Undergraduate Programs

The Minor in Fashion History and Culture provides a unique opportunity for students to develop an understanding of the origins and evolution of dress and fashion in relation to global societies and cultures. Clothing and a​ppearance (i.e. dress) are forms of non-verbal communication. Varying social, national, ethnic and gender groups project their identities through their dress. When examined from both historical and contemporary perspectives, as well as through analysis of cultural differences, clothing and appearance contribute to our understanding of the world. As an interdisciplinary subject, the development and importance of dress and fashion from pre-historic times until present day incorporates historical, economic, aesthetic, technological, social and cultural factors that influenced clothing change.

The minor is open to students majoring in any academic discipline and across all colleges. The minor is awarded only to students who have applied and admitted to the program.

For questions about the minor in Fashion History and Culture, please contact:

Dilia Lopez-Gydosh
dlopezgy@udel.edu
201 Alison Hall West

The Fashion Management minor focuses on the business aspects of the fashion industry with a broad scope of related topics to give students a foundational understanding of this complex industry. The fashion industry continues to change in relation to consumer preferences, technology innovations, global scope of business and many other complexities.  Courses for the minor give students a comprehensive foundation in product development, sustainability, business, global impact, sourcing, trad​e and branding.

The minor is open to students majoring in any academic discipline (except Fashion Merchandising Majors) and across all colleges. The minor is awarded only to students who have applied and been admitted to the program. Applications to be admitted into the minor are submitted on-line through UDSIS.

Admission will be based on a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and the completion of at least 28 credits at the University of Delaware prior to application.

A total of 18 credits of coursework is required. Students must attain a minimum grade of C—in all courses included in the minor.

For more information contact:

Brenda Shaffer
bshaffer@udel.edu
301 Alison Hall West

The interdisciplinary minor in engages students in interdisciplinary learning that covers key components of functional wearable design in science, technology, creativity, product design and prototyping, and user needs. Students use innovative design and interdisciplinary problem solving skills to tackle important product development problems that can provide better protection for human beings against harsh, and sometimes hazardous, environmental conditions during sporting or working activities, or enhance human performance and health. This minor will give students the chance to take what they learn in other disciplines, beyond Fashion and Apparel Studies courses, and think more rigorously and innovatively about how to use knowledge from other fields to design functional wearable products.

For questions about the minor in functional wearable design, please contact:

Adriana Gorea
agorea@udel.edu
308 Alison Hall West

The minor in Sustainable Apparel and Textile Innovation engages students in interdisciplinary learning that supports social change; rethinks the fundamental ways apparel and textile businesses and industry operate; and tackles the chemical, energy, waste, and water challenges associated with textile materials and manufacturing. This minor will give students the chance to take what they learn in other disciplines, beyond Fashion and Apparel Studies courses, and think more rigorously and imaginatively about how to use knowledge from other fields to impact deeply embedded social and environmental challenges. 

The minor requires eighteen credit hours. Similar to interdisciplinary minors in environmental humanities and integrated design, the minor requires a core set of courses and then electives selected from three areas that will broaden disciplinary perspectives.

As a core, two 3-credit courses are required: FASH 210 and one section of FASH 417. These required core courses allow students to assess the challenges the industry faces and how they have been addressed from the product and/or business/process innovation.

Students choose three credits of electives from each of three subject areas: Design and Social Change, Business and Industry Innovation, and Science and Engineering Innovation. A fourth three credit elective can be chosen from a​​ny of the subject areas. Courses must be selected from at least three different departments and only nine credits may be counted toward both a student's major requirements, other minor, and the Sustainable Apparel and Textile Innovation minor (i.e. "double-​dip"). An advisor for this minor will be assigned to each student.

Elective courses may or may not incorporate content on the apparel industry, but instead allow students to bring broad and relevant disciplinary perspectives to bear on sustainability problems.

All courses included in the minor must be completed with a grade of C- or better. At least nine credits must be at the 300-level or above. Substitutions for the above courses may be made with permission of the program director. Independent studies and special problems courses may also count toward the minor with the director's approval.The minor is open to students majoring in any academic discipline (except Fashion Merchandising Majors) and across all colleges. The minor is awarded only to students who have applied and been admitted to the program. Applications to be admitted into the minor are submitted on-line through UDSIS.

Admission will be based on a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and the completion of at least 28 credits at the University of Delaware prior to application.

A total of 18 credits of coursework is required. Students must attain a minimum grade of C—in all courses included in the minor.

For questions about the minor in sustainable apparel and textile innovation, please contact:

Brenda Shaffer
bshaffer@udel.edu
301 Alison Hall West

This collaborative minor with the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers students the opportunity to achieve enhanced linguistic skills and cultural competency while exploring global trends and attitudes toward fashion and fashion culture. It is open to students in all discipline​s who wish to broaden their studies with an eye to their professional aspirations and marketability in a global world and workplace.​

The Itali​an studies and fashion culture minor requires 21 credits in fashion core courses​, including internship opportunities, as well as core Italian language courses and electives in Italian language and cultural topics.