Kansas State University

Design Emphasis

The emphasis in Design focuses on the design process to research, design, develop, and evaluate apparel and textiles using both creative and technical methods. This program prepares students for professional careers as designers, technical designers, artists, or college instructors.

Design Project Report Option

The Design Project Report option provides the M.S. student opportunity for advanced creative design of apparel and/or textiles that demonstrates the student’s synthesis of a defined problem or context that results in a written report and a body of original works for University exhibition and submission for juried review. The Design Project Report option requires 30 credit hours, of which 2 credit hours are AT 896 Design Project Report and 4 credit hours are AT 897 Design Project Exhibit.

Required Courses (18 hours)

  • AT 800 - Textile Surface Design (3)
  • AT 805 - Theory and Process in Creative Apparel and Textile Design (3)
  • AT 850 - Research Methods in Apparel and Textiles (3) or EDCI 816 Research Methods in Education (3)
  • AT 880 - Physical Analysis of Textiles (3)
  • AT 896 - Design Project Report (2)
  • AT 897 - Design Project Exhibit (4)

Recommended Additional Coursework (select the hours needed to reach 30)

Students should consult with their major professor and supervisory committee to select courses that match their program objectives. Other courses may be selected in place of the recommended courses upon consultation with their major professor.

  • AT 610 - Computer-Aided Design for Apparel (3)
  • AT 655 - Pattern Development I(3)
  • AT 695 - Pattern Development II (3)
  • AT 670 - Apparel Pre-Production Processes (3)
  • AT 830 - Fashion Theory (3)
  • AT 835 - Strategic Economic Analysis of Apparel and Textile Industries (3)
  • AT 840 - Product Development (3)
  • AT 845 - Consumers in the Apparel and Textile Market (3)
  • THTRE 711 - Topics in Technical Theatre (3)

Design Coursework Option

The Design Coursework option requires 33 credit hours of coursework and a written comprehensive examination. Students should follow the requirements given above – except that AT 896 Design Project Report and AT 897 Design Project Exhibit and should not be included in their program. Additional courses should be taken to bring their total to 33 hours.

Design Professional Track

The Design Professional Track option requires 33 credit hours of coursework including an internship in the industry (AT 875 Practicum). Students should follow the requirements given for the Coursework option except that AT 875 Practicum course is required. Students are required to take a written comprehensive exam over their coursework also.

Major Professor and Supervisory Committee:

  • The department will assign each student a temporary advisor to assist the student in registering for coursework until the student selects a major professor and files the program of study.
  • Students are encouraged to select a major professor as soon as possible. The student must select a major professor from the Apparel and Textile faculty with Graduate Faculty Status.
  • By the beginning of the second semester of enrollment, the student (in consultation with the major professor) will select two additional faculty members with Graduate Faculty Status to serve as members of the supervisory committee. At least two of the three members of the supervisory committee (including the major professor) must be faculty in Apparel and Textiles.