional fashion languages, while Spanish and Chinese are especially relevant to the global fashion industry.
The Modern Language minor requires eighteen credits. No more than six credits may be at the one hundred level.
Sociology
Sociology helps students understand human behavior within societal groups and fashion markets.
SOC 100 General Sociology*
SOC 204 Social Psychology
SOC 212 Families in Society*
SOC 240 Race and Ethnic Relations
SOC 242 Sex and Gender
SOC 320 Organizations
SOC 336 Social Inequality
SOC 350 Work and Family Life
SOC 438 Aging in Society
Psychology
Psychology supports understanding of individual consumer behavior.
PSY 113 General Psychology*
PSY 200 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
PSY 232 Developmental Psychology*
PSY 335 Psychology of Social Behavior
PSY 399 Introduction to Multicultural Psychology
PSY 405 Psychological Anthropology
PSY 480 Psychology of Women
View psychology minor requirements.
Theatre
Theatre courses are appropriate for students interested in apparel design and product development.
THE 100 Introduction to Theatre*
THE 250 Costume Laboratory
THE 350 Makeup
THE 351 Principles and Theories of Theatrical Costuming I*
THE 352 Principles and Theories of Theatrical Costuming II*
THE 355 Stage Costume Design
THE 451 Stage Costume Technology
THE 455 Advanced Costuming
The Theatre minor requires eighteen credits.
Writing
Strong writing skills are valuable across all career paths in the textile and apparel industries.
WRT 100 Introduction to College Writing
WRT 104 Writing to Inform and Explain*
WRT 106 Introduction to Research Writing*
WRT 201 Writing Argumentative and Persuasive Texts*
WRT 227 Business Communications*
WRT 235 Writing in Electronic Environments
WRT 332 Technical Writing*
The Writing minor requires eighteen credits.