| Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising focuses on the study of textiles and apparel from raw materials to the consumer. While the focus is on course work in textiles, apparel, and merchandising, students may tailor their program by choosing from Apparel Design/Product Development or Business Administration options. They select classes in business, art, computer science, journalism, economics, psychology, and sociology.
Special educational opportunities exist outside the classroom. An internship is available to students with a 2.5 GPA or above. Participants learn to apply course work to various business settings, such as department stores, national chain specialty stores, privately owned specialty stores, fabric shops, or apparel production firms.
On a New York merchandising study tour, students explore the fashion industry. They visit apparel production firms and showrooms, buying offices, textile firms, historic costume collections and exhibits, fashion journalism resources, retail establishments, and an apparel distribution facility.
A student organization, the Fashion Business Association (FBA), is open to all who want to learn more about the world of fashion and business. Valuable insight is provided through guest speakers. The FBA gives students opportunities to pursue leadership roles.
Faculty have demonstrated their expertise through publication of textbooks, including a textile science book that examines interior textile products for residential and commercial applications, and an apparel design pattern-making textbook.
Majors in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences
| Agribusiness Management & Rural Development |
B |
| Agricultural & Extension Education |
B, M |
| Agricultural & Resource Economics |
M |
| Agriculture Education |
M |
| Agriculture, Forestry, & Consumer Sciences |
M |
| Agronomy |
B, M |
| Animal & Food Sciences |
D |
| Animal & Veterinary Sciences |
B, M |
| Basic Sciences |
B |
| Biochemistry |
B |
| Child Development & Family Studies |
B, M |
| Entomology |
M |
| Environmental Microbiology |
M |
| Environmental & Natural Resource Economics |
B |
| Environmental Protection |
B |
| Family & Consumer Sciences |
M |
| Forest Resources Management |
B |
| Forest Resources Science |
D |
| Forestry |
M |
| Genetics & Developmental Biology |
M, D |
| Horticulture |
B, M |
| Human Nutrition & Foods |
B |
| Interior Design |
B |
| Landscape Architecture |
B |
| Natural Resource Economics |
D |
| Plant Pathology |
M |
| Plant & Soil Sciences |
D |
| Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Resources |
B, M |
| Reproductive Physiology |
M, D |
| Textiles, Apparel & Merchandising |
B |
| Wildlife & Fisheries Resources |
B, M |
| Wood Science & Technology |
B |
B = Bachelor's; M = Master's;
D = Doctorate
For more information, contact
Nora MacDonald at
304-293-3402, ext. 1784
Nora.MacDonald@mail.wvu.edu
Or visit the Web site at: www.cafcs.wvu.edu/fcs/tam/index.htm
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The WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences
The Davis College has 18 undergraduate major fields of study that are divided into five academic divisions: Animal and Veterinary Sciences; Family and Consumer Sciences; Forestry; Plant and Soil Sciences; and Resource Management. The excellent instructional facilities of the Davis College offer many learning opportunities. The Agricultural Sciences Building contains most offices, classrooms, and laboratories for agricultural programs. Percival Hall houses the Division of Forestry’s offices, classrooms, and laboratories, including the wood processing facilities. In Allen Hall, Family and Consumer Science classes are held, and the laboratory nursery school is located on the Evansdale Campus. Maintaining eight farms, two campus greenhouses, and more than 8,000 acres of forest land for teaching and research, the Davis College offers students a variety of educational opportunities with hands-on experiences.
Students are offered fields of study that complement various careers. The study of ecology is interwoven throughout courses to offer students the education necessary for careers emphasizing the protection of environmental quality and the management, utilization, and conservation of our soil, water, forests, wildlife, domestic animals, food, and fiber.
Admission
Students who meet University admission requirements may be accepted directly into the Davis College as Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising majors.
Curriculum
To complement the overall study of textiles, apparel, and merchandising, all students in the program enroll in other support courses. These include art history, psychology, sociology, economics, and computer science. Areas of emphasis within the program are Apparel Design/Product Development and Business Administration. Following the Apparel Design/Product Development emphasis allows students to strengthen their major focus by taking courses such as drawing, three-dimensional design, and theater-costume design classes. When concentrating in Business Administration, students combine course work in the field with courses such as business law, finance, macroeconomics, and a second level of accounting. Students may work toward a minor in business administration, sociology, or a foreign language.
Students are exposed to a variety of learning opportunities. The faculty incorporate writing, public speaking, and teamwork across the curriculum. Service learning and technology are included in various courses. A high level of interaction exists between students and faculty, and close working relationships are developed. Scholarships are available to qualified students through the program area, the Division, and the Davis College.
Course Work
Accreditation
West Virginia University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Career Opportunities
Following graduation with a bachelor’s degree, students find a variety of positions with retail, apparel, and textile firms. Retail opportunities generally begin with an executive training program and may lead to positions in store or personnel management, buying, fashion promotion, and visual merchandising. Included in apparel positions are showroom sales, merchandiser, sample coordinator, designer, and sales representative. Sales, color analyst, promotion, and educational director are all possible opportunities in textiles. For graduates with good writing skills, fashion journalism may be an option. Additionally, ownership of a retail, apparel, or textile firm may be the goal of some graduates.
Graduate School Opportunities
Students who graduate from this program are able to pursue advanced studies in a variety of related areas, including apparel design/product development, textile science, historic textile and apparel conservation, and textile and apparel marketing. Graduate assistantship placements are available across the country in a variety of specializations.
Salary Range
Average entry-level positions range from $20,000 to $40,000. With experience, buyers earn an average of $60,000 to $80,000 or more.
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