Graduate Programs

Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business: Certificate, Online

The Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies offers a graduate certificate in socially responsible and sustainable apparel business. The certificate is comprised of nine, one-credit courses that are offered online and can be pursued worldwide.

The graduate certificate provides a foundation of knowledge needed to manage design, product development, buying, promotion, sourcing and production of apparel, textiles and footwear in ways that are socially responsible and sustainable. The competencies and skills embedded in the courses are based on research with industry leaders and professionals who lead nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups with a stake in the global apparel business. The coursework is grounded on principles of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, a voluntary international initiative bringing together companies, labor and civil society groups, and various UN agencies in support of human rights, labor and the environment. The following learning goals have been established for students completing the certificate: 1) Evaluate how apparel, textile and footwear businesses address the Global Compact principles for human rights, labor standards and environmental stewardship and how they can more effectively address them in the future; 2) analyze the moral and ethical responsibility of business and individuals toward human rights labor standards and environmental stewardship; and 3) recommend various strategies for affecting change in the industries.

The courses and learning materials for the certificate were developed by a team of faculty from the University of Delaware, Cornell University and Colorado State University based on work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2006-01405.

Students completing the requirements for the graduate certificate will be awarded a certificate that is signed by the department chairperson and the department’s Graduate Studies Committee chair. Additionally, a notation of receipt of the certificate will be made on the students’ transcripts.

The graduate certificate in socially responsible and sustainable apparel business is not associated with the Lerner College of Business and Economics.

Application Deadlines

*International applicants are not eligible to obtain a U.S. student visa solely with an acceptance to a UD graduate certificate program. Certificates may be added by full-time matriculated graduate students.