Doctor of Philosophy in Integrated Textile and Apparel Science (PhD-ITAS)

The Ph.D. in Integrated Textile and Apparel Science is a multidisciplinary degree with a strong focus on integration of information for application in a dynamic, rapidly changing global environment. The program builds on root disciplines such as history, economics, art, psychology, sociology, anthropology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering. These bases of knowledge are applied to problems in international production and trade in textiles and apparel; design, production, and marketing of textile or apparel products for carefully identified target markets; analysis and forecasting of demand for textiles and apparel for consumer and industrial applications; and evaluation of alternatives for effective demand-activated-manufacturing of apparel and textile products.

The Ph.D. in Integrated Textile and Apparel Science requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graded (e.g., A, B, C) graduate course work (7000-level and above) beyond the bachelor's degree, at least 18 hours of which must be completed at Auburn University. At least 30 additional semester hours of course work at the 6000 level or above must also be completed. Some of this may be ungraded course work. A maximum of four semester hours of 7990 (formerly 699) Research and Thesis from a completed master's program can be counted.

Students must complete the following required Core Courses:

ITAS 7200. Integrated Textile and Apparel Complex (3). Pr., departmental approval.



ITAS 8970. Advanced Topics in Integrated Textile and Apparel Quality Control (3). Pr., TXTN 2700 or 3500, or CAHS 4650 or 7650 or departmental approval.



ITAS 8960. Readings in Integrated Textile and Apparel Science (2). Pr., departmental approval.

Ph.D. students will select one of three specialization tracks: Textile Science, Apparel Science, or Textile and Apparel Science. Students will be required to have a minimum of 12-14 semester hours of graduate credit in courses within the selected track or the equivalent of these courses. Students must pass a written and an oral General Examination after completing the course work in order to proceed to the dissertation research. The written examination will include two components: (1) a test over th Ph.D. core classes, i.e., ITAS 7200, 8960 and 8970 and (2) a test over the major and minor courses on the Approved Ph.D. Plant of Study. A minimum of 10 semester hours of ITAS 8990 Research and Dissertation and a minimum of three (3) semester hours of ITAS 8950 Industry Issues Seminar are required. Students must pass a final oral defense of the dissertation to complete the Ph.D. requirements.

The Graduate Advisory Committee (a minimum of three graduate faculty) must include at least one member from Consumer Affairs and one from Textile Engineering.