Textiles and Apparel, Merchandising (BSTA)
The merchandising concentration guides you through a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior, buying, sourcing, marketing and retailing within the global apparel industry from foundational to advanced levels of expertise in the discipline.
The Division of Textiles and Apparel (TXA) is a science-based interdisciplinary hub providing a dynamic education – setting students up for a breadth of career and academic opportunities. Students in the Division of Textiles and Apparel are able to select from a wide range of innovative courses on campus, in New York City, NY, or Paris, France, or in studios and labs in collaboration with industry partners in the Austin, TX area. TXA students study the art of design, the science of chemistry and physics, and the application of retail principles.
Students complete a major foundation curriculum and then choose from courses which will make up Specializations– with students tracking through introductory, developing, and mastery learning levels of content. Our courses provide hands-on experience reflective of a rapidly evolving field – harnessing the energy of rapidly evolving retail environments, learning from intercultural practices and customs, product development, consumer behavior, apparel and fashion design, computer-aided design, sustainability, and fiber and fabric testing, among other things. Capstone experiences take students to high-profile venues and provide rich educational opportunities. Internships are available to enhance the educational experience and ensure strong career opportunities. Research is being conducted in bio-based fibers and specialized fabrics to address basic human needs of creative textile products.
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| TXA 305 | Textiles | 3 |
| SDS 302F | Foundations of Data Analysis (or approved list course) | 3 |
| TXA 301C | Introduction to the Fashion Industry | 3 |
| CH 301N | Chemistry in Our World I | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| TXA 314C | Computer-Aided Design for Apparel | 3 |
| TXA 316R | Sewn-Product Analysis and Manufacturing | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| CH 302N | Chemistry in Our World II | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| H E 101P | Professional Development I | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| TXA 314K | Product Development | 3 |
| TXA 319R or TXA 313 |
Merchandise Presentations in Retail Environments or Aesthetics: Theory and Practice |
3 |
| H E 102P | Ethics Across Life | 1 |
| TXA 317R | Merchandising Math I | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| TXA 377R | Merchandising Math II | 3 |
| TXA 151 | Pre-Internship Seminar | 1 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Biological Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Archaeological Studies: Prehistoric Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Texas Archaeology | ||
| Computer Fluency | ||
| Elements of Computers and Programming | ||
| The Natural Environment | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Environmental Science: A Changing World | ||
| Fundamentals of Nutrition | ||
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| TXA 331E | Textiles and Apparel in the Global Marketplace | 3 |
| TXA 328 | Research Methods in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: TXA | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| TXA 356 | Internship | 3 |
| TXA 376R | Concepts and Innovations in Retailing | 3 |
| TXA 361 | Consumer Behavior in the Marketplace | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: TXA | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| TXA 379R | Strategic Brand Management | 3 |
| H E 103P | Professional Development II | 1 |
| Hours chosen from: TXA | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Hours chosen from: TXA | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Elementary Statistical Methods | ||
| Foundations of Data Analysis | ||
| Elements of Statistics | ||
| Elements of Statistics: Honors | ||
| Statistical Reasoning and Literacy | ||
| Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations Research | ||
| Introduction to Mathematics | ||
| Preparation for Calculus | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| Differential Calculus | ||
| Differential Calculus for Science | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus for Business | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus for the Sciences | ||
| Introductory Symbolic Logic | ||
| Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations Research | ||
| Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Introduction to Social Statistics | ||
| CH 301N | Chemistry in Our World I | 3 |
| CH 302N | Chemistry in Our World II | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Introductory Biology I | ||
| Biological Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Archaeological Studies: Prehistoric Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Texas Archaeology | ||
| Computer Fluency | ||
| Elements of Computers and Programming | ||
| Introduction to Electrical Engineering | ||
| The Natural Environment | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Environmental Science: A Changing World | ||
| Fundamentals of Nutrition | ||
| TXA 151 | Pre-Internship Seminar | 1 |
| TXA 313 | Aesthetics: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| or TXA 319R | Merchandise Presentations in Retail Environments | |
| TXA 316R | Sewn-Product Analysis and Manufacturing | 3 |
| TXA 317R | Merchandising Math I | 3 |
| TXA 328 | Research Methods in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| TXA 361 | Consumer Behavior in the Marketplace | 3 |
| TXA 376R | Concepts and Innovations in Retailing | 3 |
| TXA 377R | Merchandising Math II | 3 |
| TXA 379R | Strategic Brand Management | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: TXA electives | 12 | |
| Subtotal | 49 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 24 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 5 | |
| Subtotal | 29 | |
| General Education | ||
| Core Curriculum | 42 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 42 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Degree-Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel (BSTA)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| TXA 301C | Introduction to the Fashion Industry | 3 |
| TXA 305 | Textiles | 3 |
| TXA 314K | Product Development | 3 |
| TXA 314C | Computer-Aided Design for Apparel | 3 |
| TXA 331E | Textiles and Apparel in the Global Marketplace | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| History of Dress and Cultural Change I | ||
| History of Dress and Cultural Change II | ||
| Consumer Behavior in the Marketplace | ||
| Social Psychology of Dress and Appearance | ||
| H E 101P | Professional Development I | 1 |
| H E 102P | Ethics Across Life | 1 |
| H E 103P | Professional Development II | 1 |
| TXA 356 | Internship | 3 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Additional Requirements
Students earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.
Students must select 36 semester hours of upper-division coursework, 21 of which must be completed in residence at the University.