The textiles program addresses the scientific aspects of textiles
with a focus on product development and end-user performance.
Students gain an understanding of the many factors affecting textile
product performance, consumer demand, and choice of textile products.
Firms seek graduates who understand and can analyze these effects
to improve products.
Textile science courses emphasize
fiber, yarn, fabric, and finish technology and require basic background
in chemistry or physics and mathematics. Coursework in supporting
areas such as communication, marketing, and engineering helps
students develop skills that will enable them to adapt their technological
knowledge to meet the constantly changing industry specifications
and consumer needs. Students must achieve a GPA of 2.5 in order to graduate.
The Department offers a five-week study abroad program
during the summer in London, Paris and Milan where students learn about
the global fashion industry and have interactive sessions with
executives from world-renowned retail and design firms. This study
program is an unprecedented on-site exploration of both the history
and present state of textiles, apparel, and the retail industries
of Europe. Students participate in extraordinary learning opportunities,
and return to the U.S. with an unsurpassed academic credential
for their career.
The Chemical and Physical Textile Laboratory Complex allows for
students to perform modern chemical and physical testing with
computerized testing equipment. It includes a conditioning room,
sensory evaluation laboratory, chemical analysis laboratory, weathering
/refurbishing laboratory, and a data color computer system. Equipment
is available for testing tensile, tear and burning strength, pilling
and abrasion resistance, color and colorfastness, water and chemical
resistance, liquid and air permeability, and lauderability.
In addition, textile majors
are able to utilize an outstanding teaching and study collection
of historic clothing dating from the early 1800s and historical
textiles from the unique Carter Collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian
textiles from the late 1400s in the department’s Historic
Clothing and Textile Collection.
Students have many opportunities to network and interact with
top textile executives through lectures and seminars, sponsored
by TCS. In addition, recruiters visit campus on a regular basis
to give presentations on their companies and to interview interested
students.
Students have many opportunities to develop leadership skills
in professional settings, through participation in student organizations
such as Fashion, Inc., Collegiate Merchandising Association, the
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists Student
Chapter, and the Student Ambassadors.
|
