Product Development Emphasis
The emphasis in Product Development includes the research, design, engineering, evaluation, management, and marketing of innovative apparel and textile products for specialty markets, such as but not limited to medical, sports, military, agricultural, therapeutic, and protective. This program prepares students for employment in various fields related to product development in a range of apparel and textile companies as well as government agencies (i.e., Nike, Maidenform, Cyberknit Textiles, North Face, Tencel, US Army, etc.).
Product Development Thesis Option
The Thesis option requires 30 credit hours of which 6-8 hours are AT 899 Thesis Research. Students are required to present the results of their research in an open forum and take an oral exam over their work.
Required Courses (24-26 credit hours)
- AT 840 - Apparel and Textile Product Development (3)
- AT 880 - Physical Analysis of Textiles (3)
- AT 850 - Research Methods in Apparel and Textiles (3) or EDCI 816 Research Methods in Education (3)
- STAT - Graduate Level Statistics Course such as STAT 702 or STAT 703 (3)
- AT 835 - Strategic Economic Analysis of Apparel and Textile Industries (3)
- AT 845 - Consumers in the Apparel and Textile Market (3)
- AT 899 - Master’s Thesis Research (6-8)
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 – including those in other disciplines such as Management, Marketing, and Finance – may be selected in place of the recommended courses listed below upon consultation with their major professor.
- AT 655 - Pattern Development I (3)
- AT 670 - Apparel Pre-Production Processes (3)
- AT 725 - Theory and Practice of Apparel and Textile Marketing and Distribution (3)
Note: Students should have knowledge of sourcing for apparel and textile products. If not, the committee may recommend AT 545 Global Production and Distribution (3).
Product Development Coursework Option
The Coursework option requires 33 credit hours and a written comprehensive examination. Students should follow the requirements given above – except that AT 899 is not taken. Additional courses should be taken to bring their total to 33 hours.
Product Development Professional Track
The Product Development 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.