Fashion Merchandising and Design Internship
Students pursuing a B.S. in Family Consumer Sciences (Fashion Merchandising and Design) are required to complete one 200 hour internship experience after their junior year, but are strongly encouraged to complete multiple internship experiences as well.
The overall goal of the internship is:
- To provide a real world experience for students interested in textiles, apparel design, marketing or retail
- To enhance the students understanding of the business world
- To allow students to explore the many phases of the business in which they have an interest
Prior to the internship, students must first take the pre-internship course, FCS 486 - Cooperative Training in Business and Industry I. Please see below for pre-internship requirements.
FCS 486 is offered spring semester each academic year. After successful completion of FCS 486, students are eligible to take FCS 487 - Cooperative Training in Business and Industry II. This is the supervised internship course in which students complete 200 hours at an approved internship site.
Pre-Internship Requirements
Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to participate in the pre-internship course, FCS 486 - Cooperative Training in Business and Industry I, which is offered in spring semesters only:
- Overall GPA of 2.0 or better
- Fashion Merchandising and Design GPA of 2.5 or better
- Students must submit an “Intern Application” during the fall semester, immediately prior to the spring semester in which they plan to take FCS 486
- Junior standing
- Successful completion (grade of C or better) of the following fashion merchandising and design courses
- FCS 381—Social Psychological Aspects of Dress (former number-181)
- FCS 283—Textiles (former number-183)
- FCS 280—Introduction to Fashion Merchandising
- FCS 281—Apparel Construction and Evaluation
- FCS 282—Apparel Construction and Evaluation II (effective fall 2011)
- FCS 380—Visual Merchandising
- FCS 384—Historic Developments of Costume and Textiles
- Successful completion (grade of C or better) of the following FCS courses:
- FCS 160—Introduction to Family and Consumer Sciences
- FCS 260—Introduction to Human Development
Internship Requirements
Students must meet the following requirements to enroll in, and receive academic credit for, the 200 hour internship course, FCS 487 - Cooperative Training in Business and Industry II:
- Successful completion (grade of C or better) of FCS 486 - Cooperative Training in Business and Industry I the semester immediately prior to the semester in which they complete the internship
- Complete an Internship Application and submit the application for approval to the Faculty Internship Supervisor, currently Dr. Jane Walker
- Obtain approval from Faculty Internship Supervisor to conduct internship
- Obtain an approved internship placement
- Enroll in FCS 487-Cooperative Training in Business and Industry II
- Complete FCS 487 course requirements including, but not limited to 200 contact hours, eight written assignments, internship presentation, and evaluation by the site supervisor and Faculty Internship Supervisor
- Meet University required insurance coverage
