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Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design

Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design

If you are looking for a career in a fast-paced environment that provides new opportunities each day, then a degree in Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design (ARMD) is just for you. The global textile and apparel industry is made up of companies that produce fibers, yarns, and textile and apparel products for consumers around the world.

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. Students are involved in designing new solutions for an ever-evolving global industry.  Because of the size and scope of the industry, there are a variety of career opportunities available worldwide.

Students gain aesthetic, technical, practical, and professional skills in two option areas. The first option is retail merchandising that provides students with a firm grasp of business strategy. Graduates hold positions as buyers, store managers, visual merchandisers, marketing managers, sales and account executives, and tend forecasters with many retail companies. An option in apparel studies focuses on developing, designing, and marketing materials and products within this global industry. Students develop a trained eye and skills to showcase and sell products to a fashion-conscious consumer. Graduates have accepted positions in product development, technical design, fashion journalism, quality control, museum collection management, and theatrical costuming. Others have used their skills to successfully run their own businesses.

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 credits 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 Control3
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 to total 24 credits.
(ADHM 372/MRKT 372 may be used as an elective)
Retail Merchandising Focus Area20-21
As part of the Retail Merchandising Option, students select a focus area. Focus Area One - Textile Product Merchandising or Focus Area Two - Interior Mechandising
Focus Area One - Core Requirements - 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
Focus Area One Professional Elective Credit - 6 credits of professional electives courses are needed to reach the minimum degree total of 122 credits. Courses can be chosen with advisor approval from the list below or from ADHM, BUSN, MRKT, MGMT, THEA, COMM, or ART.
Dress in World Cultures
Experiential Retailing
Seminar (Product Production, Sourcing & Productrivity)
Seminar (Photoshop/Illustrator for ARMD Majors)
Focus Area Two - Core Requirements - Interior Merchandising Focus (20 credits)
Design Fundamentals
Interior Design Careers
Introduction to Manual Drafting
Interior Design Studio I-Residential
Residential Systems
History of Interiors I
History of Interiors II
Interior Materials
Degree Requirements: Potential of 5 credits to reach degree minimum of 1225
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 Studies and Retail Management

Required Credits: 21-22

Apparel Studies Minor Option

A total of 12 upper-division (300/400 level) courses must be taken

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 from the following:12
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 12 credits from the following:12
Global Retailing
Global Fashion Economics
Retail Financial Management and Control
Global Consumer Analysis
Foundations of Marketing
Foundations of Retailing
Total Credits21

Minor Requirements and Notes:                                                 

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

The following plan suggests semester schedules that allow the student to complete his/her major/option degree program in a four year span. The arrangements of courses is based on which semesters the course is offered, the classification and the prerequisites or co-requisites required for successful completion. The Plan of Study should be used alongside the official curriculum guide and with the assistance from your assigned advisor. Remember, this is only a guide and circumstances may change the plan. 

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 1713ADHM 1813 
CSCI 114 or 1163-4COMM 1103 
ENGL 110 (w/ ENGL 100 lab)3ENGL 1203 
HD&E 1891PSYC 111 or SOC 1103 
Science/Tech3Minor/Elective/STATS prereq3 
Wellness2-3  
 15-17 15
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ECON 1053ADHM 155 or 3703ADHM 4893
Minor/Elective3ADHM 2713 
STAT 330**3ADHM 2723 
Humanities/Fine Arts3Prof Elective3 
Prof Elective3Science/Tech w lab4 
 15 16 3
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 3103ENGL 3203 
ADHM 3663COMM 383 or Alt Comm course3 
ADHM 3671Minor Elective3 
ADHM 3853Minor Elective3 
ADHM 3751Prof Elective3 
ADHM 489*1  
Prof Elective3  
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 4863ADHM 4813 
Minor/Elective3Minor/Elective3 
Minor/Elective3Prof Elective3 
Minor/Elective3Elective (as needed)6 
Prof Elective3  
 15 15
Total Credits: 124-126
*

Minimum 1 credit Study Tour in consultation with your advisor

**

 Prerequisites may apply

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 1713ACCT 1023 
ENGL 110 (w/ ENGL 100 lab)3ADHM 1813 
COMM 1103CSCI 114 or 1163-4 
HD&E 1891ENGL 1203 
Humanities/Fine Arts3Elective (or STATS 330 prerequisite)3 
Wellness2-3  
 15-16 15-16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 3103ADHM 2713 
PSYC 1113ADHM 2723 
Science/Tech3ECON 1053 
STAT 330**3Science/Tech w lab4 
ADHM 489*1Elective3 
 13 16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ADHM 366
ADHM 367
4ADHM 3703ADHM 4963-6
ADHM 3723ADHM 4853 
ADHM 3751MGMT 3203 
ENGL 3203Business Elective3 
MRKT 3203Business Elective3 
 14 15 3-6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 3853ADHM 4813 
ADHM 4703Business Elective3 
ADHM 4863COMM 383 or Alt Comm course3 
MRKT 3623Prof Elective3 
Prof Elective3Elective3 
 15 15
Total Credits: 121-126
*

 Minimum of 1 credit Study Tour required in consultation with your advisor

**

 Prerequisite may apply

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 1601ADHM 1513 
ADHM 1613COMM 1103 
ADHM 1713CSCI 114 or 1163-4 
ENGL 110 (w Eng 100 lab)3ECON 1053 
HD&E 1891ENGL 1203 
PSYC 1113  
 14 15-16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ADHM 2513ADHM 2713ADHM 4893
ADHM 2642ADHM 2723 
Science & Tech3STAT 3303 
ACCT 1023Science & Tech w/Lab4 
Wellness2-3Elective3 
Elective2-3  
 15-17 16 3
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ADHM 3153ADHM 3163ADHM 4963-6
ADHM 3663ADHM 3682 
ADHM 3671COMM 383 (or Alternative)3 
ADHM 3751ENGL 3203 
MGMT 3203MRKT 3203 
Elective/Diversity3  
ADHM 4891  
 15 14 3-6
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADHM 3723ADHM 4813 
ADHM 4703MRKT 3623 
ADHM 4853BUSN Elective3 
BUSN Elective3BUSN Elective3 
Elective (as needed)3Elective (as needed)3 
 15 15
Total Credits: 125-131