Program Director: Claire Beevers

Mission

The Master of Science in Textile Design provides both integration and balance between creative design and technology, to prepare students for successful careers within the US textile design industry. The program opens up the opportunity for successful and creative professional development for students who hold previous studio arts degrees, plus those coming from alternative backgrounds.

The program structure has a unique balance of a strong technology base across all aspects of textiles, upon which students build their design skills in a single concentration of knit, weave or print. Collaborative experiences with other majors, plus a range of additional projects assigned by industry professionals and companies, serve to expand the students’ experiences.

Program Learning Outcomes

Through the course of the program, students will:

• Develop an appreciation of the multi-faceted nature of textile design and the technical knowledge, skills, design and development processes and business structures required for a professional career in textiles.
• Practice sustained visual research through original visual observation and trend information.
• Apply visual research and technical skills into a collection of knitted, woven or printed textiles.
• Produce a final body of textile design work, a fabric collection for exhibition and portfolio, exhibiting individual concept and development.
• Produce an account of their final semester collection in thesis format for inclusion in the Gutman Library collection.

Foundation Courses Specific to the M.S. in Textile Design

The following foundation or equivalent undergraduate courses may need to be completed. The specific foundation course requirements for each student will be based upon consultation with the area concentration advisor. Contact the School of Design and Engineering for further information.

Depending upon concentration:

* The foundation requirement in Textile Design Studio may be waived via portfolio review only.

Core Courses: 36 Credits

* Design Studio 26 credits

The Design Studio courses make up the majority of the coursework in the M.S. in Textile Design program. Students are required to specialize in one design area (knit, weave or print), but are encouraged to incorporate the other areas of textile design through their foundation courses, elective or design studio work. The 26 credits of Design Studio are split into three stages that may be spread over three semesters. However, the student may elect or be advised to take only three or six credits of Studio in any semester depending on individual progress, development and available time commitment. All students involved in Textile Design Studio courses will participate in common presentation/critique sessions toward the end of the semester.

Students may elect to replace up to six credits of Design Studio with graduate-level electives. The selection of these electives should be approved by the primary design faculty member and the program director.

Electives: 3 Credits

Choose one course from the following (or other courses approved by the program director):

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 39 Credits

Additional Requirements for Textile Design Applicants

Applicants are required to provide the Admissions Committee a typed personal statement (250-500 words) discussing (1) the applicant’s reasons to pursue a graduate degree in textile design and (2) why the applicant believes he/she will be successful with this course of study.