Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a current resume and a one to two-page goals state- ment. Statements should clearly outline career goals, relevant work experience, and reason for pursuing a graduate degree; address why the Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies program is of interest; and include specific areas of research interest related to the de- partment’s graduate program emphasis. Of the three letters of reference, one should be written by a former instructor or academic contact.
Degree Requirements
The PhD requires minimum of 58 hours (minimum of 90 hours beyond the BS).
Required Core Courses (19 hours) CRS 682 Graduate Seminar (1)
CRS 701 Literature and Thought in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3)
CRS 712 Theory Development in Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies (3)
CRS 713 Qualitative Methodology in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3)
CRS 714 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Consumer, Ap- parel and Retail Studies (3)
CRS 721 Consumer Behavior in Apparel and Retailing (3) RCS 662 Behavior of Soft Lines Consumers (3)
Research Techniques (9 hours)
STA 661 Advanced Statistics in Behavioral Science Research I (3)
STA 662 Advanced Statistics in Behavioral Science Research II (3)
STA 671 Multivariate Analysis (3) or ERM 682 Multivariate Analysis in Education (3)
Cognate Area (9 hours)
In consultation with the student’s chair and Advi- sory/Dissertation Committee, the student will identify a supporting area that will enrich and expand his or her research interest. The student will take a minimum of 9 hours within this area.
Electives (3 hours)
The student will select 3 hours, as approved by the student’s chair in consultation with the Advisory/ Dissertation Committee, from available CRS 600- and 700-level courses.
Research and Dissertation (15 hours) CRS 790 Independent Doctoral Research (3) CRS 799 Dissertation Problem (12) Teaching (3 hours)
CRS 765 College Teaching Practicum in Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies (3)
Preliminary and Final Oral Examination Advisory/Dissertation Committee
The student should consult the Advisory/Disserta- tion Committee section of The Graduate School Bulletin. The graduate advisor must be from the Department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies and one member must be from outside the CARS Department. The committee must be chosen no later than upon the completion of the first 18 semester hours.
545 Experimental Product Design (3:2:3)
Pr. grade of C or better in 444 or equivalent as determined by the instructor, or permission of the instructor
Experimentation with a variety of materials to create apparel using both traditional and innovative methods. Emphasis on design development and originality. Investigation of various specialty markets for apparel design. (Spring)
530 Economics of the Textile and Apparel Complex (3:3)
Pr. grade of C or better in ECO 201 or its equivalent as determined by the instructor, or graduate standing
Economics and social aspects of production, distribution, and
Students must demonstrate a broad knowledge of the material covered in the curriculum by undertaking an approved industry practicum. A formal contract will be established between the CARS graduate pro-
gram committee and each student to clearly define the scope and requirements for the project. The student will be permitted to enroll in CRS 632 once the Re- quired Core Courses are complete.
C
o n s u M e r, a
P P a r e l,
a n dr
e t a i ls
t u d i e s582 Problems in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (2-6)
Individual study.
589 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
605 Research Methodology in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3:3)
Beginning graduate course in research methodology within the domains of consumer, apparel, and retailing. Concepts, frame- works, and relationships of theory and research. Epistemologi- cal issues, types of analysis, methods.
614 Textile Products Market Analysis (3:3)
Quantitative and qualitative approaches to the analysis of global markets for textiles and apparel. Embraces information sources and techniques for market, competitor, and company analysis to support strategic marketing decisions.
615 Advanced Textiles and Experimental Methods (3:2:3)
Pr. 614, CHE 205 or 351, or permission of instructor
Analysis of structure and functional performance of advanced textiles (geotextiles, biomedical, nonwovens) using experimen- tal methods such as Kawabata Hand Evaluation System. Dif- ferential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis.
620 Analysis of Apparel and Related Industries (3:3)
Analysis of apparel and related industries from raw materials through consumption. Examination of production and market- ing of products, technological developments, and domestic and global market strategies.
