Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Beyond the Classroom
As a TMD major, you have the opportunity to participate in an array of activities outside the classroom that enhance your learning experience.
Take advantage of events, lectures, social activities, and more. It’s all here waiting for you.
Clubs and Organizations
- Textile Honor Society - Open to any TMD/TM major or minor, with sophomore standing and a GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Fashion Merchandising Society - A community among students who have an interest in fashion.
- Delta Sigma Pi - A professional co-ed fraternity with over 300,000 initiates worldwide.
- Dean’s Advisory Council of Students - A vehicle for student voices, concerns, and suggestions to funnel to the COB dean.
Student Event Highlight: Spring Splash
Spring Splash is TMD’s premier annual event, a fashion show debuting one-of-a-kind apparel designed by our talented TMD students. Students work for an entire semester designing and creating a custom collection. The evening showcases their collections and concludes with an elegant reception.
read about spring splash 2025Off-Campus Study
The fashion industry is truly global in scope, and the TMD department is leading the way in providing students with a wide range of opportunities for off-campus study that will better prepare them for the world that awaits them when they graduate. Many TMD students take advantage of one or more of these opportunities.
Double major in TMD and a “fashion” language
Many TMD students double major in French or Italian. Follow the TMD and language curriculum requirements, and with careful planning you can complete both degrees in four years. A semester abroad is recommended, and can involve coursework or internships in France or Italy. Visit the French program and Italian program websites to learn more.
Study Abroad
Many TMD students study abroad for a semester. Popular choices are London ( AIU or Central St. Martins), Florence (Richmond, Accademia Italiana, Lorenzo de Medici). Paris, Barcelona, and Australia are also popular. Many other study abroad experiences exist and can be found through URI’s Office of International Education.
Summer Study
Students have the opportunity to participate in a Summer Study at the Universite de la Mode in Lyon, France. Each day, the students attend lectures, visit museums, or go on field trips. Lyon is home to a still vibrant silk industry, a major textile museum, shoe and hat museums, and art museums.
Courses at Kent State University’s NYC Studio Campus
For the New York experience, TMD students can take courses at the Kent State University studio campus in New York in the summer, fall, or spring.
The National Student Exchange offers students a chance to study at another institution in the United States.