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Wilson College of Textiles

Graduate Certificate in Consumer Textile Product Design and Development

The Graduate Certificate in Consumer Textile Design and Product Management provides students the opportunity to develop knowledge related to the process involved in consumer textile product design and development. Students will also gain technical skills in textile product design and development, as well as a depth of knowledge in one or more areas of textile design.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Be a graduate of an accredited four-year college or university and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale in their last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.
  • Be a degree student in good standing in a graduate program at NC State University.
  • Have a master’s degree.

Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirements may be admitted provisionally based on case-by-case basis. Students who are admitted provisionally must earn at least a “B” average in the first three courses of the certificate program in order to obtain full admission into the certificate program.

Admission is rolling, and students may begin taking courses for the certificate in summer, fall or spring terms.

Curriculum (15 hours)

Students must take a minimum of 15 credit hours to fulfill the certificate requirements, including:

  1. The following two core courses (6 hours)
    • TTM 580 – Consumer Perspectives in Fashion (3 hours)
      • Introduction of concepts and theories related to consumer behavior. Analysis of apparel and textile consumers and their decision making processes as well as internal and external influencing factors. Application of consumer behavior models to investigate consumer behaviors pertaining to textile and apparel products through individualized research projects.
    • TTM 585 – Market Research in Textiles (3 hours)
      • A study and analysis of quantitative methods employed in market research in the textile industry. Function of market research and its proper orientation to management and decision making.
  2. Three of the following discretionary courses (9 hours)
    • TT 570 – Textile Digital Design and Technology (3 hours)
      • This course focuses on design of textile products balancing industry and creative foci. Students will study a range of industry focused technologies and techniques essential to creation of textile products in a technology intensive environment. Basics of textile product design and relevant technologies will be covered along with methods and techniques to improve commercial textile product design process. Students will research in-depth a topic related to textile product design, and present their research in an oral format.
    • TT 571 – Professional Practices in Textile Design and Technology (3 hours)
      • This course builds on the concepts introduced in TT 570 with increased focus on professional practice and methods. Focus on advanced textile product design topics incorporating an industry focus and utilizing commercial technologies. Students will investigate in depth a textile product design industry application, technique or method of interest using individual and tam based strategies. Topics include advanced study of textile product design concepts, techniques and preparation for professional competitions, displays and conferences.
    • TTM 510 – Apparel Technology Management (3 hours)
      • Role of the apparel complex in manufacturing and supplying products on demand to meet the quality and performance of the global customer. The critical juxtaposition of the textile supply together with retail demand studied to understand constraints on manufacturing capacities and elasticities.
    • TTM 515 – Apparel Production (3 hours)
      • Concepts and practices for the production of apparel items, beginning with development of basic fit blocks and extending through the creation of stylized garments using pattern engineering techniques, supported by computerized pattern development.
    • TTM 517 – Advanced Computer-Aided-Design for Fashion (3 hours)
      • Exploration of industry design software for apparel and other sewn products. U4ia visual design software, 3D to 2D pattern generation software, Gerber Accumark or Lectra pattern design programs, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and other programs used by the industry to create, market and/or visualize products will be taught. Peripheral equipment essential to the design and visualization process will be included.
    • TTM 632 – Independent Study in Consumer Textile Product Design and Development (1-6 hours)
      • This course is an Independent Study in Textile Product Development to fulfill needs not covered by current course offerings. Students and faculty are required to submit the topic to be covered to the graduate administrator within the first week of the semester. Either a paper or a presentation of a body of work will be the outcome of this effort.

Note: One NC State University course (400 level or higher) can be substituted for a discretionary course, based on approval from the certificate coordinator. The certificate coordinator maintains a list of appropriate graduate level courses.

Applying

New students that are pursuing a certificate only, should apply online. A new application fee is required.

Existing students can apply directly through the certificate coordinator for each individual certificate and not pay an application fee. Applicants will submit a Program Application, a resume identifying educational preparation and work experiences, and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work.

Prior to completing the first course after being accepted into the program, all students must prepare and submit a Certificate Contract Application. The contract includes a statement of career goals, a rationale for completing the certificate program and a timeline for certificate completion. When completed, students must sign the Certificate Contract Application and submit two copies of all materials to the certificate coordinator. Students can always elect to review their application with the certificate coordinator prior to contract preparation. At the end of each semester once the required courses are completed, all students are expected to submit a Course Completion Form to the certificate coordinator. This ensures the progress toward the certificate properly documented as well as the submission of last course completion form leading to the certificate award.

Program Restrictions

Award of a Graduate Certificate in Consumer Textile Product Design and Development requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. None of the required 15 hours may be taken for S/U or “credit only”. No transfer credits from other institutions are allowed for the certificate. All students must be registered through NC State University. All requirements must be completed within the first four (4) calendar years beginning with the date the student begins the course work for the certificate. All certificate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment every semester (excluding summer sessions) until all course work is completed. Under unusual circumstances, a one-semester leave of absence will be granted if the student is unable to enroll in a course. Written approval from the certificate coordinator must be obtained before the beginning of the semester.

Certificate Coordinator

Minyoung Suh
msuh2@ncsu.edu