Apparel and Textiles

Types of Degrees Apparel and Textiles Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many general apparel & textiles graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	1,698
Master’s Degree	68
Associate Degree	42
Basic Certificate	35
Doctor’s Degree	14
Undergraduate Certificate	10
Graduate Certificate	6

What Apparel and Textiles Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to apparel and textiles were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Apparel and Textiles Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in apparel and textiles should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Skills for Apparel and Textiles Majors

A major in apparel and textiles prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Abilities for Apparel and Textiles Majors

As you progress with your apparel and textiles degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

What Can You Do With a Apparel and Textiles Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with apparel and textiles:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Farm and Home Management Advisors	7.7%	$49,840

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel and Textiles?

The major attracts more women than men. About 90% of the recent graduates in this field are female.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of apparel and textiles majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	117
Black or African American	171
Hispanic or Latino	276
White	979
International Students	38
Other Races/Ethnicities	117

Geographic Diversity

Apparel and Textiles appeals to people across the globe. About 2.2% of those with this major are international students.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Apparel and Textiles

Some degrees associated with apparel and textiles may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to apparel and textiles have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	24.1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	3.5%
Master’s Degree	58.6%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	6.9%
Doctoral Degree	6.9%

Online Apparel and Textiles Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	8	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	12	0
Bachelor’s Degree	4	3
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	20	2
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	4	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Majors Related to Apparel and Textiles

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to apparel and textiles.

Major	Number of Grads
Apparel & Textile Marketing Management	707
Apparel & Textile Manufacture	303
Fashion & Fabric Consultant	39
Other Apparel & Textiles	35
Textile Science	4

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Elisa.rolle under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.