630 Economic Dynamics of the Retail Complex (3:3)
Pr. 530 and MBA 603 or permission of instructor
Application of economic concepts to consumption behaviors in the retail industry with special emphasis on apparel and related products. Impact of history, trends, brands, and demo- graphics explored.
632 Supervised Industry Practicum in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3:0:9)
Pr. permission of Director of Graduate Studies
Supervised industry practicum combining practical and academic elements. Course supervised by DGS or designated faculty member.
660 International Textile Products Marketing (3:3)
Pr. 560 or permission of instructor
International textile products marketing environment; global markets, marketing programs and organizations.
663 Experience in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Issues Abroad (3:3)
Pr. 560 or permission of instructor
Cultural, political, business, and consumer issues within the apparel and retail industries of a specific country. May be repeated for credit with different country.
664 International Retailing: Theory and Practice (3:3)
Pr. 484 and 560 or permission of instructor
Investigation of international retailing from a combined theory and practice perspective. Analysis of global retail systems and strategy. Retail supply chains. Multinational consumer issues.
671 Issues in Apparel and Related Industries Entrepreneurship Research (3:3)
Current state of research on entrepreneurship studies in gen- eral and particularly within the apparel and related products industry. (Same as ENT 671) 681 Directed Individual Study in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (1-6)
681 Directed Individual Study in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (1-6)
682 Graduate Seminar in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (1:1)
Fundamentals of graduate studies in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, including guidelines for development and critique of research. May be repeated once for credit when topic varies.
683 Problems in Apparel (1-3) 684 Problems in Retail Marketing (1-3)
685 Problems in Retail and Consumer Studies (1-3) 686 Readings in Apparel (1-3)
687 Readings in Retail Marketing (1-3)
688 Readings in Retail and Consumer Studies (1-3) 690 Minor Research (2-6)
699 Thesis (1-6)
700 Seminar in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (1:1)
Study, reporting, and discussion of current research. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
701 Literature and Thought in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3:3)
Pr. admission to PhD in consumer, apparel, and retail studies and permission of instructor
Overview of concepts, frameworks, theory, thought, and em- pirical research within the domains of consumer, apparel, and retailing. Emphasis on contemporary thinking and identifying opportunities and directions for future research streams.
711 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
712 Theory Development in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Stud- ies (3:3)
Pr. 630, 660, 662, or permission of instructor
Examination of business related marketing theories to consum- er, apparel, and retail studies. Analysis of marketing theories, models, and conceptual frameworks. Includes business-to-busi- ness, consumer, customer relationship, and economic theories.
713 Qualitative Methodology in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3:3)
Exploration of development and use of qualitative research methodology in consumer, apparel, and retail studies. Focus on application of qualitative methodology to diverse research problems, data collection procedures, and analysis approaches.
714 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (3:3)
Pr. STA 671 or ERM 682 or equivalent and admission to PhD in consumer, apparel, and retail studies, or permission of instructor
Concepts, frameworks, theory, and empirical research methods and models within the consumer, apparel, and retailing domains. Emphasis on application of research methods and multivariate statistical models of consumer and retail research issues.
720 Social Psychology of Consumption (3:3)
Investigation of approaches to research on consumption within social psychology. Focus on the study of apparel and related consumer products.
721 Consumer Behavior in Apparel and Retailing (3:3)
Pr. 562 or permission of instructor
Current theories and research in consumer behavior. Applica- tion of consumer behavior models to apparel, apparel-related products, and retailing through individualized research
560 Advanced Retail Buying and Planning (3:3)
Pr. grade of C (2.0) or better in 361, or graduate standing
Advancing the strategies of inventory acquisition and control. Application of retail math to excel spreadsheets in planning the assortment plan, six month merchandise plan, and model stock plans.
584 Retail Strategy (3:3)
Pr. 464 for undergraduates
Investigation of retailing from a strategic perspective. Concepts are analyzed and integrated into applied problem-solving scenarios focused on consumer needs.
662 Behavior of Soft Lines Consumers (3:3)
Study of environmental, individual, and psychological influ- ences on behavior of consumers in the soft lines consumption process.