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
- Fiber science
- Polymer science
- Textile science
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 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 all coursework be completed during the first two years of the program.
Before A Exam
Select four of the following:
- FSAD 6460 Nanotechnology in Fibers and Textiles
- FSAD 6400 Polymer and Fiber Characterization
- FSAD 6260
- FSAD 6200 Physical Properties of Fiber - Forming Polymers and Fibers
- FSAD 6660 Fiber Formation: Theory and Practice
- FSAD 6160 Rheology of Solids: Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Fibers and Polymers
- FSAD 6860 Mechanics of Fibrous Assemblies and their Composites
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:
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.
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
- pre-application for Ph.D. applicants; request form from field via email
- 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/fiber-science-phd
