Masters of Science in Fashion and Apparel Studies

​Fashion and apparel is a $4 trillion dollar annual business worldwide. Across the supply chain, the U.S. fashion and apparel industry directly employs more than 4 million people, who undertake positions ranging from product developers, sourcing managers, merchandisers, buyers, and marketing professionals, to name a few. As the U.S. fashion and apparel industry focuses on high-value parts—research & development, sourcing, design, and marketing, demand for professionals with a Master's degree in these fields is growing steadily.

The FASH Master's program offers students valuable learning experiences in the classroom and beyond, leading to successful career opportunities in the fashion apparel industry, the public sector, and academia. Below are positions taken by recent graduates of the FASH Master's program (including 4+1):

• Associate inventory manager at Macy's
• Manager of responsible sourcing at Tiffany Co.
• Research associate at Better Buying Institute
• Textile assistant at Kasper Group
• Associate technical designer at Under Armour
• Business strategist at VF Corporation
• Men's buyer at PVH Corporation
• Associate 3D technical designer at URBN
• Associate trim specialist at Land's End
• Industry specialist at Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Social Compliance Associate at Fair Labor Association
• Assistant teaching professor of Textiles and apparel management at the University of Missouri

Thesis option​

The thesis option is recommended for students seeking hands-on research experience, developing data analysis and writing skills, and mastering a subject relevant to their future careers in the industry or academia. Students pursuing the thesis option take 31 credit hours of coursework, including:

• 13 credits of fashion and apparel studies course in topics such as research analysis in fashion studies and global fashion consumers
• 6 credits of research method and statistics courses
• 6 credits of free electives (any UD courses at 600 level or above)
• 6 credits of supervised thesis research

Non-thesis option​

The non-thesis option is recommended for students interested in taking more courses versus research experience, focusing on solving practical industry problems or presenting scholarship in non-writing formats such as creative design and exhibition. Students pursuing the non-thesis option take 31 credit hours of coursework, including:

• 13 credits of fashion and apparel studies course in topics such as research analysis in fashion studies and global fashion consumers
• 3 credits of research method course
• 12 credits of free electives (any UD courses at 600 level or above)
• 3 credits of professional project​

​Students learning experiences and success stories in the FASH Master's program

Admissions requirements ​​

Course descriptions

Degree requirements

UD graduate college academic policy

FASH graduate students Google Drive (e.g., Advising FAQs, forms, and thesis and professional project requirements)​

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

shenglu@udel.edu , 307 Alison Hall South ​

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