PhD in Apparel Design in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The discipline primarily examines fibrous materials and their applications in clothing, engineered structures (like composite materials), biomedical uses, and home decor. Fiber Science and Apparel Design is a practical, interdisciplinary field, with faculty from the Colleges of Human Ecology and Engineering. Students must build expertise in their core discipline while acquiring supplementary knowledge to support their specialization. Current research initiatives include high-performance fibers and composites, eco-friendly composites, surface chemistry and cleaning, fragrance-infused textiles, biomedical and geotechnical textile applications, electronic polymers, liquid-crystal polymers, textile dye chemistry, fiber crystal structure, fiber electrospinning, cellulose, fashion and apparel design, design ethnography, garment sizing and fit, functional clothing, historical and cultural textile studies, mass customization, and apparel industry technology management. Ph.D. candidates need a committee of at least four members: one representing their major, one for each minor area, and a fourth appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies. The Ph.D. requires an oral and written Admission to Candidacy exam and a final oral defense. No foreign language proficiency is mandated.