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Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design

Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design

Looking for careers that are exciting in a fast paced environment and provides new opportunities each day, then an education in the field of Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design (ARMD) is just what you may be looking for.

The undergraduate program in ARMD offers students opportunities to develop new approaches for dealing with challenges facing all areas of the global textile, apparel and retail industry. We involve our graduates in designing new solutions for an ever-evolving global industry. The textile, apparel and retailing industry is among the largest industries in the world and has a worldwide reach. The demand for graduates with an ARMD knowledge base is high. Students graduating from this major learn to apply their knowledge and skills to business and society. Students gain aesthetic, technical, practical, and professional skills that are utilized in two option areas. The first option area is textile product merchandising that offer careers in manufacturing, wholesaling, sourcing, strategic planning, buying, and merchandising, and marketing, as well as retail and business management. The second option area is apparel studies that offers careers in product development, costume curatorship, fashion journalism, and other areas in the fashion industry (depending on student interest). Both of these options provide career opportunities worldwide for those who graduate from the program.

Major Requirements

Major: Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design
Option: Apparel Studies

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
HD&E 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take HD&E 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 320Business and Professional Writing3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
Science & Technology (S):
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages3-4
or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list6-7
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
or SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G):
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
Total Credits40

Apparel Studies Option Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
Apparel Studies Option Requirements
ADHM 155Apparel Construction and Fit3
or ADHM 370 Sewn-Product Manufacturing and Analysis
ADHM 171Fashion Dynamics3
ADHM 181Aesthetics and Visual Analysis of Apparel Products3
ADHM 271Visual Merchandising and Promotion3
ADHM 272Product Development3
ADHM 310History of Fashion3
ADHM 366Textiles3
ADHM 367Textiles Laboratory1
ADHM 375Professional Development1
ADHM 385Global Fashion Economics3
ADHM 481Capstone in Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design3
ADHM 486Dress and Human Behavior3
ADHM 489Study Tour1-3
Professional Electives: Select 21 credits from the following:21
With adviser approval 6 of the 21 credits of professional electives may be taken from BUSN, MRKT, MGMT, THEA, COMM, or ART to meet the student’s professional/personal objectives.
Beginning Apparel Construction
Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
Tourism and Travel Management
Apparel Construction and Fit
Flat Pattern Design & Draping
Pattern Drafting and Grading
Product Development: Designing Pants
Sewn-Product Manufacturing and Analysis
Global Retailing
Convention and Meeting Planning
Dress in World Cultures
Experiential Retailing
Advanced Apparel Assembly
Retail Financial Management and Control
Global Consumer Analysis
Field Experience
Intercultural Communication
Listening and Nonverbal Communication
Organizational Communication I
Minor Program of Study Required: 16 credit minimum required16
Degree Requirements: Potential of 12 credit to reach 12212
Total Credits122-124

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • Transfer courses from other institutions must have grades of ‘C’ or better to be accepted for the program.

Major Requirements

Major: Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design
Option: Retail Merchandising

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
HD&E 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take HD&E 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
ENGL 320Business and Professional Writing3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
Science & Technology (S):
CSCI 114Microcomputer Packages3-4
or CSCI 116 Business Use of Computers
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education courses 6-7
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select one focus area6
Focus Area One: Textile Product Merchandising
History of Fashion
Select additional course from current general education courses
Focus Area Two: Interior Merchandising
History of Interiors I
History of Interiors II
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
PSYC 111Introduction to Psychology3
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G):
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
Total Credits40

Retail Merchandising Option Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
Retail Merchandising Option Requirements
ADHM 171Fashion Dynamics3
ADHM 271Visual Merchandising and Promotion3
ADHM 272Product Development3
ADHM 366Textiles3
ADHM 367Textiles Laboratory1
ADHM 372Global Retailing3
ADHM 375Professional Development1
ADHM 470Retail Financial Management and Control4
ADHM 481Capstone in Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design3
ADHM 485Global Consumer Analysis3
ADHM 489Study Tour1-3
ADHM 496Field Experience3-6
Select one of the following:3
Intercultural Communication
Listening and Nonverbal Communication
Organizational Communication I
Business Minor requires an application to the College of Business and a minimum 2.5 GPA in courses used for the minor.24
Fundamentals of Accounting
Foundations of Management
Foundations of Marketing
Foundations of Retailing
College of Business 300-400 level courses as approved by ADHM Department
(ADHM 372/MRKT 372 may be used as an elective)
Retail Merchandising Focus Area: Select Focus Area One - Textile Product Merchandising - or Focus Area Two - Interior Mechandising:21-22
Focus Area One - Textile Product Merchandising Focus: 21 Credits
Aesthetics and Visual Analysis of Apparel Products
History of Fashion
Sewn-Product Manufacturing and Analysis
Global Fashion Economics
Dress and Human Behavior
Dress in World Cultures
Experiential Retailing
Total professional electives must bring total credits to 122. Additional courses to reach this credit total will be chosen with approval from advisor from the list below or from BUSN, MRKT, MGMT, THEA, COMM, or ART to meet students' professional/personal objectives.
Focus Area Two - Interior Merchandising Focus: 22 Credits
ADHM 150
Design Fundamentals
Interior Design Careers
Introduction to Manual Drafting
ADHM 250
Interior Design Studio I-Residential
Interior Design Studio II-Office Design
Interior Design Studio III
Residential Systems
History of Interiors I
History of Interiors II
Interior Materials
Degree Requirements: Potential of 3 credits to reach 1223
Total Credits122-128

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • Transfer courses from other institutions must have grades of ‘C’ or better to be accepted for the program.

Minor Requirements

Minor: Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design
Options: Apparel & Textiles and Retail Management

Required Credits: 22

Apparel & Textiles Minor Option

Required Courses
ADHM 171Fashion Dynamics3
ADHM 366Textiles3
ADHM 367Textiles Laboratory1
ADHM 155Apparel Construction and Fit3
or ADHM 370 Sewn-Product Manufacturing and Analysis
Electives: 12 credits must be upper division, excluding field experience12
Beginning Apparel Construction
Apparel Construction and Fit
Aesthetics and Visual Analysis of Apparel Products
Visual Merchandising and Promotion *
Product Development
History of Fashion
Flat Pattern Design & Draping
Pattern Drafting and Grading
Sewn-Product Manufacturing and Analysis
Global Retailing
Global Fashion Economics
Dress in World Cultures
Experiential Retailing
Retail Financial Management and Control
Global Consumer Analysis
Dress and Human Behavior
Study Tour
Total Credits22

Retail Management Minor Option

The Retail Management minor option is available to all majors in the College of Business.

Required Courses
ADHM 171Fashion Dynamics3
ADHM 181Aesthetics and Visual Analysis of Apparel Products3
ADHM 271Visual Merchandising and Promotion3
Electives: Select 13 credits from the following:13
Global Retailing
Global Fashion Economics
Retail Financial Management and Control
Global Consumer Analysis
Foundations of Marketing
Foundations of Retailing
Total Credits22

Minor Requirements and Notes:                                                 

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.