Welcome to the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management Graduate Programs. The department offers doctoral and master's program in the three program areas: Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management. Students can build their program so that they can concentrate in one of several specializations within these programs. Students completing these degrees are hired in academic, research, and private industry settings.
Students must be accepted by the Virginia Tech Graduate School and the AHRM department. Applications can be found on-line at http://www.grads.vt.edu .
Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and students should apply to the department in order to be considered for this financial support. Students may also be eligible for scholarships awarded through the AHRM Department, the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and professional associations affiliated with the graduate programs in the department.
Master's Program
The master's program provides students with more in-depth content in the program areas in the department and with introductory research skills. Students must complete department and program area requirements. The Apparel program is a thesis and research degree and students are expected to have an apparel background or to take undergraduate classes to make up deficiencies. The Housing and Resource Management master's programs have thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis degree requires six credits of research and thesis and is completed by students interested in research and anticipating further graduate education. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 hours of coursework and students selecting this program typically plan to work in a housing or resource management industry position. Students in either option do not need to have undergraduate degrees in these program areas, but will be expected to take undergraduate courses to make up any deficiencies.
Sample Plans of Study are available for the various options and specializations. The areas of specialization in the Apparel program are apparel product design and analysis, apparel and textiles business and economic analysis, and apparel and textiles quality analysis. The specializations in the Housing master's program are housing design, residential property management, and housing and gerontology. The specialization within Resource Management area is consumer studies and resource management.
In order to progress through the program in a timely manner, students should follow guidelines in the AHRM Master's Policy Handbook . Important steps include:
- selecting an Advisor
- selecting a Committee, and
- completing a Plan of Study
If the student is completing a thesis, then the student will also develop a research proposal, have it approved, complete their research or design thesis, and pass the Final Exam. A student in the non-thesis option must complete and pass a Comprehensive Exam.
Ph.D. Program
The AHRM doctoral degree is a research degree, where students gain in-depth knowledge in their field of study and in research methods and statistics. They must complete department and program requirements. The completion of a dissertation under the supervision of their major advisor and their advisory committee is also required. At least one year of residency on the Virginia Tech campus is required, but many AHRM students find that being on-campus for two-three years is desirable. Typically, a doctoral program is completed after a master's degree, and some credits from that degree can be transferred into the program, if appropriate. The AHRM program also allows students to enter the Ph.D. program from a baccalaureate degree. More coursework and time are required to complete this type of program.
Sample Plans of Study are available for doctoral students in the various program areas. Apparel doctoral program focuses on apparel issues, from design through distribution, with an emphasis on consumer satisfaction. Students can specialize in one of three areas: Apparel Product Design and Analysis, Business and Economic Analysis of Apparel and Textiles, or Apparel and Textiles Quality Analysis. Housing doctoral students select courses appropriate to their area of focus, including courses that support their research. Resource Management doctoral program focuses on the principles and processes involved in recognition, creation, and allocation of human and material resources to meet goals. Students may choose to emphasize one of several research areas, such as management of human and non-human resources, and consumer protection. Students also take courses to support their research interests.
In order to progress through the program in a timely manner, students should follow guidelines in the AHRM Ph.D. Policy Handbook. Important milestones include: Taking the Qualifying Exam, selecting an Advisor and Committee, completing a Plan of Study, taking the Preliminary Exam, developing a research proposal and having it approved, completing their dissertation, and passing the Final Exam.
Apparel Graduate Plan of Study
The Apparel graduate program will give you an opportunity to increase your knowledge base in the apparel industry and to conduct research that advances the industry. You will grow as a professional and be prepared for academe or business and industry. The Apparel program focuses on the apparel product from design inception to sale for the ultimate consumer. The program offers the B.S., MS., and Ph.D. degrees in three areas of specialization leading to the M.S. and Ph.D.
- Apparel Product Design and Analysis: Students focus their program toward solving problems using needs assessment, prototype development, and/or wear testing framed by physical, psychological, social, or aesthetic theory. The program provides students (a) with a holistic design process for solving problems of apparel fit and functionality or (b) toward a materials science approach to the effects of textile components on comfort and performance of apparel. Courses cover topics such as functional design, product analysis, and draping. In addition to work in theory and practical application of the design process, students are encouraged to develop and submit designs to juried shows such as the Apparel Design shows for the International Apparel and Textiles Association and the American Association of Family and Consumer Studies. Submissions from Virginia Tech have received numerous awards for work appearing in the ITAA Design Show. Students from this specialization are working for design firms, research laboratories, computer software firms, university research centers, and apparel manufacturers.
