FASH 1000 Introduction to the Fashion Industry — 2 credits

Curious how creativity, commerce, culture, and branding come together in fashion? This foundational course introduces the fashion and retail industry through an integrated exploration of creative, technical, and business practices. Students examine elements and principles of design; trend forecasting; and visual research, with particular attention to how sensory, expressive, and symbolic design choices build brand identity across fashion products and promotional environments. Emphasis is placed on professional communication, branding strategy, and portfolio development, with career exploration supported through hands-on projects and industry site visits. Offered in the College for Women.

FASH 2050 Textiles with Lab — 4 credits

A foundational textile science course examining fibers, yarns, fabric construction, coloration, and finishes. Emphasizes quality, performance, sustainability, and end-use applications of textile products. Through hands-on lab work, students develop essential knowledge supporting careers across the apparel, fashion, and textile industries. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing & completion of CHEM 1010.

FASH 2100 Apparel Construction and Analysis — 4 credits

A foundational course introducing apparel construction techniques, fabric selection, and decision-making for specific end uses. Students learn basic measuring, fitting, support structures, and industry style terminology while analyzing ready-to-wear garments to evaluate construction methods, quality, and sustainability. Offered in the College for Women.

FASH 2150W Sociocultural Aspects of Dress — 4 credits

A course examining the social, psychological, cultural, and aesthetic aspects of dress in a global and multicultural context. Students explore how clothing communicates identity, values, and social meaning while strengthening critical thinking and professional communication skills in a Writing Intensive format. Offered in the College for Women. Also offered as CRST 2151W.

FASH 2684 Directed Study — 4 credits

FASH 3000 History of Dress — 4 credits

A study of dress from ancient times to the present, examining how political, economic, and social forces shape clothing across history. Students engage in hands-on, project-based learning using the university’s Historic Dress Collection of over 2,000 garments, developing skills in visual analysis, research, and material culture. Offered in the College for Women.

FASH 3150 Consumer Behavior & Trend Forecasting — 4 credits

This course connects consumer behavior and trend forecasting within the fashion and retail industry. Students examine how social, cultural, and economic factors influence consumer preferences and purchasing decisions, and how these insights inform trend analysis, product adoption, brand strategy, and the creation and presentation of data-informed fashion forecasts. Industry forecasting tools such as WGSN are used to analyze consumer data and emerging trends. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite: FASH 1000.

FASH 3994 Topics — 4 credits

The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year but does not duplicate existing courses. Offered in the College for Women.

FASH 4571 Career Preparation for the Fashion Industry — 1 credit

This course equips fashion design and merchandising students with the professional skills needed to succeed in internships and entry-level positions across the fashion and retail industry. The course focuses on career readiness through the development of industry-standard résumés, cover letters, portfolios, and professional communication. Students strengthen interviewing, presentation, networking, and job search skills while exploring current trends, career pathways, and workplace expectations within fashion design, merchandising, buying, planning, visual merchandising, and related roles. Emphasis is placed on professional branding, industry etiquette, and experiential learning to support long-term career success. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in a fashion major.

FASH 4601 Internship — 1 credit

FASH 4602 Fashion Internship and Leadership — 2 credits

Fashion merchandising and apparel design students registered for a 2 credit internship complete a structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on- or off-campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office.
Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.

FASH 4603 Fashion Internship and Leadership — 3 credits

Structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on- or off-campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test careers and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office. In addition, fashion merchandising students must register for a 1-credit semester long classroom component as part of this course that focuses on furthering the professional development of students in the retail major program, particularly with respect to career development in retail merchandising in preparation for future work experiences and employment through resume and cover letter writing, development of interviewing and presentation skills, job search strategies, professional writing, discussion of current key topics within the industry and a variety of other professional experiences. The 1-credit internship practicum is offered spring semester. The 3-credit internship is offered fall, spring and summer. Offered in the College for Women.

FASH 4604 Fashion Internship and Leadership — 4 credits

Fashion merchandising and apparel design students registered for a 4 credit internship complete a structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on- or off-campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves students in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test careers and potential. To initiate an internship experience, meet with the internship coordinator in the Career Development Office. A semester long classroom component is part of this course and focuses on furthering the professional development of students in the retail major program, particularly with respect to career development in retail merchandising in preparation for future work experiences and employment through resume and cover letter writing, development of interviewing and presentation skills, job search strategies, professional writing, discussion of current key topics within the industry and a variety of other professional experiences.
Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.

FASH 4682 Directed Study — 2 credits

FASH 4683 Directed Study — 3 credits

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty-directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses.
Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

FASH 4684 Directed Study — 4 credits

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty-directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses.
Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

FASH 4800 Fashion Portfolio — 0 credits

Fashion Portfolio is a capstone experience in which fashion design and fashion merchandising students create a refined professional portfolio that highlights their creative vision, technical skills, and industry readiness. Students curate and present work from across the fashion curriculum, integrating design projects, merchandising concepts, and experiential learning to support career goals in the global fashion industry.
Prerequisite: Senior standing in a fashion major.

FASH 4952 Independent Study 2 — 2 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.

FASH 4954 Independent Study 2 — 4 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.