The Department of Fashion & Apparel Studies offers a graduate
certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business
that addresses labor and environmental problems in the global supply
chains for the apparel, textile, and footwear industries. The
certificate is comprised of nine, one-credit courses that are offered
through the Internet.
The graduate certificate provides a foundation of knowledge needed to
manage international production and sourcing, design, product
development, buying, promotion, sourcing, and production of apparel,
textiles, and footwear in ways that are socially responsible and
sustainable. The competencies and skills embedded in the courses are
based on research with industry leaders and professionals who lead
non-governmental organizations and civil society groups with a stake in
the global apparel business.
The coursework is grounded on principles of the United Nations (UN)
Global Compact, a voluntary international initiative bringing together
companies, labor and civil society groups, and various UN agencies in
support of human rights, labor, and the environment. The following
learning goals have been established for students completing the
certificate:
- Evaluate how apparel,
textile, and footwear businesses address the "Global Compact"
principles for human rights, labor standards, and environmental
stewardship and how they can more effectively address them in the
future.
- Analyze the moral and
ethical responsibility of business and individuals toward human rights
labor standards, and environmental stewardship, and
- Recommend various strategies for effecting change in the industries.
The courses and learning materials for the certificate were developed
by a team of faculty from the University of Delaware, Cornell
University, and Colorado State University based on work supported by the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2006-01405.
Students completing the requirements for the graduate certificate will
be awarded a certificate that is signed by the Department Chairperson
and the Department's Graduate Studies Committee Chair. Additionally, a
notation of receipt of the certificate will be made on the students'
transcripts.
What Experts Say
Admission Requirements
Certificate Requirements
Certificate Course Descriptions
For questions about the graduate certificate program, please contact:
Dr. Sheng Lu
shenglu@udel.edu
