What options are available in AMDT and what are the certification requirements for each?
There are two options in AMDT Merchandising and Apparel Design. You may certify in Merchandising after completing 24 credit hours and if you GPA is 2.7 or above. To certify into the Apparel Design option you must go through a portfolio review which takes place each February; to be eligible for the portfolio review you must have completed 24 hours credit, specific courses and at the time of the review have a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Details on the portfolio review are available at the AMDT website.
It is important to take classes in sequence when advised by faculty?
Most courses required for AMDT majors are only offered one time each year so it is CRITICAL that students take them at the recommended time to ensure they have the appropriate pre-requisites and will graduate in a timely manner.
What about internships?
Internships are highly recommended for all students and are required for those students in the Merchandising option. The student is responsible for locating their own internship and determining the details with the faculty member teaching the internship class. Currently the internship course is offered summer and fall semester. For merchandising students, the courses are sequenced that a student could be off campus fall of their senior year and graduate in a timely manner. It is recommended students take the internship after completion of their junior year.
What Math is recommended for students in the Apparel Design and Merchandising Options?
Stat 212, Introduction to Statistical Methods, is recommended.
Do students have the opportunity to study abroad?
Because our industry is very globalized we encourage students to study abroad. It is important if a student is interested in doing this they begin planning early in their college career due to the sequencing of our courses and importance of pre-requisites. Summers are always a good time to do this and it doesn’t interfere with the program of study. Students in merchandising could also spend their junior year, or fall of their junior or senior year abroad with planning. Many of our students take courses in study abroad programs that will transfer into our program. Students in the Apparel Design option that are planning or studying abroad should do this prior to the beginning of their junior year or make sure the program they are in has the appropriate courses that will transfer back so the student graduates in a timely manner.
What activities are available for students to participate in that are related to the major?
We have an active student chapter of the International Textiles and Apparel Association which sponsors philanthropic projects, and Alumni tailgate event and other activities throughout the year. In addition, the department has an Student Showcase in Seattle each spring to showcase student work to industry representatives and alumni in that area.
Pullman seems like an unlikely place for students to study fashion. Can you provide some information regarding this?
We have great relationships with the industry in Seattle, the third largest apparel and design center in the US, and we have alumni placed in fashion related industries internationally including New York and Los Angles. We provide study tours for students (for credit) to Seattle, New York, Europe and Ecuador where they are exposed to the workings of the industry. In 2008 we initialized a Student Showcase in Seattle for our students to show their work and each year we have a number of students that participate in international competitions where there is increased exposure to industry. In addition we have a student organization, the International Textiles and Apparel Association, which is affiliated with a national organization which provides opportunities for students.
How will be advised for classes and other issues?
Each student in AMDT is assigned a faculty advisor their first semester in the program. It is likely that they will also have this faculty member for classes during their experience at WSU. Beginning several weeks prior to priority registration, faculty place sign-up sheets outside their offices and students can sign up for an appointment to be advised for classes. Faculty as also available by appointment or during office hours to meet with students about concerns or other topics the student might want to discuss.
How do I learn who my advisor is?
You can stop by our departmental office, 51 Kruegel to learn who your advisor is. You are assigned an advisor your first semester and then you usually remain with that advisor until you graduate. However, you can request to change advisors if you would like.
I am interested in Merchandising and looking at the business component. How is this integrated into the program?
>There are a number of business related required courses in the curriculum including Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Marketing, and Business Economics and Management. In addition there are a number of courses in the department that are business based including Merchandising Buying and Planning, Fashion Forecasting, Advanced retail Management, Strategy Planning and Decision Making and International Trade in Textiles and Apparel; we have also just introduced courses in Supply Chain Management and Globalization, Environmental, and Ethical Issues in the Fashion Industry which address specific issues in the industry.
I am interested in the Apparel Design Option; what specialized courses are in the curriculum that will aid me in learning the necessary skills for a career in this area?
In addition to product knowledge and other courses in the AMDT Core, students in the Apparel Design Option have coursework in illustration and rendering, draping, patternmaking, tailoring, computer aided design, and fashion line development. This culminates in an annual fashion show held during Mom’s weekend which attracts over 2000 attendees. There are also international design competitions the faculty encourage student participation in.
