Master of Science in Fashion Studies
The Master of Science in Fashion Studies is designed to prepare students to be effective professionals in the global fashion industry. The growth and dominance of large multinational apparel brands and retailers has created a need for professionals who are globally oriented, innovative, have both apparel product design and consumer behavior expertise along with an understanding of social responsibility and sustainability, and strong communication skills. Graduates will be able to serve as integrators who can create value for a firm by integrating knowledge about consumer research, product design, product merchandising, product sourcing, and product presentation.
The MS program is unique in that all students complete design innovation and consumer behavior courses to bring an understanding of both to solving problems in the global fashion industry. Concepts and practices from social responsibility and sustainability underlie the graduate program. Students take 32 credit hours of course work and research. Twenty credits are taken in fashion and apparel studies courses in topics such as research analysis in fashion studies, global fashion consumer, theory of design and aesthetics, and interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. Six additional credits are taken in research methods and statistics, and six credits support the thesis research. A limited number of assistantships are available; applications are due July 1, 2008 to be considered for funding for fall semester 2008.