About the Program

Fashion and Textile Technology Department
Technology Building 303
(716) 878-3478
https://fashion.buffalostate.edu/

The Fashion and Textile Technology department at Buffalo State is the only baccalaureate department in Western New York that offers a variety of career preparation options for the multifaceted, global fashion industry. Faculty expertise, continuous updating of technology-based curriculum, and industry partnerships contribute to the strength of the program. Class sizes are small, allowing individual attention. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular programmatic activities and regional and national competitions. Students have achieved top honors in national apparel and textile design competitions. Internships are available in the Buffalo area as well as nationally and internationally. Affiliations with industry and professional organizations include the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA); the Costume Society of America (CSA); American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA); the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC); the National Retail Federation (NRF), and the Textile and Apparel Program Accreditation Commission (TAPAC); and the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA).

The Fashion and Textile Technology department is to prepare students for employment in the textile, apparel, and fashion industries. Employment opportunities exist in fashion merchandising/buying, retail management, digital textile design, apparel design, 3D design for textiles and apparel, apparel production, apparel product development, textile testing/quality control, home furnishings, and government agencies. Examples of available positions include product test engineer, creative service associate, marketing & styling operations, global product development, technical designer, engagement coordinator, fit expert, product designer, service/selling manager, strategic planning, omni service supervisor, regional manager, merchandise planner, fabric coordinator, production manager, merchandise analyst, apparel designer, operations manager, color developer, off-price buyer, stock/operation manager, etc.

The curriculum for the fashion and textile technology department is divided into two parts: the required 24 credit hours of core coursework; and one or more specialized concentrations: fashion retailing and fashion design. Individuals who have extensive work experience in the fashion field are encouraged to explore earning college credit by course challenge or experiential learning.

Fashion and textile technology majors may spend their senior year studying a specialty topic at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City through the One-Year Visiting Student program to earn a B.S. from Buffalo State and an associate’s degree from FIT. Study abroad opportunities are available in several countries.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students may apply for departmental scholarships every spring. Financial assistance through the college is also available. Students in the department can apply for various industry-sponsored scholarships including the FSF Case Study Scholarship, NRF Foundation Scholarship, and AATCC scholarships.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:
1. Describe and analyze the organization and structure of fashion businesses and the interdependent nature of the global economy.
2. Differentiate consumer target markets including cultural aspects and how each market influences the design process and merchandising strategies.
3. Demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills and the ability to communicate ideas logically and creatively in oral, written, visual and digital formats.
4. Analyze and evaluate textile and apparel product characteristics in relation to consumer satisfaction, product cost, development, quality and performance.
5. Assess the environmental, social and ethical issues facing the global fashion industry and examine contemporary and emerging business practices.
6. Examine and apply technology within the fashion industry.


Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)
Completion requirement

Fashion and Textile Technology Major Requirements (51 credit hours)
Completion requirement

Required Core Courses (24 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
FTT110 FASHION AND CREATIVITY | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT150 FASHION BRANDS ESSENTIALS | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT206 SURVEY OF FASHION TEXTILES | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT310 FASHION APPAREL PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT348 FASHION, SOCIETY, AND HISTORY | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT358 FASHION TREND FORECASTING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT450 GLOBAL FASHION SYSTEMS | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT461 FASHION PORTFOLIO AND PERSONAL BRANDING | 3 - Credit Hours

Concentration Courses (30 credit hours)
Completion requirement
Select one concentration below: Fashion Retailing Concentration OR Fashion Design Concentration


All College Electives (30-36 credit hours)
Completion requirement

Recommended All College Electives
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
DES307 COLOR THEORY | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT252 FASHION AESTHETICS AND STYLING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT349 HISTORY OF TEXTILES | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT355 RESEARCH IN FASHION MERCHANDISING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT359 FASHION RETAIL ENVIRONMENT DESIGN | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT365 FASHION DIGITAL RETAILING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT410 ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT452 FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
Courses may have additional prerequisites.


120 Total Credit Hours
Completion requirement

Fashion Retailing Concentration
Completion requirement

Required Concentration Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
FTT252 FASHION AESTHETICS AND STYLING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT350 FASHION ANALYTICS | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT359 FASHION RETAIL ENVIRONMENT DESIGN | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT365 FASHION DIGITAL RETAILING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT452 FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT455 ISSUES IN MERCHANDISING AND FASHION RETAILING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT475 FASHION RETAILING SEMINAR | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT488 INTERNSHIP/FIELD EXPERIENCE | 1 - 6 Credit Hours

Selected Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:
BUS201 FOUNDATIONS OF LEADERSHIP | 3 - Credit Hours
BUS212 ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES | 3 - Credit Hours
BUS360 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
CRS205 FOUNDATIONS IN CREATIVE THINKING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT250 FASHION BUYING AND MERCHANDISING PRINCIPLES | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT355 RESEARCH IN FASHION MERCHANDISING | 3 - Credit Hours

Fashion Design Concentration
Completion requirement

Required Concentration Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
FTT109 GARMENT CONSTRUCTION I | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT224 TECHNICAL APPAREL DESIGN I | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT303 FASHION ILLUSTRATION I | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT304 TEXTILE SURFACE DESIGN I | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT308 FASHION ILLUSTRATION II | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT324 GARMENT CONSTRUCTION II | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT326 DIGITAL FASHION DESIGN I | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT451 SENIOR PROJECT | 3 - Credit Hours

Selected Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following Courses:
FTT327 DIGITAL FASHION DESIGN II | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT328 TECHNICAL APPAREL DESIGN II | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT329 GARMENT CONSTRUCTION III | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT350 FASHION ANALYTICS | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT365 FASHION DIGITAL RETAILING | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT413 SURFACE DESIGN II | 3 - Credit Hours
FTT455 ISSUES IN MERCHANDISING AND FASHION RETAILING | 3 - Credit Hours