4+1 Master's Program

​The 4+1 program allows undergraduate Fashion Merchandising and Management (FMM) and Fashion Design and Product Innovation (FDPI) majors​ ​to complete the master's degree in Fashion and Apparel Studies in half the time (i.e., 4 years to get a B.S. in FMM or FDPI + 1 year to get an M.S. degree in fashion and apparel studies).

Through the 4+1 program, students will learn more in-depth about the fashion apparel industry (e.g., sustainability) and improve their professional writing, communication, problem-solving, and analysis skills. Getting the M.S. degree also allows students to open new doors and expand career growth in fashion, apparel, retail, and related industries.

Read the featured story about the FASH 4+1 program and students’ learning experiences.​

​Admissions Requirements ​

Admission to the 4+1 Program

1. When to Apply - Students will typically apply for admission to the 4+1 Master of Science in Fashion and Apparel Studies program in the fall semester of the junior year. However, any undergraduate student interested in applying for the program is encouraged to make their interest known to their advisor as early as the freshman year. UD world scholars and students in the FASH-FIT program can also pursue the 4+1 program.

2. Admission requirements - Students must be enrolled at the University of Delaware in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, pursuing an undergraduate major in FMM or FDPI. The admission requirements include the following:

• 4+1 Course planning form (you will work wi​​th your undergraduate academic advisor and Dr. Sheng Lu, FASH director of graduate studies)

• Person​​al statement describing your interest in purposing the 4+1 program, and carer goals

• ​​Unofficial transcript (can be downloaded from UDSIS)

• No appli​cation fee is required

• No GRE/GMAT scores are required

Submit your 4+1 application here

3. Application deadlines - Review of applicants typically begins October 15th of the junior year and students are officially notified by November 1st. Students start the 4+1 program in the spring of their junior year.​​​

Degree Requireme​nts for 4+1 in Fashion Merchandising and Management/Fashion and Apparel Studies​

Six credits from the following group that can count as substitutes for required undergraduate courses – same course contents with higher expectations

FASH 630 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 430

FASH 655 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 455

FASH 619 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 419; or FASH 617 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 417

Six credits from the following group that can be used as elective credits for B.S. degree in FMM

FASH 800 (3 cr.) Research Analysis in Fashion Studies

FASH 822 (3 cr.) Global Fashion Consumer

FASH 825 (3 cr.) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Creative Problem Solving

Graduate Level Research Methods (determined in consultation with advisor) (3 cr.)

Degree Require​ments for 4+1 in Fashion Design and Product Innovation/Fashion and Apparel Studies​

Six credits from the following group that can count as substitutes for required undergraduate courses – same course contents with higher expectations

FASH 633 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 433

FASH 655 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 455

FASH 619 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 419; or FASH 617 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 417

FASH 623 (3 cr.) substitute for FASH 423

Six credits from the following group that can be used as elective credits for B.S. degree in FMM

FASH 800 (3 cr.) Research Analysis in Fashion Studies

FASH 822 (3 cr.) Global Fashion Consumer

FASH 825 (3 cr.) Interdisciplinary Approaches to Creative Problem Solving

Graduate Level Research Methods (determined in consultation with advisor) (3 cr.)

​For questions, please contact Dr. Sheng Lu​, Director of Graduate Studies

shenglu@udel.edu​, 307 Alison Hall South​​