International Merchandising Concentration

This program provides opportunities for concentrated study in the following topic areas:

  • International Apparel and Textiles Retailing
  • International Production and Trade
  • Global Sourcing
  • International Business Practices
  • E-commerce in a Global Setting
  • Historic & Cultural Aspects of Dress

Major Requirements

  • The degree program requires:
    • at least 42 credit hours in coursework,
    • three hours of Doctoral Research (TXMI 9000), and
    • six hours of Doctoral Dissertation (TXMI 9300). 
  • The required 42 credit hours in coursework must include:
    • at least 24 hours in the major area (12 hrs of core and 12 hrs of specialization),
    • 12 hours in a supporting area (e.g., consumer economics, sociology, psychology, business, etc.), and
    • A minimum of 6 hours of research methodology courses are approved by the student’s committee.
  • TXMI 8900 is a required course for graduation but does not count toward the 42 hours of coursework.
  • 16 hours must be 8000-level or above
  • 30 consecutive semester hours of residency
  • A dissertation is an integral component of this Ph.D. program

- Core Courses (20 hours)

  • TXMI 6520: Apparel and Textile Economics (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8050: Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors Research Methods (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8270: Apparel Theories and Methodologies (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8500: Contemporary Topics in Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8900 Seminar (1 credit/Semester for 8 semesters = 8 credit hours) - excluded in the 42 hours of coursework

- Research Methodology (6 hours)

  • 6 hours or more (not including TXMI 8050)

- Specialization Area (12 hours)

  • TXMI 8240: Advanced Topics in Retailing (3 hours.
  • TXMI 8260: Advanced Topics in Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8280 Museum Issues in Clothing and Textiles (3 hours)
  • TXMI 8290 Fashion Theory (3 hours)
  • TXMI 9010: Direct Research. 1-12 hours. Repeatable for a maximum of 12 hours credit.

- Supporting area (12 hours)

  • 12 hours from any graduate courses approved by a major professor in areas closely aligned to the student’s research emphasis

- Doctoral Research (3+ hours)

  • TXMI 9000 Doctoral Research: 3 or more hours. Repeatable for a maximum of 9 hours credit.

- Dissertation (6+ hours)

  • TXMI 9300 Doctoral Dissertation: 6 or more credit hours  

- Additional Courses

  • GRSC 7001 GradFirst Seminar ((1 credit, Graduate School REQ)
  • GRSC 7770 Graduate School Teaching Seminar - Required for students receiving a teaching assistantship

Total hours required: 60+ hours 

Courses outside of TMI and other graduate courses in TMI may be approved by your major professor for inclusion in your program of study.

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