- Apparel and Textiles Business and Economic Analysis: Students focus their program in one of two areas (a) marketing and management issues along the apparel and textiles pipeline or (b) economic analysis of apparel and textile production, trade, and/or consumption. The specialization covers the entire scope from production to distribution and consumption of apparel and textile products. Students develop a management/marketing or economic perspective of problems and issues in the industry. Specific areas of research interest are issues of technology usage, sourcing procedures, consumer apparel behavior, consumption, and trade policies. Courses cover topics such as consumer behavior, apparel, marketing, international trade, consumer economics, and apparel manufacturing. Graduate students from this specialization are working for major textile and apparel firms, for retailers, in consulting firms, and for the government. In addition, doctoral graduates are employed in major universities within the US and in Korea. Job titles of graduates include Merchandise Manager, Research Analyst, Store Manager, Lecturer, Professor, and Department Head.
- Apparel and Textiles Quality Analysis: Students focus their program on the analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of apparel and textiles as related to the issue of quality assurance. Students develop research relative to the use of textile testing, wear testing, and other measures of the apparel product's performance. Courses in this area cover topics in textile evaluation, apparel product development, and product analysis. Students in this area could work for textile or apparel manufacturers and for national chain or department stores in product specification and quality control departments, in sourcing departments, and in merchandising areas. Additionally, students could work for the government in areas of quotas and customs inspection.
Master's Plan of Study - Thesis; page 35 of the AHRM Master's Policy Handbook
Ph.D. Plan of Study -
page 36 of the AHRM Ph.D. Policy Handbook
Housing Graduate Plan of Study
The Housing graduate programs highlight the multi-disciplinary approach to the study of housing and encourage students to focus on a specific aspect of the field of study. Areas of study include:
- inter-relationships of people and housing
- design of the structure and its systems
- economic considerations
- processes by which housing is provided
- public policies and programs.
The Master's degree in Housing is a 30 hour program of required and elective credits. Students may choose the thesis or non-thesis option to meet their career and professional goals. The thesis program is a research degree and is appropriate for students interested in research or who may seek a doctoral program in the future. The non-thesis option is often selected by students interested in coursework to enhance professional practice in the housing industry. Master's students may emphasize any area of housing and gerontology. Students with a housing design focus can complete the requirements for the Endorsed Program in Kitchen and Bath Design, while students with the residential property management focus can complete requirements to become a Certified Apartment Manager. A sample plan of study provides a list of required courses, as well as, suggested elective courses that students can choose from to build a concentration. Students work with their major advisor and advisory committee to plan the actual courses that they will take.
Master's Plan of Study - Thesis; page 38 of the AHRM Master's Policy Handbook
Master's Plan of Study - Non Thesis; page 42 of the AHRM Master's Policy Handbook
The Housing Ph.D. requires 90 hours of coursework and dissertation credits. Core courses in research, statistics, and housing are required and students select electives to build a plan of study that meets their research and career goals. Students may enter the Ph.D. program without previous graduate work or transfer up to 30 semester hours of graduate course credits and 6 hours of research and thesis credits. A sample plan of study provides a list of required courses, as well as, suggested elective courses that students can choose from to build a concentration. Students work with their major advisor and advisory committee to plan the actual courses that they will take.
Ph.D. Plan of Study - page 40 of the AHRM Ph.D. Policy Handbook
Resource Management Graduate Plan of Study
Graduate degrees offered are M.S. (thesis or non-thesis option), and Ph.D. in Resource Management.
Master's Plan of Study - Thesis; page 39 of the AHRM Master's Policy Handbook
Ph.D. Plan of Study - page 42 of the AHRM Ph.D. Policy Handbook
Applying to the Program
Complete a Graduate School Application (available at the Graduate School website) and a department application. Send the Graduate Admissions Office a completed student application, application fee, official transcript, GRE and TOEFL test scores (the code for Virginia Tech is 005859). The address is:
Graduate School Admissions
Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown (0325)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Send three letters of reference and official transcripts as well as an AHRM graduate department application to Wanda McAlexander, 240 Wallace Hall (0410), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
To obtain a departmental application please e-mail Wanda McAlexander at wandamc@vt.edu or write to The Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, 240 Wallace Hall (0410), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
It is the applicant's responsibility to request letters of recommendation and transcripts. The application cannot be evaluated until all materials are received. When the completed file is received by the department, it is reviewed by the graduate admissions committee. The decision is forwarded to the Graduate School, and the student is sent a letter indicating their admission status.
Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are the only available funding from the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management. Graduate assistantships are awarded annually based on GRE and other graduate test scores, GPA, and recommendations. In addition, the department looks for a match between department needs and student skills. The award process is highly competitive. Applicants are selected from students accepted into the program. Assistantships are assigned in late spring for the following year.
For more information about the program please contact:
Dr. Julia Beamish
jbeamish@vt.edu
240 Wallace Hall (0410)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540-231-8881
Graduate Manuals
For complete information about the AHRM Department policies and procedures regarding the Master's and Ph.D. programs, refer to the following: