Q: What is a typical class size in your program?
A: Generally, classes in Apparel, Retail Merchandising and Design average 20 to 40 students. Laboratory classes generally have 15 to 20 students per class. Classes that are open to all students on campus (courses accepted for general education credit) have higher enrollments.

Q: What kinds of "hands on", experiential learning is available?
A: There are many opportunities for students to gain hands-on experiences while earning a degree in ADHM. All students are required to complete a Field Experience as part of their degree. In addition, the student organization, the Fashion, Apparel, and Business Organization (FABO) provides many opportunities to "learn by doing". One example is the spring fashion show produced by the FABO group.

Q: Are there online courses available?
A: Yes, we offer some classes on-line to accommodate student needs.

 Q: Do I need any special equipment or computer hardware or software for this program? 
A: Students entering their first year of study are required to have their own laptop computer that meet or exceeds required minimum specifications.

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Q: How is the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York affiliated with the ARMD program? What might that look like if I pursue that? What is necessary to be considered? 
A: The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a premier fashion institution in NYC offers a Visiting Student Program to students from other universities around the country and world. The ARMD program at NDSU is one such school allowed to offer this option to our students. There are five majors available to students participating in the FIT Visiting Student Program. The most popular with our students is the fashion design and retail merchandising programs.

Professional enrichment is possible through departmental affiliation with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, or various Study Abroad programs. NDSU students who attend these institutions for a semester or a year gain valuable experience in fashion or retail merchandising. Interested students should prepare to do this experience during their junior and/or senior year. A student in good standing at NDSU can apply for admission to the one-year Visiting Student Program at FIT, which provides students with an Associate degree from FIT and a Bachelor of Science from NDSU. It is important to work closely with your Academic Advisor to ensure that you meet the graduation requirements of both universities.

Q: How are the Apparel Studies and Retail Merchandising options different? When do I need to decide which option I want to pursue? What are the career paths for each option? Can I opt for a Business minor with the Apparel Studies option? What other minors do students selecting this option pursue? 
A: The option in retail merchandising prepares students for a retail merchandising business career. The Business minor is a requirement for those doing the Retail Merchandising option.  The apparel studies option prepares students for careers in other areas of the apparel and textiles industry, other than retail merchandising. This option focuses on development, design, and marketing of materials and products within the apparel and textile marketplace, rather than to the ultimate consumer. Additionally, students may select a minor to enhance their learning as it specially relates to a field of interest such as theater design, communications, journalism, and museum curator work.  It is possible to earn a minor in business with either option in the program.  You can choose one option at the beginning of the program and change to the other option at any time.