The Apparel and Designs Program is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and proficiencies to provide safe and productive service and/or products in the apparel field.  Individuals will be able to tailor and alter/remodel apparel, analyze body figure types, demonstrate knowledge of textiles, create custom apparel, and produce interior furnishings.

Emphasis is placed on the interior designs discipline to enhance the function, safety, and aesthetic of interior spaces. Individuals will be able to select colors, textures, furniture, lightings; work with a client to meet the needs of a building’s occupants; and produce custom window treatments and other soft interior furnishings and accessories.

The program concentrates on using effective merchandising skills and applying professional work ethics appropriate to careers in the Apparel and Designs Field or related fields.

The requirements for admission to the Apparel and Designs Program are to be at least 18 years of age and complete the application for admission.  An official high school transcript demonstrating a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (GED acceptable in lieu of high school transcript), and/or college transcript must be on file in admissions.

Average Full-Time Wage

Earnings of textile, apparel, and furnishings workers vary by occupation.  Median annual earnings of apparel worker were $25,688 in May 2004.  The middle 50 percent earned approximately $22,443.  The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,222 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $29,120. 

Earnings of apparel retail trades workers vary by occupation.  Median hourly wage of apparel retail sales persons was $8.98 in May 2004.  The middle 50 percent earned between $7.47 and $12.22 an hour, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.38, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $17.85 an hour.*

Earnings of interior designers and decorators vary widely with the specialty, type of employer, number of years of experience, and reputation of the individuals.  Median annual earnings for wage and salary interior designers and decorators were $42,260 in May 2006.  The middle 50 percent earned between $31,830 and $57,230, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,760.

Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers held 873,000 jobs in 2006. Apparel and Designs graduates may select careers in apparel retail sales businesses, boutiques or specialty stores. Workers in a variety of occupationsl fall under the heading of apparel workers. Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers make custom clothing and alter and repair garments for individuals. Other graduates may develop and operate their own specialized apparel boutiques.

 Manufacturing of apparel is expected to decline in employment due to increasing imports, the use of offshore assembly, and greater productivity through new automation. Because of the large size of this occupation, the most skilled apparel positions, such as tailors, dressmakers and custom sewers, arise each year from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the occupation for other reasons.

Employment in apparel retail trades are expected to increase by 13.8 percent by 2012 because it will be cheaper to buy new apparel than to have clothes made. 

Interior designers and decorators held about 72,000 jobs in 2006.  Approximately 26 percent were self-employed.  About 26 percent of interior designers worked in specialized design services.  The rest of the interior designers provided design services in architectural and landscape architectural services, furniture and home-furnishing stores, building material and supplies dealers, and residential building construction companies.  Many interior designers also performed freelance work in addition to holding a salaried job in interior design or another occupation.

Employment of interior designers and decorators is expected to be higher than average.  Employment of interior designers is expected to grow 19 percent from 2006 to 2016, greater than the average for all occupations. 

Estimated Length & Cost*

* Tax not included.  Prices are subject to change without prior notice; cost of books may vary considerably among suppliers.  The length of the program is based on full-time status of 12-15 credit hours per term.  Enrollment in transitional level general education courses will alter the length   of the program.

**Data obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006-2007.