Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design
Educational opportunities in design, product development, marketing, sales, product quality assurance, consulting, owning your own business, and research are available to students seeking challenging careers in the apparel and textiles industry and beyond. Apparel studies graduates develop and deliver products to the global market place. They create innovative and sensitive solutions to meet consumer and societal needs. The program of study provides students with a theoretically-based education with practical application.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are able to choose challenging careers that build on their
particular interests. For example, graduates have accepted positions in
visual merchandising, fashion writing and editing, quality control, museum
collection management, product buying and merchandising, theatrical costume
designing and store management. Other graduates have used their skills
to successfully run their own businesses.
The Program
An option in apparel studies focuses on developing, designing, and marketing
products within the market and industry. The curriculum incorporates an
international and historical focus. Students pursuing a bachelor of science
degree in apparel and textiles with the apparel studies option have flexibility
in their program of study. They can combine apparel and textiles with
a minor in communication, public history, visual arts, theater arts, or
other areas.
An option in retail merchandising provides students with an educational background which can fit into both short and long range career goals. The course of study includes classes on buying and merchandising, global retailing, retail market management, merchandise promotion, financial management and control, fashion economics, human behavior related to apparel selection decisions and the analysis of textile and apparel products using textile testing equipment.
Those with well-defined career goals can combine an apparel studies major
with a minor or second major that builds upon their interests. (The apparel
and textiles/retail merchandising focus allows students to prepare themselves
for a career in retailing).
Our Contacts Beyond College Walls
The ADHM Department regularly plans travel/study programs to fashion,
design, and/or business centers. Off-campus study provides students contact
with practicing professionals. The department's affiliation with the Fashion
Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City and the Philadelphia College
of Textiles and Science permits North Dakota State University students
to earn credits as Visiting Students and to gain experience in the heart
of the fashion and textiles business world. A year at FIT results in an
additional associate degree from that institution. Through the Tri-College
University, students may take advantage of course offerings and facilities
provided by Moorhead State University and Concordia College.
The Facilities
The ADHM Department is housed in EML and the FLC on the NDSU campus.
Facilities provide well-equipped classrooms as well as one of the finest
textiles testing laboratories in the region. The Emily P. Reynolds Historic
Costume Collection provides an excellent resource for students' projects
and reports. Clusters of microcomputers are located in the Family Life
Center for students' convenience.
Co-Curricular Activities
The Fashion, Apparel and Business Organization (FABO), allows interested
students additional contacts with professionals and opportunities for
leadership. Other organizations in the college and university provide
further opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Apparel, Design and Hospitality Management Research
Recent research of benefit to North Dakota and the region includes adolescent
issues related to dress and behavior, bison wool as a textile product,
and historic clothing as evidence of the social history of the Upper Great
Plains. Studies in fashion awareness, country of origin as a criterion
for apparel selection, and costs of shoplifting to the consumer provide
information for area businesses. A computer-based cataloging system for
historic clothing is being developed at North Dakota State University
for the growing Emily P. Reynolds Historic Costume Collection. A special
focus of the collection includes items from the Germans from Russia ethnic
group. Linkages with culturally diverse populations through exchanges
of apparel and textiles information has been a recent theme of scholarship
research.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are designated for students majoring
in the department; additional scholarships are open to all college majors.
For further information on scholarships, contact the Director of Student
Services and Development.
Department Address:
Apparel, Design, and Hospitality Management Dept.
NDSU, Dept # 2610
PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050