Courses Offered by the Program

Listed below are brief descriptions of the courses offered by the department of fashion and interior design for those students focusing on fashion design or merchandising. Please note that graduate courses are numbered 600 and above.

Merchandising and Fashion Design (MFD) courses

  • MFD 101 Fashion Fundamentals

    Overview of fashion terminology, product development, and fashion careers.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    110Fall, Upon demand
  • MFD 103 Principles and Elements of Design

    Fundamentals of design; introduction to principles and elements of design as applied to apparel line development through the use of fashion illustration and technical drawings.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Upon demand
  • MFD 201 Fashion History

    Applied approach to the history of dress from ancient times through the twenty-first century; examining dress in the context of social, economic, political, technological, and artistic development of Western culture.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring
  • MFD 202 Textiles

    Study of textiles and their components (fibers, yarns, fabrics and finishes) as they relate to end use, performance, quality and customer satisfaction

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall
  • MFD 203 Kaledo for the Fashion Industry

    Prerequisite: MFD 101 with grade of C grade or better; and MFD 210.

    Introduction to the principles and techniques of computer aided design used in the fashion industry.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Upon demand
  • MFD 210 Fashion Technology

    Prerequisite: declared Merchandising and Fashion Product Development major or permission.

    Learn how to apply current computer software in merchandising and fashion industry scenarios.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring
  • MFD 270 Fundamentals, Fit and Construction

    Builds on current construction and fit evaluation skills. Industrial equipment is used to construct women's, men's, children's and accessories. Industry techniques are utilized.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Spring
  • MFD 300 Special Topics in Merchandising and Fashion Design

    Selected topics of contemporary interest in merchandising and fashion design. Variable content course. Offered when resources and demand allow. May be repeated to a maximum of six hours when topics change.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    1-3Upon demand
  • MFD 301 Technical Planning

    Prerequisite: MFD 202 with grade of C or better.

    This course focuses on apparel development. Emphasis on quality, sourcing, and technical packages.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring
  • MFD 302 Merchandising and Fashion Design Study Tour

    Study of and visits to museums, design studios, historic sites, trade shows, conferences, and conventions related to the fashion industry. May be repeated to a maximum of six hours.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    1-3Upon demand
  • MFD 303 Product Development

    Prerequisite: MFD 301 with a grade of C or better.

    This course examines apparel line development from concept to consumer. A focus on seasonal collections for product categories and merchandising classifications.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Upon demand
  • MFD 304 Forecasting and Branding

    This course will provide students with tools for trend forecasting consumer analytics, using resources and visual imagery.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring, Upon demand
  • MFD 305 Portfolio

    Prerequisite: junior standing.

    Sourcing and acquisition of an internship are examined. Includes resume writing, interview skills, website portfolio instruction, and correspondence etiquette, including phone and email.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    110Fall
  • MFD 306 Industry Formulas and Calculations

    Prerequisite: MTH 130 or higher.

    Merchandising/buying formulas are examined for the purpose of understanding six month merchandising plan and open-to-buy calculations. Case studies include vendor relations and negotiation strategies.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall
  • MFD 307 Advanced Fashion Technology

    Prerequisite: MFD 210 with grade of C or better.

    Learn how to use current industry software, such as InDesign and Illustrator, for fashion presentations and portfolio work.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Fall, Spring
  • MFD 360 Merchandising

    Prerequisite: MFD 304 with grade of C or better.

    Special topics course in merchandising. Apply key marketing theories, frameworks, and tools to solve merchandising problems.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • MFD 361 Advanced Merchandising

    Prerequisite: MFD 304 with grade of C or better; and junior standing.

    Special topics course in merchandising. Go beyond theoretical knowledge to gain a practical understanding of merchandising problems.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Upon demand
  • MFD 362 Visual Merchandising and Promotion

    Prerequisite: MFD 301 with grade of C or better.

    Hands-on visual merchandising and visual perspective through internet, print and branding. Promotions for community productions, and senior showcase and market.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring
  • MFD 370 Flat Pattern

    Prerequisite: MFD 270 with grade of C or better.

    Fundamental concepts of drafting for the basic female form and pattern manipulation techniques to develop original garments.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Fall
  • MFD 371 Draping

    Prerequisite: MFD 370 with C grade or better.

    Fundamental concepts for developing original designs by using draping techniques. Full size dress forms are used for creation of basic sloper and original designs in knits and wovens.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Spring
  • MFD 372 Contemporary Designers/Collection Development

    Prerequisite: MFD 307 with grade of C or better.

    A study of twenty first century designers in a variety of merchandise classifications while developing an apparel market collection from concept to consumer.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Fall
  • MFD 400 Problems in Merchandising and Fashion Design

    Independent study for those who wish additional work in specific subject areas. May be repeated to a maximum of six hours.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    1-3Upon demand
  • MFD 401 Internship in Merchandising

    Prerequisite: MFD 305 and MFD 306 with grades of C or better; and permission.

    Supervised experienced in a pre-approved internship in a related field of Product Development or Merchandising. The student must work a minimum of 200 hours for a 3 credit hour internship, complete the student workbook, earn a satisfactory evaluation from the internship sponsor, and complete a weekly journal.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    3Summer, Upon demand
  • MFD 402 Internship in Fashion Design

    Prerequisite: MFD 305 and MFD 306 and MFD 370 and MFD 371 with grades of C or better; and permission.

    Supervised experience in a pre-approved internship in a related field of Product Development or Design. The student must work a minimum of 200 hours for a 3 credit hour internship, earn a satisfactory evaluation from the internship sponsor and complete a weekly journal.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    3Summer, Upon demand
  • MFD 403 Professional Development

    Prerequisite: MFD 401 or MFD 402 with grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment.

    Objectives include the completion of the website portfolio, research to identify major economic factors in the fashion industry, personal marketing, budgeting, and business etiquette.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    110Fall, Upon demand
  • MFD 460 Merchandise Buying and Assortment Planning

    Prerequisite: MFD 306 with grade of C or better.

    Advanced merchandise mathematics. Apply six month merchandise plan and OTB formulas through a simulated buying experience including store planning, merchandising and marketing.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring
  • MFD 470 Design Studio I

    Prerequisite: MFD 371 with grade of C or better.

    Senior Market Collection will be developed for critique. Students will design and construct group and individual looks using advanced flat pattern and draping techniques includes fitting and grading apparel for original garments based on industry sample size forms (female, male or child).

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    322Fall
  • MFD 560 Business Analysis

    Prerequisite: MFD 460 with grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment.

    Analyzing fashion businesses including: target market, location, merchandising classification, human resources, cash flow sheets, profit and loss, store design, assortment planning, marketing strategies and funding. A grade of C or better is required for graduation.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    330Spring, Upon demand
  • MFD 570 Design Studio II

    Prerequisite: MFD 470 with a grade of C or better.

    Senior Market Collection produced. Includes merchandising collaboration on fashion photoshoots, fashion videos, and booth preparation. Critiqued by a jury of fashion industry professionals for the senior market and showcase. A grade of C or better is required for graduation.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    314Spring
  • MFD 682 Graduate Seminar in Fashion Merchandising and Design

    Prerequisite: 12 hours of graduate credit.

    Selected topics in clothing and textiles that involve the areas of apparel manufacturing, fashion merchandising, and management trends are systematically explored through critical analysis of literature and through an individual research project. May be repeated for credit. A maximum of four hours may be applied to a degree program.

    Credit hoursLecture contact hoursLab contact hoursTypically offered
    220Spring