Cornell University Registrar

Graduate Field

Fiber Science and Apparel Design

Program Description

The common focus of the field is the study of fibrous materials and their use as apparel, as engineering structures (such as composite materials), in biomedical applications, and in home furnishings. The field of fiber science and apparel design is applied and multidisciplinary, with faculty members drawn from the Colleges of Human Ecology and Engineering.

Students are expected to develop strength in their base discipline as well as gain appropriate breadth to support the area of specialization. Active research programs exist in high-performance fibers and fiber-reinforced composites; green composites; detergency and surface chemistry; perfume-treated fabrics; textile materials in biomedical and geotechnical applications; polymers for electronics; liquid-crystal polymers; textile-dye chemistry; crystal morphology of fibers; electrospin of fibers; cellulose; apparel and fashion design; design ethnography; sizing and fit of apparel; functional apparel; cultural and historic studies of clothing and textiles; mass customization and technology; and technology management in the apparel industry.

For Ph.D. students, a minimum of four committee members are required: one faculty member representing the major, one for each of the two minor areas, and a fourth member appointed by the director of graduate studies to act for the field. The oral and written admission to candidacy examination and the final oral examination are required for the Ph.D. degree. The field does not require a foreign language.

Outstanding facilities for research and study are available in the College of Human Ecology and the College of Engineering. Textile and polymer science laboratories are equipped with modern instrumentation for chemical, physical, and mechanical analysis and with a controlled temperature and humidity room. Apparel design studios are equipped with industrial sewing equipment. Video image-capture and photography equipment is available in a visual analysis lab. The functional apparel lab houses a variety of human-factors testing equipment, including a full-body scanner.

Concentrations

• Apparel design

Program Information

• Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
• Program Location: Ithaca, NY 

Program Requirements

• Minimum Semesters for Degree: 8

Graduate School Milestones

• Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
• Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
• Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: First Year
• Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): After the completion of field required written A exam
• Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fourth year

Field Specific Milestones

• Written A Exam, typically taken in the fourth or fifth semester

Course Requirements

Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below. The Field of Fiber Science and Apparel Design recommends that coursework be completed during the first two years of the program.

Before A Exam

Select four of the following courses:

• FSAD 6640 Digital Anthropometry and Design in Fashion
• FSAD 6700 Fashion Theory
• FSAD 6451 Curating Fashion Exhibitions
• FSAD 6900 Understanding Functional Aspects of Clothing and Design
• FSAD 6025 Design for Change: Imagining Decolonial Futures
• FSAD 6800 Ethical Design: Engine of Positive Change
• HIST 6452 Dress, Cloth and Identity in Africa and the Diaspora

Graduate School Enrollment Requirements

Course Requirements

• Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
• Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students each semester through graduation. These courses include:
  • GRAD 8000 In Absentia
  • GRAD 9010 Graduate-Level Research
  • GRAD 9011 Doctoral Dissertation Research
  • GRAD 9012 Master's Thesis Research
  • GRAD 9016 Summer Graduate-Level Research
  • GRAD 9050 Global Hubs: Research Partnerships
  • GRAD 9060 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

University Graduation Requirements

Requirements for All Students

In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.

Academic Requirements

A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.

Non-academic Requirements

Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.

Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.

Learning Outcomes

• Establish general expertise in apparel design, including:
  - Anthropology of the fashioned body.
  - Understanding functional aspects of clothing and design.
  - Human factors: anthropometrics and apparel.
  - Fashion theory.
  - Fashion, media, and technology.
  - Fashion and beauty.
  - Functional aspects of clothing and design.
• Make an original and substantial contribution to an area of apparel design.
  - Think originally and independently to develop concepts and methodologies.
  - Identify new research opportunities within the field of apparel design.
  - Incorporate approaches, techniques, skills, or knowledge connecting apparel design with other disciplines.
• Demonstrate advanced research skills.
  - Synthesize existing knowledge via coursework and literature review.
  - Master application of research techniques, technical skills, and analysis.
  - Present research motivation, methods, and results in written and oral formats.

Admissions

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines

Fall, December 15

Requirements Summary

• all Graduate School requirements, including the English language proficiency requirement for all applicants
  • The field's minimum TOEFL requirement is higher than the Graduate School's. Applicants must achieve a total score of at least 100, with a speaking subscore of at least 26.
• two recommendations and recommendation forms
• portfolio for apparel design applicants

Admission is based on evidence of potential for advanced study. Pre-applications are required for M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs; forms are available from the address above. Applicants to the Ph.D. program in fiber science should have an M.S. degree in textile chemistry, textile science, polymer science, engineering, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, or a similar discipline. Applicants who do not have an appropriate M.S. degree should apply to the M.S./Ph.D. program. Applicants who want to pursue studies in apparel design may be required to submit a portfolio to the director of graduate studies, if their research interests involve a design component.

Admissions Contact Information

Email: fsad_graduate@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-2809
Campus Address: 208 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall
Website: https://human.cornell.edu/degrees/grad/apparel-design-phd