Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Apparel Business
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.
Apparel and footwear industry experts who are in charge of social responsibility and sustainability of the companies and NGO leaders involved with labor issues have reviewed the courses and provided the following comments.
"The courses are comprehensive of all areas that should be reviewed to have a good understanding of social responsibility in these industries. Anyone completing these courses should be equipped with the knowledge to contribute to the industry."
"Students completing this content will have a more developed philosophical framework and understanding of interrelations than most professionals in the field working on these issues."
"The courses collectively provide an excellent overview of all the important issues that the textile industry is facing with regards to environmental and social responsibility."
"Students of these courses will certainly have a leg up on the rest of the pack in terms of understanding the complexities of doing business in a global economy today."
"This is an impressive set of courses. Those persons who complete the program will be well prepared to make a substantive contribution to the industry. The balance between labor and environmental issues is well drawn and rounds out the program nicely."
Because the required courses are offered through the Internet, admission to the Graduate Certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies is open to students residing anywhere in the world. Although most students hold undergraduate degrees in apparel design, fashion merchandising, or a related program, interested individuals with backgrounds in other scientific disciplines can also excel in the graduate certificate and are welcome to apply.
Individuals Currently Not Enrolled at UD
Individuals who are not currently University of Delaware students apply to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education. There is a $75 application fee. The application package needs to include:
- Evidence of an undergraduate degree
- A personal statement addressing the following questions:
- What are your interests and objectives and how does pursuing the graduate certificate in socially responsible and sustainable apparel business relate to them?
- What experience, if any, have you had in the apparel, textile, or footwear industries?
- Are there any special circumstances related to your academic record that you feel we should know about?
Recommendation letters are optional but welcome. Up to three recommendation letters are allowed from teachers, supervisors, or other individuals who could provide relevant information about your likelihood of success in pursuing the graduate certificate.
Admission to the graduate certificate is decided by the Graduate Studies Committee of faculty in the department. Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
Current UD Students
Students who are currently pursuing a graduate degree or Minor in Sustainable Apparel and Textile Innovation at the University of Delaware may take up to three of the required certificate courses without applying for admission into the certificate program. However, to take four or more required courses, students must apply for admission to the graduate certificate program. Please contact Dr. Sheng Lu, director of graduate studies, for details (shenglu@udel.edu).
Application Deadlines
Certificate Program applications are accepted up to one month prior to the student’s desired start date.
The graduate certificate in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business includes a total of nine credits.
The FASH 666 Special Problem serves as a capstone experience whereby students integrate their learning across the courses of the certificate. This course is taken upon completing at least seven credits required for the certificate program. Students work under the direction of one of the teaching instructors on individual study, experiential learning (e.g., group travel, internship, service learning), or research with the teaching professor.
Additional Information
To be successful in the program, prospective students need to be able to express themselves clearly in written English as there are readings, written assignments, and discussions with the instructor and other classmates.
If the certificate program participant only holds an undergraduate degree, it is recommended that he/she take the certificate program courses for a letter grade (A, B, etc.), so that, if at a later date the participant elects to pursue a graduate degree, these graduate courses may be transferable into that degree program. If the certificate program participant already holds a graduate degree and does not intend to use the courses toward any future degree program, then the participant may elect to take the courses Pass/Fail, still earning graduate credits; but those ungraded credits are unlikely to be transferable into a graduate degree program.
Academic Load
Students pursuing the certificate will normally enroll in three to six courses toward the graduate certificate per academic semester. Students not maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA in the graduate certificate courses or who do not enroll in at least one required course for two consecutive academic semesters (Fall and Spring) will be asked to withdraw from the program.
Grade Minimums
To earn the graduate certificate, students must receive a grade of Pass/B- or better in each course.
Advising
To plan your Graduate Certificate Program in Socially Responsible and Sustainable Apparel Business, contact Sheng Lu, director of graduate studies, shenglu@udel.edu
Course Registration
Information about registering for courses, as well as tuition and fees is available at UD Online.
