Students pursue master's and doctoral degrees in the Department of Fashion and Textiles for a variety of reasons. Some simply are advancing their education in the same area as their bachelor's degree, but many are seeking a degree in a new field, the exciting world of fashion. Students pursing master's degree typically plan to work in the fashion industry, but others work in theatre or academia, or with historic costume collections. Students pursuing doctoral degrees typically plan to seek a career in higher education, however, some plan to work in industry.
Ph.D. in Fashion Merchandising
Total Hours Required: If selecting the non-thesis option, a master's degree requires a minimum of 36 hours in graduate coursework. If selecting the thesis option, a master's degree requires a minimum of 33 graduate hours, including 6 hours of thesis credit.
Core Course Requirements: The Department requires the following core of courses for all master's degrees:
FT 5063 History of 20th Century Costume
FT 5143 Textile/Apparel Economics
FT 5173 Fashion Industry Study Tour
FT 5223 Textile Science
FT 5233 Research Methods in Fashion and Textiles
Statistics (3 Hours)
Specific Degree Requirements: In addition to the core, the department requires specific courses for each master's degree. See specific degree pages for complete information.
Final Examination: Only students selecting the thesis option will be required to complete a final examination for degree completion. The final examination is an oral examination that is primarily, but not limited to, a defense of the thesis.
Total hours required: A minimum of 90 graduate hours beyond the bachelor's degree.
Core Course Requirements: The Department requires a core of courses for all doctoral degrees as listed below.
FT 6003 Seminar in Fashion and Textiles
FT 6023 Issues and Trends in the Fashion Industry
FT 6103 Social/Cultural Aspects of Dress
FT 6983 Dissertation
FT 6993 Dissertation
Core course requirements for master's degrees
Statistics (doctoral level) (3 hours)
Research methods (doctoral level) (3 hours)
Specific Degree Requirements: The department requires specific courses for each doctoral degree. See specific degree pages for complete information.
Research Tools: The Graduate School requires a demonstration of competence in two research tools for the doctoral degree. Demonstration of competence requires either passing a test in the research tool area or completion of 6 semester hours in each research tool area, hours which may be included in the 90 graduate hours beyond the bachelor's degree required for the doctoral degree. The Department of Fashion and Textiles specifies that students use statistics and computer science to satisfy the research tool requirement.
Qualifying (Comprehensive) Examination: After the completion of most required courses, excluding FT 6983 and FT 6993, a qualifying examination that comprises a written comprehensive examination and an oral comprehensive examination is required of all doctoral students. The written portion of the examination may be repeated once. The oral portion of the examination follows successful completion of the written examination. The oral portion of the examination may be repeated once. After successfully completing both the written and oral portions of the qualifying examination, the student may be admitted to candidacy.
Final Examination: The final examination is an oral examination that is primarily, but not limited to, a defense of the dissertation.
Minors
in any of the department's major areas are available on the master's level
(usually 9 graduate hours minimum) and on the doctoral level (18 graduate hours
minimum).
email: ft@twu.edu