Apparel, Merchandising, and Design

Apparel, merchandising, and design
Graduate studies in apparel, merchandising, and design (AMD) extend knowledge and research beyond the basics to take a close look at industry-wide issues.
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Join our award-winning faculty and multi-talented graduate students in a graduate education experience that will ignite your spark and help prepare you for academic and industry positions. Our faculty who have expertise in the areas of consumer behavior; creative, technical, and functional design; merchandising, management, and entrepreneurship; and history, social psychology, and cultural studies are dedicated to your success. We offer both on-campus and hybrid (distance) Master’s and Ph.D. programs.


Degrees Offered: 

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  • Master of Science (M.S.)
  • Online Master of Science (M.S.)
  • Online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Area(s) of Specialization: 

  • Consumer behavior
  • Creative, technical, and functional design
  • Merchandising, management, and entrepreneurship
  • History, social psychology, and cultural studies

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the doctorate: 5.0 years (Methods)
  • Median time to earn the master’s: 1.8 years (Methods)

Dr. Ann Marie Fiore

amfiore@iastate.edu
515-294-9303
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design Graduate Program
2302 Osborn Drive
31 MacKay Hall
Ames, IA 50011

Learning Goals

  • Faculty members in the program expect all students to demonstrate mastery of required coursework by maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better. All students will demonstrate the ability to work in teams, design a research or creative project, and communicate in writing and orally. In addition, all students are expected to be aware of societal, professional, and ethical issues related to the discipline.
  • Upon successful completion of the graduate program, AESHM graduates will be competent in the following four areas:
  • Critical Thinking: 1.Assimilate, integrate, and evaluate research/creative activity in the discipline of interest and related disciplines. 2.Implement appropriate methods for research/creative activity. 3.Apply relevant theory in scholarship. 4.Demonstrate a multi-disciplinary perspective appropriate to the field. 5.[PhD] Develop a program of research/creative activity that contributes uniquely to the field of study.
  • Self-Reflection/Self-Assessment: 1.Develop a program of scholarship, industry experience, and teaching as appropriate to the requirements of the individual’s professional situation. 2.[PhD] Formulate a professional philosophy in teaching, scholarship, and/or service.
  • Social Responsibility/Ethics: 1.Explain, analyze, and/or describe how moral and ethical issues apply to individual situations in the relevant field of study. 2.Demonstrate an understanding of ethical scholarship and professional practices.
  • Communication: 1.Interpret and communicate scholarship to diverse audiences (e.g., scholarly, families, consumers, agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations) in written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) formats.
  • Faculty members strongly encourage doctoral students to present at discipline-related meetings such as the Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, or the International Textiles and Apparel Association Annual Meeting at least once before graduation. Doctoral students also are encouraged to publish at least one paper prior to graduation.

Admission Requirements

Graduate College Requirements:

  • 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
  • Proof of English Proficiency.

Program Specific Requirements:

  • Statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Copy of transcripts
  • Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
  • Electronic link to portfolio (design and product development-focused applicants)
  • 16 in section 1 of TOEFL Internet (iBT)
  • Program Requires GRE: No
  • Program Requires GMAT: No
  • Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 550
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 79 (for exams taken before January 21, 2026; 4.5 (for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 53
    Duolingo 115

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

On-campus student applications for fall semester admission are due March 1 but by February 1 for the best chance at scholarships and assistantships; hybrid student applications for summer cohort admission are due March 15. On-campus and hybrid student applications for spring semester admission are due October 15.

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students. Apparel, Merchandising and Design does not pay for application fees for Master of Science students because they are seldom awarded assistantship or scholarship funding.

Application Instructions